Politics & Government
Gandhi's Granddaughter: '...Peace At Any Cost Should Be Pursued'
"The majority of people are peace-loving, but some of them just want to fight. Let us hope that one day, there will be peace. It doesn't sound too practical, but what a nice concept."
Peace transcended international borders at Carthage College on Sept. 21, as a local group welcomed a guest with world-famous stature.
Peace Learning Circles – a local nonprofit – welcomed Usha Gandhi Gokani, granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, to deliver a keynote address on what it means to be a peacemaker.
Peace and awareness were the themes highlighting a ceremony that marked the closing of an 11-day-long Circles of Peace event, which runs from Sept. 11 through 21. The event started in 2006.
“We’re trying to build awareness of respect, values, inclusion and unity in our community,” said Sue Hollow, Executive Director of Peace Learning Circles, Inc.
Gokani, who traveled from India the day prior for the event, spoke of the impact that peace can have on the world and of her grandfather’s legacy.
“Peace is not something we should remember once a year,” Gokani said. “The majority of people are peace-loving, but some of them just want to fight. Let us hope that one day, there will be peace. It doesn’t sound too practical, but what a nice concept.”
Gokani said her grandfather’s impact on the world remains more relevant today than ever. Gokani was in her 20s when Gandhi was assassinated.
“Gandhi believed that peace at any cost should be pursued,” she said. “He wanted a peaceful existence between Muslims and Hindus.”
Gokani received a standing ovation from the crowd after her address.
The group also welcomed Prasad Gollanapalli, a Gandhian scholar and a founder of the Gandhi King Foundation.
“Through self-suffering, Gandhi engaged in a process of non-violence,” Gollanapalli said. “Everybody would say, ‘I want peace,’ but what is the reason for violence?”
Gollanapalli said peace lovers must remain united in the world and resist the temptation to encourage violent thoughts, language or other acts.
“As Gandhi said, ‘be the change you wish to see in the world,’” Gollanapalli said. “Gandhi is alive today in the work of all of us.”
Peace Learning Circles also named two new area Peace Mentors, one each for Racine and Kenosha. Rev. Dr. Tony Larsen, pastor at Olympia Brown Unitarian Universalist Church, was named the mentor for Racine. Gary Vargas, Student Liaison at Bradford High School, was named the mentor for Kenosha.
Peace Mentors are role models in the community for kindness, caring, compassion and peaceful problem solving.
