Honoring June 2: Gandhi’s Legacy at the Phoenix Settlement

In memory of Arun Gandhi (1934–2023)

June 2 holds a deep and sacred meaning in the lineage of peace. On this day in 1906, a quiet but profound moment in history unfolded that would echo through generations. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, lovingly known as Bapuji, brought his family to live at the Phoenix Settlement, just outside of Durban, South Africa. It was more than a relocation, it was a declaration of purpose, a spiritual and moral commitment to truth, simplicity, and service. This 100-acre piece of land, founded by Gandhiji in 1904, became the heartbeat of his early satyagraha movement, a self-sustaining community where compassion and ahimsa were cultivated like seeds of change. Gandhi was planting the seeds of a life rooted in love and gentle strength.

The Phoenix Settlement, became a living experiment in communal life, nonviolence, and equality. It became the first intentional community built by Gandhi, laying the foundation for what would become the global movement of Satyagraha, a steadfast commitment to Truth. Here, a young Gandhi shaped the principles that would transform not only India, but the world.

It was also the birthplace of our dear friend, Arun Gandhi, the fifth grandson of the Mahatma, a devoted advocate for nonviolence. On June 2, 2018, exactly 112 years later, during his final journey to South Africa, we stand together at the Phoenix Settlement, the location of the Indian Opinion. It was a return home for him, a circle completed. He walked the very land where he was born and where his grandfather had planted seeds of peace. The visit was part of the third and final Satyagraha Tour of South Africa, a project dear to Arun’s heart. That day was a full-circle moment: from Bapuji’s arrival in 1906 to Arun’s farewell in 2018. Generations bookending a journey of peace.

The Vision Behind the Satyagraha Tours

Arun dreamed of more than a nostalgic retracing of steps. His vision was transformative:

He dreamed of students walking those red earth paths, learning Gandhi’s message not from a textbook but from the soil, the stories, and the silence.

Youth-led peacebuilding pilgrimages, where young people could walk in the footsteps of Gandhi and Mandela, practice meaningful dialogue, and return home committed to service projects in their own communities.

Through the Gandhi Worldwide Education Institute (GWEI) Tour Grants, we supported several of these journeys. Youth leaders like Malik Thompson, Hoody Miller, and social reformer Anuradha Bhosale joined the South Africa tours, bringing fresh eyes and eager hearts to the story of satyagraha.

Lynnea Bylund Interviews Malik Thompson: Satyagraha Tour of South Africa 2015 in Cape Town

The first Satyagraha Tour of South Africa launched in 2014, commemorating Arun’s 80th birthday. Local families whose ancestors had served Gandhi gathered to honor Arun at the Phoenix Settlement Community Center. It was moving to witness their continued devotion to this shared legacy. 

• Read about the 2014 tour here
• Explore the Gandhi Development Trust
• Arun Gandhi Leela: John Wayne, Durban
• M.K Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence | Staff Travel Blog: South Africa Tour

We were able to host three Satyagraha Tour of South Africa journeys during Arun’s lifetime:

• 2014: Arun, Tushar Gandhi, and I walked together with the inaugural group
• 2015: Arun and I co-hosted the second pilgrimage
• 2018: Arun, Tushar, and I led what would be our last visit together

Arun long resisted returning to South Africa due to the long shadow of Apartheid. But when he finally embraced the calling, it was with a deep purpose: to educate, heal, and invite youth into the legacy of nonviolence.

A Call to Rekindle the Journey

Since Arun’s passing in 2023, we have not returned. Yet, the dream remains alive.

Gandhi Legacy Tour | Satyagraha Tour of South Africa Itinerary

We hope to offer another South Africa tour in Arun’s honor. But to do so, we need partners, travelers, and sponsors who share the vision especially for youth. Arun often struggled to fill the tours during his life. But perhaps now, in his memory, hearts will awaken and footsteps will follow.

Today, we honor both Bapuji’s arrival and Arun’s final visit to the Phoenix Settlement. Their footprints remain in that soil, and so does the call: for peacebuilders, truth seekers, and young changemakers to return. Let us not merely remember. Let us move. Let us walk.

Will you walk with us?

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