Nearly 600 students, faculty, staff and area residents attended a lecture by Rajmohan Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, as part of The University of Scranton’s Education for Justice program. Among those attending the lecture are, from left, Anthony P. Ferzola, Ph.D., associate professor of mathematics and coordinator of the Education for Justice Office, Rajmohan Gandhi, Tata Mbugua, Ph.D., associate professor of education, Harold Baillie, Ph.D., provost and vice president for academic affairs, and Michael Mensah, Ph.D., dean of the Kania School of Management.

Rajmohan Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, addressed an overflowing crowd of students, faculty and community members at a lecture held recently in the McIlhenny Ballroom, DeNaples Center, as part of the University’s Education for Justice 2010-11 theme of “Peace and Reconciliation.” Gandhi talked about global peace and nonviolence, drawing on stories about his grandfather’s peacemaking efforts and offering inspiration for how citizens can contribute to global justice.

Gandhi began by sharing a story he finds to be inspirational – his grandfather’s explanation for using the term “nonviolence” instead of “love.” He said his grandfather had once explained that in spite of the negative word ‘non,’ nonviolence is not a negative term. “We are surrounded in life by strife and friendship, life living upon life; non-violence means love and yet it means something else,” Gandhi said. His grandfather avoided the word “love” because it suggests an absence of struggle, and he strived to inflict both goodwill and struggle. 

He encouraged the audience that they, too, can work toward global harmony, acknowledging, “we can all be heroic in tough situations and contribute to peace.”  He shared one of his grandfather’s favorite phrases: “Turn the searchlight inward.”

“He knew that the work of peace and justice needed to be ignited in his or her own heart,” Gandhi said, relating it to his grandfather’s view of the term “love.”

“As we prepare ourselves to work for, and if need be to struggle, for peace and justice, let us also be willing to turn the searchlight inward, and indeed seek correction, courage and inspiration from the inner voice that is willing to speak to all of us,” he said.

Gandhi closed his remarks by affirming that America is an exceptional nation because it invites and accepts all views and exceeds all others with its variety of freedom.

“(I)f you want American exceptionalism to be loved in the world, let that exceptionalism consist of excellent care and courage,” Gandhi said. “Let American exceptionalism be free of the belief that being American authorizes arrogance. American society is indeed superior to most other societies, but for that God, nature and history should be thanked, and Americans should not be congratulating God for having created them.”

The full lecture can be seen here.

The Education for Justice Office promotes justice throughout The University of Scranton community through various programs, lectures and activities. The office wishes to educate students on the importance of justice, so they may act ethically when faced with justice themes in the future.