Gandhi's theory is good in today's woYTd

By ANDREW MILNER Staff Writer NORWICH The grandson of one of history's most inspiring leaders told a captive audience that Mohandas Gandhi's theory of nonviolence was applicable In the nuclear age. Arun Gandhi spoke last night at the United Church of Christ about the practice of nonviolence, which he ;aid involves something deeper than he mere lack of violence in a power struggle. "If you want to abide by nonviolence." Gandhi said, "you must learn to control your anger, and think of your enemy as a misguided friend.' 1 , .. / Gandhi. 5-1. was born a'n'd'raised In" South Africa, where as an Indian he was chastised by both blacks'and whites. lie was forced to attend different schools than white children, and at age 12 was sent to live with his grandfather. "I thought I'd be very hateful," he said about the effect of racial prejudice on him as a child. His grandfather's simple wisdom helped him conquer his initial feelings. "Once, when I was in fights with fellow students, I told my grandfather, '1 hale them.' He said, 'Hate is a very bad word. Try to eliminate this word from your vocabulary."1 Some contend t h a t passive resistance cannot occur in the latter part of the 20th century. Gandhi said. "They say that nonviolence cannot apply to today's conditions. IJut they do not understand the significance of nonviolence; some think the use of nonviolence is nonviolence." He cited South Africa as one world spot whore nonviolence can Inu t i l i z e d , but only with u n i t y among non-whites. "The 2'J million non u n i t e s arc divided i in various tribes)...they must form a united front. They must understand they have to unite to fight a battle versus white racism." He said that jailed leader Nelson Mandela may be the only figure who can successfully join all minorities. He also supported international divestment from South Africa. "It is harder trying to convince 180 nations to apply sanctions against South Africa than to convince the 15 countries (doing business In the nation) to divest," Gandhi said. He also deplored what he called a "pathetically limited" world view by Americans, who claim, "We know everything, we have everything." Gandhi also claimed that Americans 'spenoV more"'tiros and money combatting world hunger than they do on American homelessness. Mohandas Gandhi once reminded his grandson that "when you point a finger at someone else, there are three fingers pointing at you." When asked how he felt about the 1983 Academy Award w i n n i n g biography about his grandfather. Arun said that at first he was dismayed. "The $20 million they spent could be spent for poor people." Furthermore, "Five hundred books about Gandhi have not helped the world understand him." Ultimately, he was impressed by the work of director Sir Richard Attenbourogh and Ben Kingsley, who played Gandhi. "(The film did) a good job in portraying Mohandas Gandhi as a human being. It captured the true essence of my grandfather." C;mdhi and his wife. Sunanda. are doing research at the University of Mississippi, comparing racial problems in the I'mted Slates w i t h similar problems in .'itiuih A f r i c a a:ui India