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Update: I’ve since updated the article to reflect the notion that this was not Kirti Menon, as originally reported, but could have been Gandhi’s grandson, Arun Gandhi. Thanks Kirti for clearing this up.

Mahatma Gandhi once said:

Nonviolence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man.

He spoke of peace and tranquility, good-naturedness and love and shared these beliefs with whomever was willing to listen and keep an open mind. When news spread across Asia of a large-scale attack against Hindus of East Bengal, Gandhi saw it fit to speak out against the backlash. According to Gandhi’s Life in 5000 Words:

At the age of seventy-seven, he went barefoot from village to village, through a most difficult countryside, where low, marshy patches had to be crossed on precarious, improvised bridges of bamboo poles. He lived on local fruit and vegetables and worked day and night to plant courage in the hearts of the Hindus and love in the hearts of the Muslims.

When my Math professor shared news the other day that he had interviewed Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson I was just as estatic as he was. He mentioned that he was fortunate enough to secure a sit-down interview with her to educate his 5th and 6th graders on the life of Gandhi, from none other than a flesh and blood relative. As he described the experience his face lit up like a child eyeing a new puppy, for he was excited to delve into the life of Gandhi through real-life experiences on the man who stirred up conflict and brought about peace.

Arun Gandhi, Gandhi’s grandson, sat before his audience of 5th graders and shared with them several stories of merit and obediance. He described one such story in which he was teased in school here in the United States by both white and black kids.

The white kids picked on him for being “too black” while the black kids tormented him for being “too white”. In his predicament there was no middle ground, and therefore (in rage) he decided to pump iron and build up his body to seek revenge on his tormentors. Seeing as though he came from a family of peace invoking Hindus, to prevent such violence his parents contacted Gandhi describing the situation.

Gandhi, almost breathlessly, told his relatives to send the boy to him and he promised he’d teach him about virtue. Everyday Gandhi took 2 hours and spent time schooling the boy in ethics, patience and non-violence. When the boy was given a stubby pencil to write with, he took one look at it and tossed it. Gandhi shook his head and beckoned the boy to listen to what he had to say.

He told his grandson that he shouldn’t throw away a pencil because for all the pencils in the world thousands of trees were torn down. In turn, trees give oxygen to the air which allows us to breathe. By throwing away a pencil, the boy was stealing a breathe of fresh air from humanity and all because of violent disgust and aggression.

Over the course of a summer, Gandhi’s grandson learned why his grandfather was such a profound and thoughtful individual. That he could take something so small as a pencil and turn it into a lesson on non-violence showed how intelligent and peaceful Gandhi was by nature and I’m sure it was a summer he never forgot.