Piece Description

September 11th is anniversary (1906) of the first non-violent social action led by Mohandas K. Gandhi in South Africa. On this program, we recall the life of Mohandas K. Gandhi - nonviolent crusader for racial equality in South Africa and against British imperial rule in India in the first half of the 20th century. Featured guests: Jesuit Priest Father John Dear, who has written extensively on Gandhi including editing the book "Mohandas Gandhi: Essential Writings." Also Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi. He lived for 18 months with his grandfather shortly before Gandhi was assassinated January 30, 1948. Arun Gandhi is founder of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence in Memphis, Tennessee. Arun Gandhi: "The first lesson my grandfather taught me was to understand anger, and being able to channel that anger into positive action. He said that anger is like electricity. It is just as useful and just as powerful, if we use it intelligently. It can be just as deadly and destructive, if we abuse it. Just as we channel electricity, bring it into our lives and use it for the good of Humanity, we must learn to channel anger in the same way." John Dear: "Gandhi was calling us to nonviolence as a way of life. You look within and you see, 'I could be more nonviolent, to myself, in this area of my life,' and try to do that. You can look at your family: 'Am I being perfectly nonviolent to my spouse, my children, my parents?' You try to be more and more nonviolent: never to hit another person or hurt another person, ever again - to practice nonviolent love toward those around you. Due to their demanding travel schedules, John Dear and Arun Gandhi were interviewed on separate days, but we have combined the content for today's program. Our host is Carol Boss. Program available in 59:00 version, 54:00 newscast friendly version, (each with 2 one-minute breaks near :20 and :40), and also as a straight 29:00 program.