Does Gandhi still matter to India and the world today? What is it about one man – born nearly 160 years ago – that continues to spark such deep interest, curiosity, and admiration across the world? What makes his philosophy so enduring that it has inspired leaders and thinkers as diverse as Martin Luther King Jr., Barack Obama, Aung San Suu Kyi, the Dalai Lama, and Nelson Mandela, among others? From the U.S. civil rights movement to struggles for justice in Yemen and Syria, and the fight for independence and struggle against apartheid in South Africa – Gandhi’s legacy has echoed across continents and causes, transcending social, cultural and political boundaries.
This session at the LearningPlanet Festival unpacks this question further: What remains of Gandhi’s life and work nearly eight decades after his death? At the very least, three elements survive:
- Satyagraha, or the weapon of non-violent resistance, which several remarkable individuals have picked up after him.
- The constitutional spirit of independent India as a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic – shaped in part by Gandhi’s ideals – remains foundational, though increasingly tested in today’s political climate.
- Rooted in the principles of truth, compassion, and non-violence, the third element consists of lessons Gandhi can offer us today as we navigate an increasingly polarised and violent world.
Join the session to reflect on what a Gandhian approach to peace, justice, and non-violence might look like in the 21st century.
Please note: This session will take place in-person at the Learning Planet Institute campus and is open exclusively to LPI staff and students.
