Gandhi's grandson praises social media

FORT WORTH, Texas, April 7 (UPI) -- Mahatma Gandhi's grandson said during a visit to Texas his grandfather would have used social media Web sites if they had been available to him.

Arun Gandhi, 76, a prominent peace activist and grandson of the non-violent protester for Indian independence, said his grandfather "tapped into everything possible" including "newspapers and radio," the prevalent forms of media at the time, and would use Web sites such as Facebook and Twitter if he were alive today, the Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram reported Wednesday.

Gandhi, who is visiting Fort Worth to deliver the keynote address for Texas Wesleyan University's University College Day, said social media sites have been powerful tools for those who practice civil disobedience.

"It has speeded up things. It has made it possible to communicate far and wide," he said.

The activist said the most important lesson he learned from his grandfather "has to do with how to deal with anger. He used to tell me anger is like electricity. It is powerful and useful, but only if we use it intelligently. It can be just as deadly and destructive if we abuse it."