(PDF) (DOC) (JPG)September 12, 2005

(Mahwah) – A symposium, The Relevance of Gandhi After 9/11,” will be held at Ramapo College of New Jersey on Friday, October 7 and Saturday, October 8. The conference will take place in the Pavilion on the College campus. There will be two public presentations on Friday at 4 and 7:30 p.m. and one on October 8 at 9 a.m. The presentations are open to all who are interested in Mahatma Gandhi’s contemporary relevance.

The symposium will explore whether Gandhi’s social vision of moral self-rule and self-reliance, and his traditional religious teachings of truth-force and non-violent political action, are relevant for a post 9/11 world. The speakers will comment on Gandhi’s unique notion of freedom as engaged social praxis, how it relates to his critique of modernity and defines his problem solving practices. Speakers will reflect on the question are rational ideologies sufficient for world citizens today in the context of an ongoing ‘war on terrorism?'”

Scholars and activists participating in the symposium are: Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, who conducts training programs in nonviolence and conflict resolution at the M. K. Gandhi Institute for the Study of Nonviolence at Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tennessee. Siddhartha, author and founder of Fireflies Ashram, which is trying to find a new paradigm of social transformation inspired by Gandhi, that involves re-interpreting religious and cultural practices to incorporate the dimensions of personal growth, compassionate action and connectedness with nature. Ramapo students now go to Fireflies Ashram for a 15-week semester abroad. Mary Evelyn Jegen, a Sister of Notre Dame, the author of several books. She teaches about Christian spirituality and social concerns at Creighton University and in the Education for Parish Service program in Washington, D.C. Ward Morehouse, president of the Council on International and Public Affairs, a founder of the International Coalition for Justice in Bhopal and a member of the regular panel of jurists for the Permanent People’s Tribunal headquartered in Rome that most recently organized a session of the Tribunal in Bombay, India on people’s law.

The symposium is sponsored by Ramapo College’s Institute for Environmental Studies, the Office of International Education and the philosophy convening group of The School of American and International Studies. For registration information, call Dr. Trent Schroyer at 201.684.7740.

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About Ramapo College

Ramapo College of New Jersey is the state’s premier public liberal arts college and is committed to academic excellence through interdisciplinary and experiential learning, and international and intercultural understanding. The comprehensive college is situated among the beautiful Ramapo Mountains, is within commuting distance to New York City, was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful College Campuses in America by CondeNast Traveler, and boasts the best on-campus housing in New Jersey per Niche.com. Established in 1969, Ramapo College offers bachelor’s degrees in the arts, business, data science, humanities, social sciences and the sciences, as well as in professional studies, which include business, education, nursing and social work. In addition, the College offers courses leading to teacher certification at the elementary and secondary levels, and offers graduate programs leading to master’s degrees in Accounting, Applied Mathematics, Business Administration, Contemporary Instructional Design, Computer Science, Creative Music Technology, Data Science, Educational Leadership, Nursing, Social Work and Special Education, as well as a Doctor of Nursing Practice.

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