Resources for Teachers and Students
Prepare: Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mohandas K. Gandhi,
founded the M. K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, located
in Memphis, Tennessee. Arun's
biography can be found on the institute's website.
Read:
Arun Gandhi wrote an
original essay for the Architects of Peace project.
In it, he explores concepts of non-violence taught to him
by his grandfather.
Explore: The Gandhian Institute in Bombay is a charitable
trust dedicated to propagating the writings of M. K. Gandhi.
Many of his entire works have been put online, including
The Mind of Mahatma Gandhi, first published in 1945, the
book through which much of the world became aware of his
philosophy of nonviolence. Those interested can view selections
on that philosophy, which Gandhi called "Ahimsa."
Write: In his Architects of Peace essay, Arun Gandhi
claims that the more possessions we have, "the more
we have to secure them from those who covet them."
Is this idea consonant with his grandfather's teachings?
What, according to Mahatma Gandhi, is the relationship between
material wealth and peace? Write a three-to-five page research
paper investigating these questions, in which you reference
at least two distinct works of M. K. Gandhi, and a secondary
source written by a Gandhian scholar.
Extend: One of the best, most concise internet resources
dedicated to the furtherance of Gandhi's philosophy is called
The Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation for World Peace.
A concise biography
of Mahatma Gandhi can be found on their website. After reading
the bio, take the "Gandhi Quiz" which can be found
on their home page.
Additional Resource: In 1983, the motion picture
Gandhi won eight academy awards, including Best Actor, Best
Cinematography, Best Director and Best Picture. The film
is now available on DVD, and can be found in the video catalogues
of many libraries.
Biography of Arun
Gandhi