In the 1940s, Mahatma Gandhi led India to its independence from Britain using the principles of nonviolence. His 70-year-old grandson, Arun Gandhi, explained to a UW-Madison audience Monday how those principles remain relevant in the 21st century, as part of the Wisconsin Union Directorate's Distinguished Lecture Series.
An ambassador for the M. K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, Gandhi received the crowd with
amaste,"" the traditional Indian greeting, with his palms together as if in prayer.
From 12 to 14, Gandhi grew up with Mahatma, to whom he referred simply as Grandfather. The greatest lesson Grandfather taught him was to control his anger, he said.
""He told me anger is like electricity: powerful if used correctly, dangerous if abused,"" Gandhi said. ""We must channel the power of our anger to use it for the benefit of humankind.""
Gandhi said his grandfather learned about anger early, when Mahatma and his wife married at age 13. Mahatma believed he should be in control, so he forbade his bride to leave the house without permission. Silently she listened, but did not change her behavior. When the young Gandhi challenged her, she sweetly replied she was raised to obey the eldest in the household, Gandhi's mother, and if Gandhi wanted her to obey him instead, he should tell his mother.
Chastened, Gandhi later reflected on how tactfully his wife dealt with his bullying.
""He later said this was the most profound lesson of his life- instead of with anger, she reacted with calm, with love,"" Arun said.
Another time, a couple asked Mahatma to help their son stop eating sweets. He told them to come back in 15 days. Confused at the deferment, they waited nonetheless. After 15 days, Gandhi spoke to the boy for one minute, and the boy swore off sweets forever.
When the parents asked what miracle he performed, the elder Gandhi said, ""I had to give up sweets for 15 days before I could ask him to. I told him I did it, so can he? And he did.""
Arun Gandhi said this penance, self-sacrifice to help others, is the root of compassion, and should become the model for our prison system.
""Compassion is not a principle to use when convenient and discard when inconvenient,"" he said. ""It must become a way of life.""
UW-Madison sophomore Neha Sheth said this campus was an ideal site for his lecture.
""There's a strong tradition here of making change but not through military or violence. His message hit home,"" she said.
