About one hundred years ago, in 1909, Mahatma Gandhi published Hind Swaraj or Indian Home Rule. Not only was this the first book that he wrote, it was also the only book of his that Gandhi himself translated into English. Written originally in Gujarati between 13 and 22 November on board the Kildonan Castle on his way from England to South Africa, it appeared in two installments in the 11 and 19 December issues of Indian Opinion, a journal Gandhi used to bring out. In January 1910, it was published as an independent booklet by Gandhi's own International Printing Press from Phoenix Farm, Natal, with an English version appearing two months later in March.

Hind Swaraj was an imaginary dialogue between a Reader and the Editor, the latter presumably standing for Gandhi himself. This dialogue covers a range of topics including the Congress Party and its officials, the state of India, the reasons for India's colonization, the meaning of svaraj (self-rule), the best means to attain it, Gandhi's vision of an ideal society, the definition and practice of satyagraha (‘truth-force’), the qualities required to be a satyagrahi, Hindu-Muslim unity, railways, lawyers and doctors, and English education in India. The book became notorious for its attack on machinery and modern,Western civilization. Yet, more than that, it contained the earliest, most comprehensive, exposition of Gandhi's philosophy. Extremely influential politically, Hind Swaraj was soon banned in India.