SELECTED WORDS OF MOHANDAS GANDHI
About the article
This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from May 2003.
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Arun Gandhi: There are many cherished memories but I think the one that is most important is his lesson on anger management. I was a very angry young boy because of the humiliating violence I suffered at the hands of white and black racists. I wanted revenge. Grandfather taught me that anger is like electricity - very useful when used intelligently or deadly when abused.
He taught me to write an anger journal and write it with the intention of finding a solution to the problem and then commit myself to finding a solution. I did this for many years and it helped me channel the energy of anger into positive action rather than negative abuse. It also changed my concept of justice. Justice is not revenge, it is reformation. We must help those who make a mistake reform and not simply punish them. What are the goals of the Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence?
The goals of the Institute are to promote and educate people on this philosophy and make them aware that nonviolence is not just the absence of war or that nonviolence is not just a strategy to be used when convenient.
Nonviolence is a way of life. What is the most important lesson of Mahatma Gandhi's life?
The philosophy of nonviolence is the most important lesson. He sought to make us aware that we have to dispense with the "culture of violence" and replace it with a "culture of nonviolence". Violence evokes all the negative in the human being while nonviolence evokes positive thoughts and attitudes. I think in the culture of violence we have seen the worst aspects of human attitudes and feelings. Unless we change this soon we will see the decline and fall of the human empire. ni, his grandfather, and his efforts to end apartheid in hram in South Africa.
Describe your grandfather. What was he like at home? Grandfather was a very loving man with a tremendous sense of humor. He cracked jokes and laughed heartily. He would be momentarily sad or frustrated when people did not understand what he wanted them to do or deliberately flouted his advice. But he did not mope over it for any length of time because he believed he did his best and there was nothing more that he could do. What did the world lose when he was assassinated?
We lost the wisdom of a great man. We have made it a habit to assassinate people who come to us with wisdom because it is easier to make them into martyrs and worship them than take them seriously and make a change in our life-styles. How should the US government have responded to the September 11 attacks?
It is arrogance that has made the US vulnerable to terrorism. In the culture of violence, largely promoted by the US all over the world, we have yet to see the worst of humanity. By declaring a war on terrorism the US has once again gone and killed innocent people while the guilty have escaped.
The US should have gone to the United Nations and appealed to the world community to join in the Continued on following page Nonviolence is not a cover for cowardice, but it is the supreme virtue of the brave. To believe in something and not to live it is dishonest. I ask nobody to follow me. Everyone should follow their own personal voice. We must be the change we wish to see. I have learnt through bitter experience the one supreme lesson: to conserve my anger,
and as heat conserved is transmuted into energy, even so our anger controlled can be transmuted into a power which can move the world. Love is a rare herb that makes a friend even of a sworn enemy and this herb grows out of nonviolence. Continued from previous page fight against terrorism. Instead President Bush went to the UN and arrogantly said to the world either you are with us or against us, implying that those who don't participate in the war against terrorism must suffer the consequences. The President should have provided moral leadership and not arrogant leadership. Justice is not revenge; justice is reformation. What kinds of things should the citizens of wealthy nations do right now to improve the lives of the world's poorest people?
Materialism should not mean greed. Grandfather used to say: "The world can produce enough for everyone's needs, but not for everyone's greed."
We must learn to share compassionately, not with charity. When we feed people or give them charity on a platter we oppress the poor more. We make them dependent on charity. If we work compassionately and constructively we would help rebuild the poor economically and at the same time help them realize their potential and their self-respect. Is there a link between our cruelty to animals and cruelty to ourselves?
Yes. When we become arrogant with human beings we become arrogant with nature and everything else. Because then we think there is no one but us and that we control everything. Anger is a natural emotion and it often leads to violence. Should we strive to suppress or ignore it? How do we deal with anger?
Anger is a very powerful emotion. As I said, Grandfather said it is like electricity. Useful when used intelligently but deadly when abused. We must learn to use the energy intelligently. What if I am attacked? What if my wife or children are attacked? Is it a betrayal to nonviolence to defend them?
No. It would be right for one to protect them even if one had to use violence. However, we should be careful to use just enough violence to protect and not excessive violence to destroy. It also does not mean that one has the right to walk around with a gun in the name of protection. That is not justified. The freedom to buy, carry and own guns is ridiculous. If you could add something to the school curriculums of the world, what would it be?
The one important thing that I would add is learning how to deal with anger from the elementary school age all the way up to high school. It should be a compulsory subject for all. Can we really achieve a nonviolent world? If so, how?
Mankind has never found anything impossible to achieve when determined to do so. All the equipment and instruments that we use today were once considered impossible. Nonviolence is nothing but love, compassion, understanding, respect and appreciation. If we consider these to be impossible to achieve then God help humankind.
