Grandson to talk about Gandhi's legacy of peace in Wheaton

It's been more than 60 years since Mahatma Gandhi was killed by an assassin in India, but his lessons and message of peace still live on.

His grandson, Rajmohan Gandhi, still remembers the precious time he spent with his grandfather as a child. He will discuss some of those memories, as well as what his grandfather might have advised for today's world, during an appearance at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Theosophical Society, 1926 N. Main St., Wheaton.

Gandhi's latest book, "Mahatma Gandhi: The Man, His People and an Empire," was released this year. He will sign copies after his talk.

While his grandfather's legacy is often the topic of his discussions, Rajmohan Gandhi has impressive credentials of his own.

He is now a visiting professor with the Center for Global Studies at the University of Illinois in Urbana. He also served in India's parliament and led India's delegation to the United Nations Human Rights Commission in 1990.

Ruthann Fowler, program coordinator for the Theosophical Society, said she heard Gandhi was teaching in Illinois and contacted his office to see if he might be available for a speaking engagement.

His schedule was full, but he graciously made an exception and added the Theosophical Society to his travels because of the organization's past ties with his grandfather and India, Fowler said.

The international headquarters for the Theosophical Society is in India. And it is believed that while studying in London as a young man, Mahatma Gandhi became acquainted with Theosophy and may even have joined the group at that time.

Fowler said it is believed that it was members of the Theosophical Society in London who encouraged him to deeply study the Hindu text "The Bhagavad Gita."

"He had never, so the story goes, really studied it," she said.

In India, Gandhi also became friends with Annie Besant, the society's second president who became active in starting India's Congress Party.

"She and Gandhi worked together," Fowler said.

Gandhi is best known as the leader of the Indian independence movement and for his non-violent civil disobedience actions.

Those included a hunger strike and the great salt march, in which he protested England's tax on salt by walking hundreds of kilometers to the sea and making salt from the ocean waters.

He was not the first to promote simplicity and non-violent resistance, but his efforts were a model for others who came after him, including civil rights leader the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in the United States.

But while Gandhi was a world figure at the time, to Rajmohan Gandhi he was simply his grandfather.

"He was 12 when Gandhi died. For the last two years of his (grandfather's) life, he spent more time with his grandfather," Fowler said.

Mahatma Gandhi was killed by a Hindu extremist in January 1948.

Rajmohan Gandhi's talk is open to the public and no reservations are necessary. The cost is $12 for guests, $10 for members of the Theosophical Society.

For details, call (630) 668-1571.

If you go

What:Rajmohan Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, and author of "Mahatma Gandhi: The Man, His People and an Empire"

When:7 p.m. Thursday Where: Theosophical Society, 1926 N. Main St., Wheaton

Cost: $12 for guests, $10 for Theosophical Society members

Call:(630) 668-1571