Gandhi would've used social media, says grandson

Arun was only 12-years-old when his parents dropped him off to live with his grandfather in an ashram in India. Born in South Africa, Arun was raised in an ashram near Durban. However, his parents packed him off to live with his grandfather in India in the hope that he would be able to rid
Arun of his anger provoked by racially-motivated attacks. "My grandfather saw my anger as a fuel for change," said Arun.
Arun Manilal Gandhi is the fifth grandson of India's legendary freedom fighter and Father of the Nation Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who was also called Gandhiji and Mahatma Gandhi.
Gandhiji's non-violent civil disobedience movement was among the most influential of the 20th century. Arun Gandhi, now at 83, is a soft-spoken public speaker, author and a socio-political activist.
He released his book The Gift of Anger in 2017, which comprises 11 lessons taught by his grandfather in the two years he lived with him. "It took me four months to complete the book. My grandfather's teachings are something I've been speaking about for 30 years," he said. Khaleej Times caught up with the Mahatma's grandson on the sidelines of the 10th edition of the Emirates Airlines Literary Festival (EALF) on Saturday.
His book has been doing well since its launch last April. It has been translated in 22 countries and it is also doing exceedingly well in South America. However, for Arun, the perfect way to translate the book's and the Mahatma's teachings is the direct impact it had on young people.
When asked if the Mahatma Gandhi would've been an avid user of social media, his grandson Arun Gandhi said that he would have definitely used them to impart his teachings. He said: "He used the typewriter and radio very well. I think he would've been active on social media."
Arun who uses only Facebook said: "That's the limit I've set for myself." Arun was also critical of journalism today and said that it has become more about making money or finding the next scoop, instead of publishing the truth.
 
Today's youth receptive to path of non-violence
Arun opined that globally, young people were selecting the right path of non-violence to bring change in society. "Young people today are very receptive to the teachings of ahimsa (non-violence)," he added.
"A 14-year-old in Germany wrote a letter to me after she read the book, stating that she could not put the book down. Her parents were divorced and she lived in a blended family and said that the book helped her overcome her feelings of resentment and anger."
He quoted the movement against gun violence in the US as an example. "In the past, as school shootings took place, I had concerns that there were so many shootings in the US and the youth were silent. I think the last shooting in Florida was a breaking point. I am very glad that the millennials are alert and are waking up to their responsibilities," he said.
Arun added. "I do expect that there should be anger in the youth and that it is a motivating force, but to express that anger and wish ill on somebody is not the non-violent way. The youth need to realise that they are not fighting enemies, but they are transforming a friend. If we believe that they are our friend and we look to change their thinking, then that would transform things more permanently."
Arun Gandhi, who is on his maiden visit to the UAE, also spoke to 400 students at the GEMS Wellington School as well.
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com