Commentary

Sundana Gandhi: She worked for peace, radiated joy

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Sunanda Gandhi, the wife of Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mohandas Gandhi, died suddenly Feb. 22, in Mumbai, India, after a short illness. In the words of her husband: "Sunanda is no more. In the 49th year of our marriage she left me alone."

Born in 1932 in the Gujarat province of India, Sunanda was raised in a family who served the British Raj. In her childhood, Mohandas Gandhi was considered a revolutionary and the Indian struggle for independence, a rebellion.

Sunanda studied nursing and cared for Arun while he was hospitalized after surgery. They fell in love and began their lifelong journey together in love and in nonviolent living. They have two children and four grandchildren. Sunanda was a soul mate as well as wife to Arun, and together they gave their lives to spreading the word of peace throughout the world. With her nursing skills, Sunanda helped the poor, the disadvantaged, the outcasts. She served on the Maharastra State Women's Council and worked for prison reform, the end of domestic violence, the abolition of the caste system and in support of orphans.

In the mid-1980s Sunanda edited The Suburban Echo in Bombay, being responsible for the children's and women's section as well as a tutorial section for science and mathematics. She and Arun moved to the United States to continue their work for nonviolent peace education at this time and began at the University of Mississippi. While Arun worked on race relations, Sunanda continued her research on the status of women in India.

The Gandhis co-founded The Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence at Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tenn., in 1991. Sunanda often accompanied Arun on his constant round of speaking engagements. They jointly received the peacemaker award from The Gamaliel Chair in Peace and Justice from the University of Wisconsin in 1995. In 1998, they co-authored a book on Kastur Gandhi, the wife of Mohandas Gandhi, titled The Forgotten Women. There is information in this book that does not appear in any other writings by or about Gandhi. It is the story of a little-known woman who helped Gandhi become the father of his nation and the proclaimer of nonviolence for the 20th century and beyond.

At the Gandhi Institute, Sundana was the senior researcher and compiled a treasure of Gandhi's writings according to subject matter. These can be found at www.indiaspace.com-/quotes.htm. Beyond her accomplishments and commitments was a woman whose being radiated peace and joy. To be in her presence was to receive a gift of personal acceptance, affirmation, hope and courage. She gave herself to the big picture of world change, but she did it by seeing every person who came into her presence as unique and valuable, worthy of the deepest respect. We honor her by continuing to live as she did, completely present to the needs of the forgotten and open to the possibility of universal peace and mutual love between people.

(This column originally appeared in The Providence Visitor)