Arun Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi’s fifth grandson, recently exhibited his lack of understanding of historical contexts and political realities in his recent article in the Washington Post. Gandhi’s grandson claims that
We have created a culture of violence (Israel and the Jews are the biggest players) and that Culture of Violence is eventually going to destroy humanity.
Arun believes the Jews have overplayed the experiences of the Holocaust and they need to befriend those who hate them. Arun’s comments should really not come as a surprise based upon his grandfather’s track record. Mahatma Gandhi published a statement in Harijan, Mahatma’s weekly publication, in November 1938 about the Jewish situation in Nazi Germany. Mahatma suggested that the Jews accept the plight of sufferring. He wrote,
The calculated violence of Hitler may even result in a general massacre of the Jews… But if the Jewish mind could be prepared for voluntary suffering, even the massacre I have imagined could be turned into a day of thanksgiving…
Gandhi wanted the Jews to remain in Germany and pursue active non-violence, satyagraha, even if this resulted in millions of deaths. He did not understand what was at stake for the Jewish people and was willing to put utopian, naive ideals before the value of the sanctity of life.
Martin Buber responded to Gandhi in February 1939 and emphasized that the Jewish position in Germany required the use of different tactics than those recommended by Gandhi. Buber commented,
Now do you know or do you not know, Mahatma, what a concentration camp is like and what goes on there? Do you know of the torments in the concentration camp, of its methods of slow and quick slaughter? …An effective stand may be taken in the form of non-violence against unfeeling human beings in the hope of gradually bringing them thereby to their senses; but a diabolic universal steam-roller cannot thus be withstood.
It is apparent that Gandhi’s legacy continues with his grandson Arun. Arun Gandhi ignores the real perpetrators of the “culture of violence” and excuses their behavior by using the Jews, Zionism, and Israel as scapegoats. Arun should ask members of Hamas and Islamo-fascists why they are not reaching out to their neighbors. I think we all know why.
January 10th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Arun Gandhi comments about Jews, the holocaust and Israel are part of the age old anti-Semitic rhetoric of, lets blame the Jews. For someone who is the official spokesperson of a nonviolent movement I would say his comments were biased and anti-Semitic. Mr. Arun Gandhi should be espousing unity and understanding among people not divisiveness which in term leads to hate and bigotry. Does Mr. Arun Gandhi understand the concept of numbers? Six million people killed because they were Jews by a madman. This is something that the world must never forget.
Shame on you Mr. Gandhi you divide and foment hate not unite.
January 15th, 2008 at 12:40 am
will you stop your bs.
first things first.
arun gandhi is a fringe element.
all indians support israel.
all young 900 million indians love jews ans israel.
50,000 israeli’s visit india every year, after army duty to chill.
we accept them, we love them.
all muslims put together.. dont make up the population of india.
after america, we believe India and indians are the most pro-israeli force of people on earth.
-GOD BLESS ISRAEL
and dont mess with the mahatma.. he is a god.
SHALOM