
This is the first of two volumes of the diary kept by Manu Gandhi, Gandhi’s grandniece, who went to stay with Gandhi in 1943 at age 15.
This volume covers the period 1943 to 1944. The second volume is from 1945 to 1948.
As Manu was at the tender age of 15 in 1943, her entries are reflective of her age. So there are no detailed entries. The entries are more in the form of the chores she did, from waking up to retiring to sleep.
A point to note is that this is a public diary. Gandhi would read, sign, and comment on her diary. [p xiii ]
The Introduction to this book is substantial and useful. But this book is for the larger library. There are snippets of life with Gandhi but not sufficient to satisfy a reader looking for a sustained study on this topic.