Mahatma Gandhi's Grandson, Arun, to Speak at Holy Cross

WORCESTER, Mass. – Arun Gandhi, grandson of legendary peace fighter and spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi, will give a free public lecture at Holy Cross on Thursday, Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the Hogan Campus Center Ballroom. Arun will speak about the influence his grandfather had in shaping his life, his personal views on nonviolence, and the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, which he founded with his wife, Sunanda, in 1991. After his lecture Arun will sign copies of his books, which will be available for purchase in the Holy Cross Bookstore. This event is sponsored by the student group I.N.D.I.A. (Individuals of All Nations Developing Indian Appreciation).

Born in 1934 in Durban, South Africa, Arun grew up under discriminatory apartheid laws. As a person of Indian heritage, he suffered racial confrontations with both blacks and whites. Beatings from white South Africans for being too “black,” and from black South Africans for being too “white” filled Arun with anger and hatred. Fearing more violence, his parents sent him to stay with his grandfather in India when he was 12 years old. His time in India proved both dangerous and exciting, as the country was in the midst of a revolution to gain independence from British rule. However, the 18-month stay transformed Arun’s life and shaped the foundation of his life’s work as a powerful advocate for nonviolence.

After leading several successful projects for social and economic reform in India, Arun came to the United States where he founded the Institute he runs with his wife. Dedicated to fostering an understanding of nonviolence, and to putting that philosophy to practical use, the organization sponsors workshops, lectures and community outreach programs.

A former journalist at The Times of India, where he worked for 30 years, Arun is the author of several books, including A Patch of White, about life in South Africa, M.K. Gandhi’s Wit & Wisdom, and most recently The Forgotten Woman: The Untold Story of Kastur, the Wife of Mahatma Gandhi, with his wife.