The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi

What it is

This is a 100-volume collected edition of the writings of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, published by the Indian government. It brings together his letters, speeches, articles and other writings in chronological order, covering decades of his life.

Why it matters

Because Gandhi wrote so much throughout his long career as an activist, this collection serves as the standard reference for historians studying his own words directly, rather than later descriptions of him. Its scale shows how central writing and communication were to his political and spiritual work.

Look closer

• Why might a government choose to publish such a huge collection of one person's writings?
• What might be gained by reading Gandhi's own words across decades rather than a single biography?
• What kinds of writing (letters, speeches, articles) are included, and what might each type reveal differently?