Compare and Contrast Biographies, Reviews and Narratives with Reference to “a Gandhian in Garhwal: Chandi Prasad Bhatt” by Ramachandra Guha, “Lost and Found: Benegal’s Bose” by Mihir Bose and “Lamb to the Slaughter” by

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Guha’s “A Gandhian in Garhwal” articulately discusses the life of a revolutionary and Gandhian in true sense, Chandi Prasad Bhatt. His biography is judiciously filled with important details of Bhatt’s personal and public life with the author carefully choosing to reveal just about enough to whet the readers interest yet not enough to quench it. The term “biography” is derived from two Greek works, “Bios” meaning life and “graphein” meaning writing hence, the word could be roughly translated to mean writing a life story. Initially biographies were written to praise achievements of royalty or to record the deeds of saints and religious leaders with the intention being to set a good example for society so, common folk would be tempted to emulate them and lead exemplary lives. A well-written, modern biography not only recounts details and facts but, establishes a good link between the individual’s life, their deeds and the circumstances which made it possible. It maps not just the individual’s thoughts, words and actions but shines light upon shades of their personality as well as provides intimate details of their experiences. The objective of this biography is made clear at the outset. Guha is one who is highly respectful of Chandi and calls his journey a “secular pilgrimage.” The objective and nature of the pilgrimage along with a mention of the living deity, Chandi himself and, his achievements are also mentioned in the beginning. Guha goes on to describe his childhood and, how growing up amongst a family of priests who tended to the Temple of Rudranath nestled in the Himalayas had invoked his interest in folk ecology and sensitivity towards the environment from an early age. Guha’s writing imbues all the outstanding incidents of Bhatt’s upbringing which ultimately impacted his character. In a chronological order as biographies tend to do he traces Bhatt’s life

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