Freedom's Child : Growing Up During Satyagraha

‘Freedom was then a far vision, and no one really expected to see a free India in his or her lifetime. The hundreds and thousands of men, women and teenagers, whose stamina and sacrifices led to our independence, were the real heroes of the Non-cooperation movement. For people like them, Anand Bhawan was a symbol of the struggle.’

Writing about her growing-up years, author Chandralekha Mehta, Pandit Nehru’s niece, gives us a peek into the momentous years of the freedom struggle. This was the age of Satyagraha, when the country was awakening to new realities, trying to shape her own destiny and inching her way to freedom, all brought about by the vision of one man—Mahatma Gandhi.  The author and her family, the Nehrus in Allahabad, were prominent participants in the extraordinary and historical events of the time.

Freedom’s Child: Growing up during Satyagraha is a vivid portrayal of an eventful childhood spent in Anand Bhawan, Allahabad, which was an important seat of political activity at that time. The author recounts myriad events and experiences of her childhood years—birthdays, family vacations, elections, picketing, Congress sessions, wearing khadi for weddings and waiting outside jail for her loved ones.

Through an engaging narrative, she shares some of the little-known facts about her family, and cherishes her long association with remarkable men and women like Gandhiji and Sarojini Naidu. Evocative and inspiring, this book is not merely a chronicle of a family that was at the centre stage of the struggle for freedom; it brings alive the exciting and dynamic years of the freedom struggle and pays homage to those who stood undaunted in their desire for independence and truth.

Age group of target audience (Puffin): 13 +