Exhibition “Leo Tolstoy and Mahatma Gandhi: Unique Heritage”
Yasnaya Polyana Gallery (Tula)
19 December, 2009 – 31 January, 2010
In the last years of his life Leo Tolstoy showed great interest towards oriental countries and their spiritual heritage.
Among those countries, India attracted him most. It can be explained by its rich and original religious and philosophical tradition and folklore, which were in many ways close to Tolstoy’s own views.
Another reason was the political situation in India in the late 19 th – early 20 th centuries, which made numerous Indian political figures address Tolstoy and look for his moral support.
In no other oriental country did Tolstoy have as many correspondents as in India.
One of his correspondents and addressees was Mahatma Gandhi.
The visitors of this exhibition can get acquainted with the creative heritage of the two great thinkers. Tolstoy’s and Gandhi’s views and philosophies have very much in common.
Just as Tolstoy did, Gandhi was an advocate of the unity of religious truth expressed by thinkers and philosophers of all times.
They both rejected violence as a means of reaching political goals.
Tolstoy took the idea of non-violence from the Gospel, Gandhi took it from the Hindu sacred texts.
In his autobiography, “The Story of My Experiments with Truth”, in his articles and speeches, Gandhi often mentioned the fact that Tolstoy’s works influenced him a lot.
For instance, he wrote: "Tolstoy's The Kingdom of God Is Within You overwhelmed me. It left an abiding impression on me. Before the independent thinking, profound morality and the truthfulness of this book, all the books given me...seemed to pale into insignificance."
Tolstoy and Gandhi were in correspondence in 1909 – 1910. Their letters give us an opportunity to follow the exchange of views, ideas and opinions, which was truly important for them both.
In one of his letters, Gandhi asked for Tolstoy’s permission to spread among his fellow Indians Tolstoy’s “Letter to a Hindu”. Tolstoy agreed, and the “Letter” was published in Gandhi’s magazine, “The Indian Opinion”.
Among the objects presented at the exhibition are copies of the letters Tolstoy and Gandhi exchanged, photographs and copies of documents showing key stages and moments in their lives, and their communication.
Quotes from their works reflect the spiritual quests of these two great figures who attempted to reveal new ways of making our world better.
The exhibition is organized by: Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR),
National Mahatma Gandhi Memorial,
Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti Museum Complex,
RF Ministry of Culture,
National Museum and Exhibition Center “ROSIZO”,
State Museum of Leo Tolstoy ( Moscow )
Leo Tolstoy Museum-estate “Yasnaya Polyana”.
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