Young Surat Writer Honors Gandhi’s Legacy

Surat : While many Indians honor the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in traditional ways, one young man from Surat has made Gandhiji’s principles a central part of his life. Meet Joshua Martin, a 21-year-old from the diamond city, who was so inspired by the values of the Father of the Nation that he penned his first book at the age of 14, documenting his visits to places associated with Gandhi.

Joshua, a resident of Surat’s Rander area, has since authored four books. Two of these are dedicated to Gandhiji, while the others focus on prominent Indian figures, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a freedom fighter. His remarkable achievement has earned him recognition in the India Book of Records, Asia Book of Records, and International Book of Records as India’s youngest writer.

Coming from a family with a deep connection to education, Joshua was encouraged from an early age to cultivate a love for books. His father works at Torrent Power, and his mother is a teacher, which fostered an environment rich in learning. Today, his personal library boasts over 1,000 books, with 200 of them focused exclusively on Gandhi’s life, philosophy, and speeches.

Joshua’s journey as a writer began at 14 when he visited the Sabarmati Ashram, the iconic residence of Mahatma Gandhi during India’s freedom struggle. Profoundly moved by Gandhi’s commitment to non-violence and his values, Joshua chronicled his reflections in a book titled Gandhi Gatha, which he published in 2016 based on the diaries he kept during his travels.

At an age when many teenagers are engrossed in social media and digital gadgets, Joshua was drawn to a different path. He practices Gandhiji’s principles in his daily life, even spinning the charkha (spinning wheel) for half an hour every day as a tribute to Gandhi’s emphasis on self-reliance.

By the time he turned 16, Joshua had already completed his second book on Gandhi, Ahimsana Upasak Gandhiji, which focused on Gandhi’s lifelong dedication to non-violence. His writing didn’t stop there. At 18, Joshua wrote Vishwa Neta Narendra Modi, a biography of the Prime Minister, and followed that with Amrit Swaraj in 2021, which was a tribute to India’s freedom heroes during the 75th anniversary of India’s independence.

Speaking about his admiration for Gandhi, Joshua shared, “Mahatma Gandhi’s idea of Swaraj—self-rule—has always inspired me. I conducted research on this and have tried to follow his ideology. That’s why I wrote two books about him. I believe it’s more important to devote time to books than to social media, and I try to incorporate Gandhi’s teachings into my daily life to spread his philosophy within society.”