Arun Gandhi, grandson of Monhandas Gandhi, spoke on campus in the Foy auditorium Tuesday Feb. 9at 7 p.m. as a part of the year of India the International programs are having. His lecture was titled “Lessons Learned from My Grandfather: Nonviolence in a Violent World” and the turnout was large.
The event began with a performance by the Auburn University Indian Music Ensemble, which sung two selections, one of which was one of Monhandas Gandhi’s favorite hymns.
After their performance warmed up the crowd, the assistant provost of international programs, Andrew Gillespie, introduced Gandhi.
“Dr. Gandhi is proof that one can change his ways. Although he is the grandson of the legendary Monhandas Gandhi, he overcame tremendous prejudice and anger when he was young in order to become the founder and president of the Gandhi Worldwide Education Institute,” said Gillespie.
Gandhi started began his lecture with his grandfather and what he believed. He said that his grandfather realized that if we have progressed to civilization from the days of the cavemen, the one thing that we haven’t changed is the way we resolve conflict.
“During the cave days we bashed each other’s heads because we didn’t agree with each other, and we still continue to do that today, the only difference is we use different kinds of weapons,” said Gandhi.
He proceeded with his thoughts on today and the violence of today, saying this could be the beginning of War World III. He then spoke of what he thought about nonviolence and how much violence is around today. He said nonviolence is the way of life.
Gandhi continued with a few stories telling how his grandfather taught him about nonviolence. He said the one lesson that made a big impact on him was about understanding anger and being able to channel it constructively and usefully.
“He [Gandhi] said anger is like electricity, it’s just as useful and just as powerful, but only if we use it intelligently, but it can be just as deadly and destructive if we abuse it. Just as we channel electrical energy and bring into our life and use it for the good of humanity, we must learn to channel anger in the same way so that we can use that energy for the good of humanity rather than abuse it and cause destruction,” said Gandhi.
He ended his lecture with a story his grandfather used to tell him about a king learning what peace means and how we affect whether it spreads to others or not.
“If somebody has found peace and keeps it locked up in their heart for their own personal gain, it will rot and perish with them. But if they let it interact with all the elements, it will sprout and grow and very soon we can have a whole world of peacemakers. So I have come here this evening to give you the grain of wheat that I got from my grandfather and I hope that you won’t let it rot and perish, but let it interact with all the elements so that all of us together can transform this world and make it a better place for future generations,” said Gandhi.
The crowd gave Gandhi a standing ovation and he also received a gift from Gillespie and the international programs. There was also a reception with Indian food for everyone.
Jennifer Mason, director of international initiatives, said that she thinks Gandhi is amazing and that his speech made her think of ways to incorporate some of his ideas in her life within her sphere of influence, which she thinks gets to the heart of his message.
Gillespie said, “Alabama is a state that is rich in history, some good some bad. He’s lived through a lot of that in his life as well and he comes here to share his story that is also rich in history and all of this just shines a light on who we are as a people, as a society, as humankind and shows a way forward and I think that’s fabulous.”
Gandhi said that speaking at Auburn University was fun and he always enjoys speaking to young people. He said he thinks young people are the leaders of tomorrow and that they can make a difference in the world.
“If I am able to influence the young people, we can still change this world.”
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