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This rainy but inspiring weekend began on Friday, October 2^nd in Hamilton Ontario as students, community workers/organizers and supporters eagerly awaited the arrival of Professor Rajmohan Gandhi, Lecturer, author and President of Initiatives of Change International.

We gathered (at 7pm on Friday, October 2^nd) in a lecture hall in the Medical Centre of McMaster University to listen as Professor Gandhi delivered a talk about his famous grandfather. The occasion for this gathering was the 12^th Annual Mahatma Gandhi Lecture on Nonviolence and the date of the lecture was most fitting as it coincided with the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday (also now the International Day of Nonviolence).

The lecture itself was entitled ‘The Gandhi You May Not Know.’

It was a beautiful reminder that before Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi became “The Mahatma” he was, to most who knew him, simply Mohandas. Mohandas was a barrister educated in England who travelled to South Africa and accepted his calling to fight on behalf of those who had been weakened and marginalized. In his lecture, Professor Gandhi reminded us that his grandfather did not do what he felt like doing, he did what he needed to do. He reminded us that his grandfather was a man who, like other men, faced many challenges but, in overcoming them, he became a great man.

The Friday evening lecture concluded with 30 minutes of Questions and Answers followed by light refreshments in the lobby of the Medical Centre. Many people clamoured for Professor Gandhi’s attention which he gave freely to all whom he could.

On Sunday afternoon, Hamilton and Toronto members of Initiatives of Change (IofC) met with other local supporters of Professor Gandhi at the Hindu Samaj Temple in Hamilton. This was an opportunity for the event organizers to recognize those members of the community who had donated their time and/or money to ensure the continuance of the Mahatma Gandhi Lectures. Doreen Johnson, Hamilton chairperson of Hope in the Cities, spoke on behalf of the local IofC members and formally welcomed Professor Gandhi who is, of course, also the President of Initiatives of Change International. Sunday’s gathering was also an opportunity to speak more intimately with Professor Gandhi. He answered many questions, sharing his insights and offering tremendous words of encouragement. To one IofC member who asked about resolving conflicts, Professor Gandhi replied that “in the midst of much disagreement we must challenge ourselves to find even one minor positive outcome and focus on that.” 

Sunday evening concluded with a delicious Indian meal and talks of plans to build on the relationships that had been formed over the course of the weekend. IofC Hamilton and IofC Toronto members are looking forward to supporting and encouraging one another in future events.