The American Gandhi: October 2009

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

My 2009 India trip: Gandhi facing the 21st Century

I traveled to India from September 23rd to October 14Th and want to report a sense of India from this trip. The trip has two general levels of experience: my itinerary to five cities portraying Gandhi and my observations about the radical changes in India happening at this time.

I was invited to the Youth Peace Festival in Chandigarh from September 27Th to October 1. Here, 500 youth from 10 countries, including Pakistan, Shri Lanka, the Philippines, UK, US, and India, participated in the Festival. I gave the "Inaugural Address" as the American Gandhi and presented the youth with the opportunity to be the change that the world demands today in the light of resource depletion, climate change, nuclear weapons, poverty, and violence. As Gandhi, so they can change themselves to face courageously the realities of today's world.

After the Festival, I traveled to Delhi to participate in first "All India Rally" against nuclear power on October 2ND, Gandhi's 140Th birthday. My Gandhi appearance fit right into the occasion to lead the rally at Raj Ghat (memorial site of Gandhi's cremation) and walk through the streets of Delhi. I connected my anti-nuclear work in the US and UK with that of India.

From October 5Th to 8Th I presented Gandhi in the Rajsamand area under the sponsorship of ANUVRAT at the Children's Peace Palace. We visited numerous schools, universities, and teachers' educational institutions.

On October 10Th and 11Th, I presented Gandhi in Aurangabad with the aide of Dr. Chavan who had invited me originally to India in 2005 to portray Gandhi. Among the appearances was a lively discussion among activists, doctors, scientists about the serious needs of the day. As at the Children's Peace Festival, the escalating shrinkage of water was the dominant topic. Chavan picked up on the "American Gandhi seeking 79 truth seekers" flyer from my book, THE AMERICAN GANDHI, My Seeking Truth With Humanity at the Crossroads." Chavan promised more to come from the encounter.

On October 12Th and 13Th I presented at a university co-initiated by Gandhi in 1920, Gujerat Vijapeeth, which includes a Gandhi Studies Program. Also, I visited for the first time the Sabermati Ashram, Gandhi's second ashram in India and the site of the initiation of the Salt March. My host took me to a village where I experienced a traditional village undergoing changes due to modern developments.

The trip included 23 Gandhi presentations, two public demonstrations: the Anti-nuclear rally and a disarmament walk in Chandigarh; and numerous media interviews among all the interactions with people along the way.

My second level of experience and observation is about the developments within India as she seeks to take her place as a nation and power (superpower). The new creation of superstructure in roads and airports is most obvious everywhere. What is not obvious is the social upheaval to the peoples. Gandhi's India is disappearing, the India of the 700,000 villages. Creations of dams, roads, cities, and superstructure of all forms as India joins the world market economy is pushing the villagers to the cities. On top to this the rampant grabbing of natural resources (water, uranium, bauxite, etc) is taking place in the tribal and village rural areas. I had two personal encounters with persons and groups facing these daunting challenges. Upon entering Delhi at the airport I discovered Arundhati Roy's new book, LISTENING TO GRASSHOPPERS, FIELD NOTES ON DEMOCRACY. Here, she presents a poetic, passionate account of the effects of these developments on the peoples of India, emphasizing the "terrorist" actions of the first decade of the 21st Century. I cannot recommend this book highly enough for those interested in India and the world today. Her sense is that India's options are boiling down to social justice or civil war.

Press Release

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CONTACT
Marcus Atchison,
Faslane Media Coordinator
Cell: 780-772-7201
blog: at http://www.theamericangandhi.blogspot.com/
August 1, 2007

The American Gandhi’s Participation in the Nuclear –Free Peace Walk Concludes August 6th

(London, UK). The Foot Prints For Peace Peace Walk from Dublin to London will conclude on August 6th in London. The Walk arrives in London on August 4th for an appearance at Battersea Park from 12:30 until 1:30 PM.

August 6th events include a Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Commemoration of the atom bombing of Hiroshima, Japan takes place in Tavistock Square from 12:00 noon to 1:00 PM. From there the Peace Walk will proceed to Parliament Square activities at 4:00 PM.

The Peace Walkers plan to deliver a powerful message to Number 19 Downing Street.

Bernie Meyer of Olympia, Washington, USA has participated in the walk as The American Gandhi since he arrived in Glasgow on May 25th. He conducted a direct action at Faslane with the Faslane 365 Campaign on May 28th. Read more about his experiences at http://www.theamericangandhi.blogspot.com/

Meyer describes his arrest at Aldermaston, nuclear weapons producer and laser facility. “…Four of us stepped into the gate road to block traffic. Three strong young folks locked hands and feet together... What a team! Police needed special pressure point tactics to separate them before arrest. Meanwhile Gandhi [Meyer] was pushed aside. They did not want to arrest him. Gandhi persisted. He was arrested after the others were hauled off. He kept coming back on the road, despite the loving solicitude of the police. We will be charged with a new law, called the By Laws, which are as vague as the US Congress Guantanamo laws (which were denied by the courts). We are now released.”

Dressed in loincloth and shawl, the 69 year old activist has walked over 700 miles with Foot Prints For Peace, visiting nuclear power and nuclear armaments bases along the way.

Stops were also made at Faslane, Coulport, Sellafield, Dundrennum Firing Range, BAE Systems, Menwith Hill, Fylingdales Ballistic Missile Early Warning Center, and Aldermaston. At Aldermaston, Gandhi was arrested again while attempting to give a message about nuclear weapons and nuclear power.

When the journey commenced, Meyer made a statement about his intentions for the long walk: he is attempting to create an awareness of the connection between: global climate change, the effects of peak oil, nuclear war-making and the plight of the poor. "Humanity is at a crossroads," said the American Gandhi.

Having made the trek, Meyer comments that his views have not changed. He says, "If anything, they have intensified." The American Gandhi believes there is much to do, and that humans are able to correct their mistakes as well as bring justice and peace to the world.