HarperCollins Children’s Books announces the release of ‘Being Gandhi’ by Paro Anand

announces the release of ‘Being Gandhi’

to mark the 150^th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Award-winning author Paro Anand’s latest novel explores, not Gandhi the man or his life as a leader, but really the Gandhian way that must remain relevant to us. Especially today when the world is becoming increasingly steeped in violence and hate.

Paro Anand says, ‘In Being Gandhi, I have tried to look beyond the man, beyond the historical events of that time instead, place Gandhian principles in the context of today’s divisive world. In asking the question,”Is Gandhi still relevant for young people today?” I found unexpected answers.’

Ruskin Bond, India’s beloved award-winning author says, ‘A brave new look at Gandhi, bringing him front and centre into young lives today.’

Tina Narang, Publisher – Children’s, HarperCollins Publishers India adds, ‘We have to find new ways to keep Gandhi’s philosophy alive and relevant to children, not just today when we are marking his 150^th birth anniversary, but for generations to come. Paro’s masterfully written Being Gandhi is a step in that direction.’

About the book: 

How many times are kids supposed to study Gandhi? Come September and out comes the bald head wig, round glasses, white dhoti, tall stick … that’s about the extent of how today’s kids engage with the Mahatma. Chandrashekhar is one such teen. Bored by the annual Gandhi projects, he wonders if his teacher is being too unreasonable in asking them to “BE” Gandhi. And then, his world is shaken by events that rock him to the core, forcing him to dig deep and not just find his ‘inner Gandhi’, but become Gandhi. Not for a day or two. But, maybe even, for life. This is a novel that explores, not Gandhi the man or his life as a leader, but really the Gandhian way that must remain relevant to us.

Especially today when the world is becoming increasingly steeped in violence and hate.

About the author:

Paro Anand is a Sahitya Akademi, Bal Sahitya Award winner for her book, Wild Child, now published as Like Smoke, with additional content. She has written books for children, young adults and adults. She also works with children, especially those in difficult circumstances, through her program Literature in Action and holds a world record for helping over three thousand children make the world’s longest newspaper. She was invited to speak at the Harvard India Conference, USA on Disruptive Innovation in Literature for Young Adults and Children. She has been awarded for her contribution to children’s literature by The Russian Centre for Science and Culture. No Guns at my Son’s Funeral, which opened to rave reviews, was on the International Board on Books for Young People Honour List, has been translated into German and French. She headed the National Centre for Children’s Literature. The Little Bird who held the Sky up with his Feet was on the 1001 Books to Read before You Grow Up, an international gold standard of the world’s best books ever. Wingless has been performed nationally and internationally. She has co-authored ‘2’ a graphic novel with Swedish writer, Orjan Perrson. As a performance storyteller and speaker, she has represented India in the USA, UK, Sweden, Switzerland, Singapore, Germany and Bangladesh, besides all over India. In 2019, she was awarded the Kalinga Karubaki Literary Award for Fearless Women Writers.