Gandhi Fellows Reflect on the Meaning of Nonviolence

 

“I study theories and abstractions in class. Working with the Gandhi Institute allows me to take that knowledge and use it with a commitment to love and truth in a project that empowers oppressed youth.” – Joseph Gardella (UR Senior)

 

“As a native Pakistani, I had known quite a bit about Gandhi. But, I only learned about his passion for inter-religious and intercultural understanding after becoming a Gandhi Service Fellow. One of the first gifts I was given when I became part of the Institute was a book called Vows and Observances. After reading it, I was able to see how knowledgeable Gandhi was about other faiths and how he worked to incorporate all religions into his community, the Ashram, making people of all backgrounds feel welcome and respected.” Fatima Bawany (UR Freshman)

 

“Working with the Gandhi Institute changed my life completely. I became at peace with my inner self. The frustrations that I felt during my first year of college disappeared. I am happier and even much better at my relationships with other people.  I am learning to accept people the way they are without losing who I am. If more people acknowledged the power of nonviolence, we would solve many of the world’s problems such as global peace and security…Before I started working with the Gandhi Institute, I considered people who didn’t like me as “enemies.” However, through nonviolence lessons, I found out that an enemy is the one whose story I don’t yet know. Many people think that nonviolence is a weapon of the weak. I have found out that nonviolence is actually a weapon of the brave and not the weak.” Lendsey Achudi (UR Sophomore)

 

“Working with the Gandhi Institute has been such a beautiful and worthwhile experience for me. I have always desired to achieve peace in my community, and I feel like I am one step closer to my goal after learning about the many forms of peace initiatives in Rochester. The journey to peace on Earth seems endless, but does not every journey begin with a few small footsteps in the right direction?” Faye Gura (UR Junior)