[ Updated below with statement from Hindu American Foundation ]
Arun Gandhi, the South African-born grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and the founder of the MK Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, has resigned from the institute following charges of anti-Semitism. The uproar arose over his remarks in the Washington Post's "On Faith" section online, in a Jan. 7 post titled, "Jewish Identity Can't Depend on Violence":
"Jewish identity in the past has been locked into the holocaust experience -- a German burden that the Jews have not been able to shed. It is a very good example of a community can overplay a historic experience to the point that it begins to repulse friends. The holocaust was the result of the warped mind of an individual who was able to influence his followers into doing something dreadful. But, it seems to me the Jews today not only want the Germans to feel guilty but the whole world must regret what happened to the Jews. The world did feel sorry for the episode but when an individual or a nation refuses to forgive and move on the regret turns into anger.
"The Jewish identity in the future appears bleak. Any nation that remains anchored to the past is unable to move ahead and, especially a nation that believes its survival can only be ensured by weapons and bombs. In Tel Aviv in 2004 I had the opportunity to speak to some Members of Parliament and Peace activists all of whom argued that the wall and the military build-up was necessary to protect the nation and the people. In other words, I asked, you believe that you can create a snake pit -- with many deadly snakes in it -- and expect to live in the pit secure and alive? What do you mean? they countered. Well, with your superior weapons and armaments and your attitude towards your neighbors would it not be right to say that you are creating a snake pit? How can anyone live peacefully in such an atmosphere? Would it not be better to befriend those who hate you?"
The post has generated hundreds of comments, many of them accusing Arun Gandhi of bigotry despite an apology he later posted. The MK Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence had relocated from Memphis to the University of Rochester in New York, and university president Joel Seligman called the resignation 'appropriate' on the "On Faith" site:
"I was surprised and deeply disappointed by Arun Gandhi's recent opinion piece in the Washington Post blog, On Faith. I believe that his subsequent apology inadequately explains his stated views, which seem fundamentally inconsistent with the core values of the University of Rochester.
"In particular I vehemently disagree with his singling out of Israel and the Jewish people as to blame for the "Culture of Violence" that he believes is eventually going to destroy humanity. This kind of stereotyping is inconsistent with our core values and would be inappropriate when applied to any race, any religion, any nationality, or either gender."
Clearly the university was under heavy pressure. From the AP:
"I think it's shameful that a peace institute would be headed up by a bigot," said Abraham H. Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, an international group that opposes anti-Semitism. "One would hope that the grandson of such an illustrious human being would be more sensitive to Jewish history."
For a radically different take on the incident, see how the Tehran Times covered it, with the headline 'Gandhi Grandson falls victim to Zionist Lobby':
Arun Gandhi, the fifth grandson of the revered pacifist, became the target of the influential Jewish lobby in the U.S. and, according to his son Tushar Gandhi, was persecuted for his point of view.
<snip>
Mr. Gandhi said he had come in the line of fire since then with a particularly virulent arm of the Jewish lobby in the U.S. launching a concerted campaign against him. “I forget their name, but I call them Zionist Nazis,” he said.
Coverage elsewhere:
- Washington Post: "Gandhi's Grandson quits Nonviolence Institute"
- Daily Kos blog: "Arun Gandhi forced to resign from nonviolence institute"
- Rochester Democrat & Chronicle guest essayists: "Community must heal hurt Gandhi inflicted"
The Hindu American Foundation has issued a statement about the situation. Full press release below:
The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) absolutely rejects an entry by Arun Gandhi, a grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, appearing on the blog "On Faith" carried by the Washington Post, the foundation said today in a press release. Gandhi sparked widespread condemnation with his entry on January 7 lambasting Jews, writing that, "We have created a culture of violence (Israel and the Jews are the biggest players) and that Culture of Violence is eventually going to destroy humanity."
Below you will find:
- Arun Gandhi's resignation statement; the president's statement
- the institute board's statement
- the June 1, 2007, press release by the university when Gandhi moved the institute from Memphis
- the Hindu American Foundation's statement
POST YOUR COMMENTS BELOW.
Resignation Statement by Arun Gandhi
(January 24, 2008)
Today I am announcing my resignation from the Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence.
My statements on the recent Washington Post blog was couched in language that was hurtful and contrary to the principles of nonviolence.
My intention was to generate a healthy discussion on the proliferation of violence. Clearly I did not achieve my goal. Instead, unintentionally, my words have resulted in pain, anger, confusion and embarrassment. I deeply regret these consequences.
I would like to be part of a healing process. The principles of nonviolence are founded on love, respect, understanding and compassion. It is my sincere hope that this situation will give me and others the opportunity to work together to transform anger and negative emotions, create deeper mutual respect and understanding and build more harmonious communities.
