For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Marlene Olson
PHONE: (860) 343-5869

Ela Gandhi’s Message of Peace
By Yvonne Page

Middletown, CT— Recently Middlesex Community College (MxCC) hosted a presentation by Ela Gandhi, peace activist and granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi on its campus. During the talk, in which she addressed an intimate group of MxCC faculty and staff and members of the Connecticut Valley Hindu Temple Society, Gandhi spoke about her philosophies of non-violence and how we can incorporate similar methods here in the United States. “I am because you are. I would not be here without you,” she said to every person in the room, pointing out that when you think like this you begin to love others for being who they are and “when you love someone you cannot kill them. You can’t harm them.” This philosophy has helped Gandhi lead groups in South Africa and around the world to reach peace and she believes the same could be true here as well.

Dr. Fauquir Jain, UConn Professor and Connecticut Valley Hindu Temple Society Facilitator coordinated her visit. MxCC, which has partnered with the temple before, including the establishment of the "Mahatma Gandhi Endowment" Scholarship, was pleased to be able to be part of this event.

"I'm very honored on behalf of our college to have Ms. Gandhi here. We have a very wonderful relationship with the temple. I can't express how excited we are to have you here. We established the Mahatma Gandhi Scholarship last year at this time. Having you here tonight gives us an opportunity to celebrate and recognize the Gandhi philosophy of peace and love.” said MxCC President, Wilfredo Nieves.

MxCC is committed to its efforts to build awareness and community networking that relates to the support of a multicultural and international perspective by involving the campus community and the public in ongoing discussions on relations and attitudes. For more information, or to suggest a future topic or speaker, please contact the Office of the College President @ (860) 343-5701.