My Own Trip to Gandhi Land
by Cassandra Curley

From December 29, 2016 to January 12, 2017, I was among a privileged group of students and tourists who were led along an enlightening path of Mahatma Gandhi’s India. As presented devotedly through The Legacy Tour, the tremendous impact of this humble man remains evident decades after his death. Guided primarily by Arun and Tushar Gandhi, fifth grandson and great-grandson of Mahatma, we traversed over 2500 miles of terrain from Mumbai to New Delhi, covering historical sites and meeting with several organizations that uphold the Gandhian principles of peace, self-reliance and cooperation. As a student of peaceful solutions and a Peace Messenger myself, this group was one I knew I had to join.

The tour was filled with activity, but of significance were stops at homes that Gandhi occupied, the Sabarmati Ashram he lived in from 1917-30, the location of imprisonment with his wife and his secretary, the university he founded, and the site of his murder. Culturally, the tour allowed us to witness women who have been empowered with the skills and means to help support their families, children who are protected from abuse and exploitation, and men who are committed to bringing lasting change to their communities, all founded on Gandhi’s teachings.

What made this tour truly exceptional was that Arun and Tushar, along with our licensed India Tour Guide, Alok Tiwari, were not only freely accessible and accommodating, but they offered priceless information and insight, delivered with a refreshing sense of humor. Even more valuable was that Arun provided a distinct perspective. Having lived with his grandfather during the impressionable teen years of twelve to fourteen, he shared personal stories and lessons he had learned from his grandfather. Having dedicated their lives to sustaining the significance of their own heritage and the relevance that Gandhi’s work still holds in our world, the committed men who led the tour offer an incomparable experience.

I knew before I left my home in Orlando, Florida my trip to Gandhi Land was going to be extraordinary, but I didn’t expect how profound an impact it would have on my view of the world. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity.

Cassandra Curley, Messenger of Peace, has been a student of mind/body/spirit wellness for over thirty years. More than talking the talk, she walked 50 miles in, in all 50 states, in 50 weeks, in her fiftieth year to promote the concept of using Nature as the perfect model for equanimity. She continues to explore peaceful solutions to global conflict and shares her messages through various publications, her web site, Facebook page and through ongoing efforts at a center she co-founded with her husband, Mark, in Orlando, Florida.