FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 9, 2007
Contact: Joshua Hollis
(662) 329-7119

Grandson of Gandhi to speak at MUW
  
COLUMBUS, Miss. – Arun Gandhi, the grandson of legendary spiritual leader Mohandas K. Gandhi, will address students of The Ina E. Gordy Honors College at Mississippi University for Women on Thursday, Feb. 22 at 6:30 p.m. The event will be held in the Nissan Auditorium, located in Parkinson Hall.
   
Gandhi was born in apartheid-era South Africa, and because of confrontations he had and his desire to fight back, he was sent to visit his grandfather at the age of 12.
   
During his 18-month stay with his grandfather, Gandhi experienced firsthand the philosophy of nonviolence, which set a foundation for the rest of his life.
   
After arriving in the United States in 1988, Gandhi and his wife founded the M. K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, located at Christian Brothers University in Memphis. The Institute’s mission is to “foster understanding of nonviolence and to put the philosophy to practical use through workshops, lectures, and community outreach programs.”
   
Gandhi has spoken before hundreds of colleges and universities, as well as corporate and civic organizations. He’s spoken in various countries, including Croatia, France, Ireland, Holland, Lithuania and Nicaragua.
   
The Ina E. Gordy Honors College at MUW supports the intellectual development of highly motivated, high-performing undergraduate students. With nearly 100 participants, The Ina E. Gordy Honors College offers courses and field trips as well as an honors residence hall, a study abroad program and opportunities for student research. Over a year ago, the late Ina E. Gordy endowed the Honors College.
   
The event is free and open to the public.
   
For more information, contact Dr. Eric Daffron, director of the Honors College, at 662-241-6850 or by email at edaffron@muw.edu.