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Syed Firdaus Ashraf in Mumbai
Khadi is not something one associates with Americans. But Dr George Willoughboy (88) and his wife Lillian (88) look quite comfortable in the coarse fabric -- a symbol of self-reliance during the Indian Freedom Struggle.
And it's not just the cloth, Dr Willoughboy and his wife live and breathe the value system that khadi stands for - non-violence, self-reliance, simplicity, love and respect for all religions and cultures...the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.
"If we don't follow Gandhiji we will destroy each other. We have to know how to resolve problems between ourselves. War and guns are no solution but a permanent problem. Ultimately, any conflict has to be settled across the table, so why do we need war?" asks Dr Willoughboy, a resident of New Jersey, USA.
Dr Willoughboy and his wife are in India to receive the Jamnalal Bajaj International Award for promoting Gandhian values across the world.
Dr Willoughboy first came in contact with the Gandhian philosophy in 1950s when one of his Indian professors told him about the Mahatma.
After a few books and some exchange of ideas with the professor, Dr Willoughboy decided to travel to Mumbai (then Bombay) to learn more about the philosophy of non-violence. This was in 1960.
Later, he travelled to Chennai and thence to all parts of the country visiting ashrams set up by Gandhiji and his followers.
"I met Jayprakash Narayan and Vinoba Bhave. My stay in India gave me an in-depth knowledge of the Gandhian philosophy," he says.
After he left India, Dr Willoughboy was commissioned in the US Army, but he declined the job. He was then offered a job in a university. He again said no.
"I believed in living simply and that is what I have done all my life," says Dr Willoughboy.
He along with his wife founded the Philadelphia Life Center, an institute imparting training in non-violent conflict resolution.
They are now organising protests against US President George Bush's threats to wage a war against Iraq.
Lillian, as a mark of protest against Bush's policies, has got herself a weird haircut. "I did this to get attention. I cannot go at this age to rallies and protests. But when I go out, people notice me. I only hope if more and more people join me in this silent protest our voice will be heard," says Lillian.
"After all, Gandhiji had only 5-6 million supporters in over 300 million-strong population of India in 1947. But he still threw the Britishers out of this country. You really need strong people to say no to violence," Dr Willoughboy adds.
But isn't the Mahatma becoming irrelevant in India of Godhras and Naroda Patiyas?
"No!," says Dr Willoughboy angrily, "don't say that. Gandhi's philosophy didn't fail. It is the Indians who have failed to live up to Gandhiji's philosophy. The Gujarat riots and the Godhra incident have shown us the dark side of human beings. But ultimately, we will have to learn to live in harmony. Lord Buddha and Jesus Christ taught us about non-violence. Gandhiji did the same."
Slide Show: The Bajaj Awards 2002
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