Thursday, September 15, 2016

How Mahatma Gandhi put down a learned professor

From Ha-ha-ha-rare, the fun capital of Africa, Dr Ceezee recounts a story from the student days of Mohandas (later "Mahatma" -- Great Soul) Gandhi.

When Mahatma Gandhi was studying law at the University College of London, a white professor, whose last name was Peters, disliked him intensely and always displayed prejudice and animosity towards him. Also, because Gandhi never bowed his head when addressing him like most others, there were always "arguments" and confrontations.

One day, Prof Peters was having lunch at the cafeteria when Gandhi came along with his tray and sat next to him. The professor said, "Mr Gandhi, you do not understand. A pig and a bird do not sit together to eat." Gandhi looked at him as a parent would look at a rude child and calmly replied, "You do not worry, Prof. I'll fly away." He then went and sat at another table.

Prof Peters decided to take revenge on him at the next examination, which was given orally. To Peters' dismay, Gandhi responded brilliantly to all questions. Unhappy and frustrated, he asked Gandhi the following question: "If you were walking down the street and found two packages, one full of wisdom and the other, a lot of money, which one would you take?"
Without hesitating, Gandhi responded, "The one with the money, of course."
Prof Peters, smiling sarcastically said, "I would have taken the wisdom, don't you think?"
Gandhi answered, "Each one takes what he doesn't have."

So great was Prof Peters' anger that he wrote on Gandhi's examination sheet the word "IDIOT" and gave it to Gandhi. Gandhi took the exam sheet. A few minutes later, Gandhi got up, went to the professor and said to him in a dignified, but sarcastically polite tone, "Prof, you signed the sheet, but forgot to put my mark."

No comments:

Post a Comment