Grandson of Mahatma Gandhi Visits Baylor

Posted Sep 21 2012

Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson, Dr. Arun Gandhi, spent the week of September 17-21 in Chattanooga for “Gandhi Visits Chattanooga - A City Moving Toward a Season for Nonviolence,” and was the keynote speaker for two special chapel events at Baylor.

Community Service RESPECT student leaders and Joli Anderson, the director of Baylor's community service program, were involved in many of the community events, including a community gathering at College Hill Courts and a non-violence worksthop at Bessie Smith Hall. The students also met with Dr. Gandhi on campus prior to his chapel address to the student body. (click here to view the podcast)

“We are deeply honored that Dr. Gandhi returned to our campus as a guest speaker. His message of nonviolence and the legacy of his grandfather are both timeless and terribly powerful. We applaud the City of Chattanooga and the Department of Education, Arts & Culture for their efforts and we are proud to partner with them in a shared vision of nonviolence for the future this great city,” said Headmaster Scott Wilson.

Dr. Gandhi carries on the work of Mahatma Gandhi teaching his message of nonviolence in cities around the world and his visit featured a Social Justice and Cultural Tour. A Mayoral Proclamation was presented at City Council on the Tuesday of Dr. Gandhi’s visit, marking the City of Chattanooga’s commitment to becoming a “Season for Nonviolence” city in January 2013. Only a handful of cities in the nation have received this distinction.

During the week of “Gandhi Visits Chattanooga” city officials and citizens began visioning what it means to be a “Season for Nonviolence” city, and what initiatives and events might take place, and how we might organize our “Season for Nonviolence” in “The Chattanooga Way.” The season launches on January 30, 2013 of each year—commemorating Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination—and culminates on April 4, 2013—commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination.

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