The Story of My Sexperiments with Truth

Mahatma Gandhi tested his celibacy with naked women. The author of a new book says he was deceiving himself.

Naked Ambition, a new bi­ography of Mahatma Gandhi by Jad Adams published recently in the UK, highlights an aspect of the man’s life which India is uncomfortable with—his testing his own celibacy by getting women to sleep naked with him.  An in­terview with the author:

Q How many women did Gandhi actually sleep naked with?

A I can think of six… Sushila Nayar [per­sonal physician], Abha Gandhi [wife of grandnephew], Manu Gandhi [grand­niece], Kanchan Shah [wife of Madanlal Shah, ashram manager]…there may well have been others.

Q What about Gandhi surprised you?

A A celibate should keep away from wom­en and not engage in nakedness and talking about sex.  Gandhi was con­stantly talking about sex. It was a pro­gression of sexual behaviour and sexual talk which goes on throughout the last half of his life.

Q Can you illustrate this progression?

A In the ashram, men and women were expected to live separately, yet Gandhi himself would encourage wives of his followers to come into his room.

Q Why did he suddenly start testing himself?

A Gandhi made a vow of poverty and chastity. Poverty was easy for him. However the control of sex, he found impossible. I think he was trying to trick himself to do something he want­ed to do, but didn’t break his vow.

Q Gandhi never tried to hide these experiments. 

A In fact, he wanted these things to be discussed. If there was a deception in Gandhi’s life, it was a self-deception.

Q Were there any psychological consequences on the women?

A I think that these women consid­ered what they were offering a ser­vice for this great man, and they were pleased to have done so. I don’t think they were forced into it by any means.