Tushar Gandhi’s Insights on Nonviolence Today

Watch full discussion on YouTube

On October 16, 2024, The Peace Alliance’s Department of Peacebuilding hosted a powerful discussion, Nonviolence Today: Carrying Forward Gandhi’s Message, featuring Tushar Gandhi. Lynnea Bylund, founder of the Ahimsa Peace Institute, was invited by the Peace Alliance to introduce Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and a prominent advocate for nonviolent activism. Lynnea has collaborated closely with Tushar and his late father, Arun Gandhi, since early 2010. 

In this compelling discussion, Tushar Gandhi offered profound insights into his great-grandfather’s legacy and the challenges surrounding it. He questioned the use of the title “Mahatma,” noting that it often creates a sense of unattainability around Gandhi’s ideals. “The title of Mahatma,” Tushar remarked, “is used as an excuse not to emulate what he stood for.” He expressed concern that viewing Gandhi as a saintly figure has discouraged people from aspiring to his principles of truth, nonviolence, and self-improvement.

To break down this aura of sanctity, Tushar strives to present Gandhi as a “flawed yet determined human.” He emphasized that Gandhi openly acknowledged his mistakes and was committed to self-growth, illustrating that his real inspiration lies in this process—not as a “Mahatma,” but as a person dedicated to betterment. Tushar described his mission as “liberating [Gandhi] from the imprisonment of the title Mahatma,” urging people to see Gandhi’s humanity and take heart from it.

Tushar also compared Gandhi to a “scientist” who experimented on himself in his search for moral clarity. He highlighted Gandhi’s courage in undertaking these experiments, regardless of their outcome, and his honesty in admitting failures. “He was honest enough to admit when an experiment didn’t work,” Tushar said, underscoring Gandhi’s resilience and ability to adapt.

Reflecting on today’s global conflicts, Tushar observed disturbing parallels to the period around Gandhi’s assassination when India was gripped by violence, distrust, and political apathy. He noted that modern conflicts—from Ukraine to the Middle East—are often driven by greed and the profitability of war. Tushar’s reflections on Gandhi’s lessons in nonviolence and human dignity are reminders of the enduring relevance of Gandhi’s message as a “faint voice of sanity” in a world plagued by violence.

Tushar’s tribute to his great-grandmother, Kasturba Gandhi, offered further insights into Gandhi’s journey. He credited Kasturba as Gandhi’s “first teacher in civil disobedience,” sharing stories that reveal her quiet but profound influence. Her steadfast spirit and gentle defiance shaped Gandhi’s foundational principles and served as an anchor in his later life.

In essence, Tushar’s reflections challenge us to view Gandhi not as a saint, but as a courageous, humble, and resilient human. Tushar believes that by embracing Gandhi’s humanity, we can genuinely connect with his teachings and use them as tools for personal and social transformation.

Books by Tushar Gandhi
Let’s Kill Gandhi 
The Lost Diary of Kastur, My Ba