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M.K. Gandhi Institute Board Release
(January 25, 2008)
Yesterday Arun Gandhi chose to resign his position as President of the Board of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence. The Board of Directors respects his resignation as final as a result of this incident. The essence of Arun Gandhi’s work has been to educate and promote the principles of nonviolence. In that spirit, the Institute plans to work with the University of Rochester and other community groups to use the recent events as an opportunity to deepen mutual understanding through dialogue employing the principles of nonviolence and peace. The Institute invites partnership in this process.
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President Joel Seligman's statement regarding Arun Gandhi’s resignation
January 25, 2008
Arun Gandhi has now resigned as president of the board of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence. He was not a member of our faculty or of our staff. When I met with him yesterday after he resigned, he gave me a copy of his resignation letter that recognized that language in his recent Washington Post blog "was hurtful and contrary to the principles of nonviolence" and he deeply regretted "the pain, anger, confusion, and embarrassment" caused by his words.
A fundamental value of the University of Rochester is a commitment to diversity and inclusiveness. We welcome and support all who teach, study, learn, or work here. Our commitment to diversity and inclusiveness occurs simultaneously with our fundamental commitment to the value of ideas and of free speech.
Universities exist and best serve all of us if they foster open and virtually unregulated teaching, research, discussion and debate, including viewpoints that are diametrically opposed to each other. A University's role in society is not to impose intellectual orthodoxy, but to provide the opportunity to develop and articulate opinions or beliefs that may be unpopular or little believed. We progress because we are a marketplace for ideas, the most enduring of which often only emerge after considerable debate and initial doubt. We all benefit from the tradition of rational debate within our universities in which we have the opportunity to bring together people, often with long and tragic histories of grievances and violent interactions, to speak freely to each other.
Arun Gandhi's January 7 statement in the Washington Post's "On Faith" blog did not reflect the core values of the University of Rochester or the values of the M.K. Gandhi Institute itself. Under the circumstances, I believe that Arun Gandhi's resignation was appropriate.
The M.K. Gandhi Institute itself is separate from Arun Gandhi and will continue its mission here. The Institute is not formally part of the University of Rochester, but has been provided space and staff support at the University since it moved here in June 2007. The Institute's mission is to educate about nonviolent conflict resolution and to inspire and support efforts that promote harmony among people.
The University of Rochester will host a forum later this year to provide Arun Gandhi, a leader of the Jewish community and other speakers the opportunity to address the issues raised by Mr. Gandhi's statements and related issues. A University can and should promote dialogue in which we can learn from each other even when the most painful or difficult issues will be discussed.
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University of Rochester press release
June 1, 2007
Contact: Sharon Dickman
sdickman[at]rochester.edu
585.275.4128
Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence Relocates to University of Rochester
The University of Rochester will be the new home of the M. K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, which was founded by the grandson of the Indian humanitarian to promote his ideals internationally through educational programs. Working with support from New York State Assemblyman David Koon, Arun Gandhi will relocate the institute's materials, including artifacts and books, and his headquarters to the University's River Campus.
"The University is honored to be the new home for the Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence. Its presence will enhance the studies and practice of peace and nonviolence, core values that are shared across all cultures and all nations," said University President Joel Seligman. "We are very grateful to Assemblyman David Koon for helping to bring the institute to the University of Rochester. His efforts were instrumental in making sure that the entire Rochester community will be able to benefit from Mr. Gandhi's work."
Currently located in Memphis, Tenn., the institute was founded in 1991 by Arun Gandhi and his late wife Sunanda and offers programs that teach the theory and practice of nonviolence to young people and adults. Advocating the peaceful methods that his grandfather Mohandas K. Gandhi used to secure Indian independence from Great Britain, Arun Gandhi travels across the United States and abroad as a speaker and lecturer.
"The presence of the M. K. Gandhi Institute will provide new opportunities, both academic and extracurricular, that will enrich the student experience," said Richard Feldman, Dean of the College. "The University of Rochester is delighted that Mr. Gandhi has chosen to base the institute on our campus."
University of Rochester students will be able to participate in internships at the institute. The institute's research library, which includes the 100 volumes of Mohandas K. Gandhi's writings as well as other research material, videos, audiotapes, and photographs, will be moved to the University. Arun Gandhi plans to reach out to the local interfaith community on new programming and events, which will be coordinated by a community relations officer.
"The people at the University of Rochester and in the Rochester community have been very open and welcoming," said Arun Gandhi. "The university is a place where we come to open our minds and learn of new things. I feel that we will be able to achieve much more over the next few years because everyone has been so receptive."
The M. K. Gandhi Institute sponsors two national conferences a year; offers programs for middle, high school, and college-age students; and provides diversity and nonviolence training workshops and seminars to churches, service organizations, and other interested groups.
"I consider it both a prestigious honor and an exciting occasion for the University of Rochester—and for our entire community—to have the M. K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence relocate here," said Assemblyman Koon of Perinton. "Arun Gandhi has carried on his grandfather's legacy and established himself as one of the foremost proponents of nonviolence in the world today. To have him and the institute he founded centered here in Rochester creates an opportunity for us to make great strides in the area of peacemaking, both locally and globally."
