Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mohandas K. Gandhi and founder of the MK Gandhi Institute for Non-Violence [1], spent Sept. 11 with Camp Democracy [2], a small tent city established by anti-war activists on the National Mall in front of the US Capitol. Gandhi joined peace campers in a march that set out from the Washington Hebrew Congregation and stopped at the National Cathedral and the Islamic Center before culminating at the city's Gandhi memorial.
"We need to redefine religion," Arun Gandhi told the BCC. "No religion should be talking about hate and violence and killing. Religion is about love and compassion and understanding... We have to do something to put an end to terrorism and violence, and I am hoping I can inspire all people to take action."
Speaking about his grandfather to India's DNA news service, he said: “He showed us the path to peace 100 years ago. We have to stop this madness and the only way is to adopt non-violence.... It is time we learned from him, and inspire a whole new generation.” (DPA [3], BBC [4], DNA [5], Sept. 11)
The visit won little coverage in US media.
See also WW4 REPORT #51 [6]
See our last posts on the Gandhian legacy [7], the anti-war movement [8] and the struggle for the legacy of 9-11 [9].
