Photo-biography chronicling Mahatma Gandhi's life in colour launched

The 1,281 photographs published in the book were drawn from over 5,000 monochrome images collected by the trust, which got it colourised by several skilled graphic designers.

New Delhi, Oct 5 : A voluminous colour photo-biography on Mahatma Gandhi containing over 1,280 rare photographs related to his life and times was today launched here. Titled Mahatma - Gandhi's Life in Colour", the 692-page book published by GandhiServe India also has maps, letters, cartoons and newspaper articles documenting Gandhi's journey from birth to eternity. It was released by Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma at a ceremony here.

"Devadas Gandhi, the youngest son of the Mahatma, had the dream to document his father's life by photographs day-by-day. It's only now, 59 years after his death, that his dream comes true," the Mumbai-based charitable trust said. The coffee table book, said to be the first photo- biography on Gandhi, minutely documents" the life of the Mahatma. The 1,281 photographs published in the book were drawn from over 5,000 monochrome images collected by the trust, which got it colourised by several skilled graphic designers".

"In a monumental effort, the trust collected photographs from sources all over the world and got them colourised according to the historic settings," it said. In an interdisciplinary project Gandhian scholars, historians, photographs experts and graphic designers joined hands in order to turn black and white photographs into colour images, thus making them true documents of history," it added. The first copy of the book was presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Gandhi Jayanti earlier. ALSO READ: Narendra Modi pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri

"On the occasion of Gandhi Centenary in 1969, the government of India published a lavishly crafted photo book containing nearly 300 duo-tone photographs of Mahatma Gandhi which remained the best work of its kind until today. In terms of photo quality and quantity, this publication will be a valid successor of the 1969 publication," the trust said.

"Due to extensive research and technical advancement this photo-biography presents the 'Apostle of Nonviolence' as natural and sharp as never seen before," GandhiServe said. The programme was hosted by Sulab International Social and activist Bindeshwar Pathak, Director of GandhiServe Jayan Mitra, were also present on the occasion besides other personalities. Another book titled Untouchability No More" was also released by the Culture Minister.