The Hindu : National : Arun Gandhi’s comments kick up a row

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National

Arun Gandhi’s comments kick up a row

Remarks were part of debate on future of Jewish identity
They appeared on The Washington Post’s religion blog

New York: Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson Arun Gandhi has resigned from a peace institute he founded here after his reported comments calling Israel and Jews “the biggest players” in a global culture of violence drew criticism.

Mr. Gandhi, president of the board of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Non-violence, said his comments on an online forum earlier this month were “couched in language that was hurtful and contrary to the principles of non-violence,” according to the U.S. media.

“Healthy discussion”

“My intention was to generate a healthy discussion on the proliferation of violence. Clearly, I did not achieve my goal. Instead, unintentionally, my words have resulted in pain, anger, confusion and embarrassment,” he wrote in his resignation to the board.

“I deeply regret these consequences,” Mr. Gandhi was quoted as saying.

His resignation was accepted on Thursday by the board of the institute, which is located at the University of Rochester here.

An unsigned statement on the university’s website said: “The essence of Arun Gandhi’s work has been to educate and promote the principles of non-violence.

“In that spirit, the institute plans to work with the University of Rochester and other community groups to use the recent events as an opportunity to deepen mutual understanding through dialogue employing the principles of non-violence and peace.”

Mr. Gandhi’s comments were part of a discussion on the future of Jewish identity on the religion blog “On Faith” of The Washington Post. In the January 7 posting, he reportedly wrote that Jews “overplay” the Holocaust and Israel was too reliant upon weapons and bombs.

“Apparently, in the modern world, so determined to live by the bomb, this is an alien concept. You don’t befriend anyone, you dominate them. We have created a culture of violence (Israel and the Jews are the biggest players) and that Culture of Violence is eventually going to destroy humanity.”

The resignation was “appropriate,” Joel Seligman, university president, said in a statement, days after expressing “surprise and disappointment” at Mr. Gandhi’s comments.

“Reprehensible”

The American Jewish Committee said it was deeply disturbed. “To suggest that Jews today are using the Holocaust at the expense of others is reprehensible,” its executive director David A. Harris said in a statement. Others who criticised Mr. Gandhi’s comments were the Jewish Federation of Rochester head Larry Fine and Anti-Defamation League national director Abraham H. Foxman. — PTI

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