American Gandhi

'American Gandhi' says give up gas, start walking
by vijigermany

'American Gandhi' says give up gas, start walking

Bernie Meyer has travelled a long way from Washington to spread the message of peace at youth festival in the city. This " American Gandhi" not only dresses up like the Mahatma — complete with the trademark "dhoti", a walking stick and round spectacles - but also spreads his message amongst the youth of India and the US.

The subjects closest to the heart of this Gandhian activist are respect for fellow humans and the environment. "Like Gandhi and Jesus, I practice civil disobedience — against violence, arms and corrupting our earth. The message is of practicing simplicity, which is not very difficulty if we wish to do it. We will have to give up a few things, like gas, and make the choice of going by foot," he says.

Meyer was first inspired by Gandhi as a young priest in Cleveland, Ohio, during the 1960s, in the backdrop of the Vietnam war. "I took part in civil disobedience against the war with several other people," he adds.

Meyer, who is visiting India for the 13th time, took up Gandhi's attire 12 years ago when he was asked to portray him in the US. In 2005, he visited India for the first time and has since been invited to many cities to spread the message of peace. He has been visiting Chandigarh for the peace fest for the last five years.

He says the time is just right to start saying "no". "If Mahatma Gandhi saw the violence and destruction of nature happening in the name of development today, he would have fasted unto death all over the world," says Meyer. He adds, "If we don't stop corrupting nature now, it will be too late. The way I see it, we are doing too much to attain power. We are destroying life on earth" Besides India, Meyer has travelled across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom as Gandhi.

He has led salt walks in the USA to take Gandhi's message to the highways. He will head to Indore on October 2 and visit.

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