The grandson of Mohandas K. Gandhi said Saturday the only way we can stop the violence in our schools and streets is to adopt the teachings of India's legendary leader. The convention, held this weekend in Austin, brought together youth, immigrants, peace activists and workers from the U.S. and maquiladoras of Mexico. Gandhi, who promotes his grandfather's work through the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence in Memphis, Tenn., said in a speech on Friday that people have not grasped his grandfather's principles.
People also assume that the world has already achieved the dream of a just society.
Neither in India nor in this country have we achieved any kind of integration. We are still as far away from integration as we were in the 1960s. A more just and equal society can still be achieved, he said. We need to educate the majority in society and help the oppressed people to become economically sufficient to become part of mainstream society. People cannot assume that laws will completely alleviate poverty and solve society's problems, the grandson said.