To commemorate Gandhi's birth day, here's a letter from a Jayeshbhai Patel in India:
Dearest Friends and Family,
We are proud to share that the United Nations has declared October 2nd (Gandhiji's Birthday) as the International Day of Non-violence. This resolution has also made us conscious of our responsibilities and duties as Indians to contribute to universal goodness. We are all inspired by the teachings of Gandhiji, but we have an obligation to act on that inspiration and keep his work and message alive.
In India we have a beautiful tradition of Annadan, where people donate grains to feed the needy. Meanwhile, most violence expressed and experienced in the world is initially caused by hungry stomachs. In commemoration of Gandhiji's life, we are asking you to commit to feeding hungry sisters and brothers in your local community on October 2 nd. Be sure to tell people what you are celebrating. This action of peace, however, does not end with the day. We want to create an international movement to stop hunger; we are asking individuals and communities to set up soup kitchens and programs to feed the hungry as an ongoing effort. We also request that all of you share your experiences with us and others and help this momentum of love multiply.
This idea has been proposed by the dedicated Gandhian, Nirmala Deshpande, who walked with Vinoba Bhave during the Bodan Movement and serves as a Member of Parliament.
Love All, Serve All
Jayesh-Anar
For those that don't know of Jayeshbhai's exemplary work in the world, here's a video:
Community Reflections
Share your thoughts, experiences, or questions