Augusta, GA – Hundreds packed Trinity on the Hill United Methodist Church on Saturday to hear Arun Gandhi, a grandson of Indian independence leader Mohandas Gandhi, plant his seeds of wisdom in an interfaith program. Arun Gandhi’s arrival is timely with Martin Luther King Day just around the corner. Saturday he held a special press conference to spread the teachings of peace, equality, and justice. Gandhi was also the guest speaker for the 7th Annual MLK Interfaith Worship Service.
Mahatma Gandhi’s famous words still resonate in the hearts and minds of many: “We must become the change that we that wish to see in the world.”
Arun Gandhi said he spent a lot of time growing up with his grandfather learning the teachings of peace and nonviolence. Decades later, at age 79, he continues to spread the word to all nations about what good can come when one person makes a change—something Martin Luther King Jr. also preached.
“My message here in Augusta is how we need to use religion to bring people together instead of dividing people,” Gandhi said before the service. “Unfortunately, we have been dividing and killing in the name of God, which is not a part of any religion at all. We need to create an atmosphere where all of us can live together with proper understanding.”
“We are still a long way away from the dream that he cherished, and unless we take these small steps to make that dream become a reality, it will never become a reality.”
Gandhi has worked to make that a reality for more than 15 years, creating a 64-day nonviolence season in honor of the two leaders’ legacies.
“I just went out into the country and spoke to people and inspired them to do whatever they could in a small way to take us a step closer to the dream that both Gandhi and King shared,” said Gandhi.
He said more than 250 communities in the United States now observe the season for nonviolence.
“We are on a course of destruction. We are destroying our humanity, we are destroying our earth, we are destroying everything,” said Gandhi.
He believes a big part of that destruction across America is guns.
“No civilized nation can behave the way we do where children are killed and guns are used by children. The things that go on here are not only savage, but inhuman,” said Gandhi.
He said he will continue to advocate international peace and justice keeping with his grandfather’s legacy.
“I came here to plant seeds, and I hope that the people will reflect on this,” said Gandhi.
Arun Gandh is presently making final arrangements to lead the inaugural ‘Gandhi Satyagraha’ South Africa Tour in May.
Sources: Nicole Snyder at WJBF.com and Travis Highfield at Augusta Chronicle
