Mahatma Gandhi's story needed to be retold for the young, says writer Pramod Kapoor

Pramod Kapoor's Gandhi: An Illustrated Biography is a one stop shop for all those who want to know about the life of the Father of the Nation. The fruit of meticulous research, it gives the big picture and also little-known details with scenes from his personal life. Accessible and absorbing, it celebrates the life of the man about whom Albert Einstein had said: "Generations to come, it may well be, will scarce believe that such a man as this one ever in flesh and blood walked upon this Earth", without becoming a hagiography.Edited excerpts from an interview with Kapoor.

Why a book on Gandhi now?In the 68 years since his assassination, Gandhi has been analysed and re-analysed endlessly, with reverence and critically. But I believe the story of Gandhi needed to be retold in a fashion that is understandable to a young audience. In the book, the biggest story is about 2,500 words and the smallest, 75 words. You can pick it up any time and get a complete picture of that moment in his life.Gandhi is one of the most photographed leaders — how did this come about?Yes, and this has something to do with satyagraha. People all over the world were fascinated with this form of peaceful dissent and they came from all over the world to photograph him. Take Margaret Bourke-White, who was sent by Life magazine, and Henri Cartier-Bresson, who photographed him on the last day of his life.What lessons does Gandhi's life hold for the present generation?There are hundreds. There was his determination — if he thought of something, he would go to any extent. There was also another slightly negative part — he was not very fair to his family. Many a time in his life, he ignored them. He was a very principled man but sometimes ended up being unfair to the people closest to him. He had endless energy — he couldn't sleep more than four hours and he'd keep thinking of new ideas to keep the freedom movement going. And alongside the politics, was his compassion.Do you feel India has failed Gandhi?Things are bound to change with the passage of time. Perhaps, he too would have changed. Politics is very different today. Even with his adversaries, there was always a cordiality.Gandhi was great in so many ways. How do you explain his sexual experiments?I have not understood it and I have not met one Gandhi scholar who has been able to convincingly analyse or say why Gandhi slept with his young grand-niece and a few of his followers. The only thing a little positive is that he openly talked about it.Which aspect of his life do you find most touching?Several incidents of his life are very moving. One relates to Parchure Shastri, who was with him in Yeravada jail. He had leprosy. Gandhi nursed him and in six months, he had almost recovered. These were politically turbulent years, but three times a day, Gandhi would go and bandage his wounds and clean his bowl.Another time, soon after he joined the satyagraha in South Africa, he wrote a letter to Kasturba (see photo on right), who was almost dying, saying I am in a satyagraha and can't come and look after you, but if you die, I'm not going to marry again. And then we know the Harilal story.All photos published with permission from Roli Books