Arun Gandhi has been a regular visitor to the University of Rochester over the past decade, talking to classes taught by Professor of Philosophy Robert Holmes, a close friend. He also has delivered several public lectures on campus, most recently last September when he discussed "Terrorism and Nonviolence—Choices for the Future." His lecture inspired several University of Rochester students to create a new student group, Nonviolent on Campus. Gandhi also has spoken at other colleges in the Rochester area.
Programs reach out to diverse audiences, groups
Other programs of the M.K. Gandhi Institute include:
Alternative Spring Break. College students attend lectures at the institute and then volunteer at local community service organizations like food banks or Habitat for Humanity.
A Season for Nonviolence. In 1998, Arun and Sunanda Gandhi organized memorial events to mark the 50th anniversary of Mohandas K. Gandhi's assassination on Jan. 30 and the 30th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4. The 64-day period between the two days was called "A Season for Nonviolence" and included other community programs and events designed to build relationships across ethnic, racial, religious, and economic groups. "A Season for Nonviolence" has become an annual program in more than 200 cities and communities in the United States and abroad.
Behind the Prison Walls. The Gandhi Institute sponsors an annual essay contest for prison inmates, with the winning essays awarded prize money and printed in an institute publication. "It's interesting what people of violence think of nonviolence," Arun Gandhi explains.
Arun and Sunanda Gandhi
Arun Gandhi was born in South Africa to Gandhi's second son and was raised in the first of the nonviolent communities established by M. K. Gandhi in South Africa and India. In 1946, his parents sent him to India, where he lived for 18 months with his grandfather during the campaign for independence from British rule.
At 23, Arun Gandhi returned to India and became a journalist with the Times of India. He met his wife Sunanda, a nurse, when he was hospitalized in Bombay and the couple married in 1958. Together with their colleagues, they founded the Center for Social Unity, an economic self-help program to alleviate poverty and discrimination among India's poor, an initiative that has now spread to more than 300 Indian villages.
In 1987, the Gandhis came to the United States, where they founded the M. K. Gandhi Institute at Christian Brothers University in 1991. The couple moved to the Rochester area in 2004 to be closer to their daughter and her family. In February this year, Mrs. Gandhi passed away at the age of 74.
About the University of Rochester
The University of Rochester (www.rochester.edu) is one of the nation's leading private universities. Located in Rochester, N.Y., the University gives students exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close collaboration with faculty through its unique cluster-based curriculum. Its College of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering is complemented by the Eastman School of Music, Simon School of Business, Warner School of Education, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, and the Memorial Art Gallery.
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HINDU AMERICAN FOUNDATION
HAF Disturbed by Comments about Jews by Arun Gandhi
For Media Inquiries contact:
Ishani Chowdhury
Office: 301.770.7835
Washington, DC (January 27, 2008): The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) absolutely rejects an entry by Arun Gandhi, a grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, appearing on the blog "On Faith" carried by the Washington Post, the foundation said today in a press release. Gandhi sparked widespread condemnation with his entry on January 7 lambasting Jews, writing that, "We have created a culture of violence (Israel and the Jews are the biggest players) and that Culture of Violence is eventually going to destroy humanity." Gandhi failed to categorically disown his remarks in a carefully written follow-up posting, and in the face of opposition, now has resigned as the director of the MK Gandhi Institute for Non-Violence based at the University of Rochester.
"The simplistic and biased comments by Gandhi were not just unbecoming of one who presumes to lead a conflict resolution institute, but dangerously misguided," said Nikhil Joshi, Esq., a member of the HAF Board of Directors. "His resignation is a rather unhappy end to his controversial career as director of the MK Gandhi Institute."
The Foundation took strong exception, especially, to Gandhi's sweeping attack on Jews as a people, rather than focusing an argument against specific policies of Israel in response to the daily threats against and attacks on Israel. "Jewish identitity in the past has been locked into the holocaust experience -- a German burden that the Jews have not been able to shed," Gandhi wrote. "It is a very good example of a community can overplay a historic experience to the point that it begins to repulse friends." The American Jewish Committee, The Anti-Defamation League and many other prominent Jewish-American organizations released statements condemning Gandhi's remarks.
"The Hindu American Foundation continues to believe that true inter-faith dialogue must be predicated on mutual respect, tolerance and understanding," Joshi said. "Sadly, Arun Gandhi failed to uphold these principles, and by his capricious comments could reverse many gains of painstaking progress."
The Hindu American Foundation is a 501(c)(3), non-profit, non-partisan organization promoting the Hindu and American ideals of understanding, tolerance and pluralism. Contact HAF at 1-301-770-7835 or on the web at www.HAFsite.org.
