I visited the Gandhi Memorial Center today, which is nestled in the suburbs of Maryland just outside Washington, DC. Cultural centers tend to offer a wide variety of resources and activities so I knew this would be a worthwhile visit.
Mahatma Gandhi was a well-respected spiritual and political leader of the 1900s who used the philosophy of Satyagraha (Satya, meaning truth, and Graha, meaning “insistence”, or “holding firmly to”) to advocate for Indian civil rights in South Africa and for India’s independence from Great Britain through non-violent movements. The Gandhi Memorial Center was established in 1976, as an extension of the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Foundation, which mission is to “disseminate and represent the philosophy, ideal, life, service and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi as well as the cultural heritage of India.” The Center’s offerings include a library, educational programs, exhibits and cultural presentations of dance, music, art and photography.
At the center, I saw a photo exhibit titled “India’s Original People, Part II” by Dhairyakant “Titi” Chauhan, which featured 21st century Indian men, women and children who still live traditional lifestyles through rituals and attire. Chauhan took great headshots and photos of individuals in their daily lives. There were approximately 20 photos on display, each taken in black and white with natural light (no flash) and later converted into digital pictures. In speaking with the Center’s Director, Carrie Trybulec, I learned that the photographer grew up in western India, currently lives in the DC area and travels frequently to India with his wife. I also spoke with two other women on staff who provided me with additional information about the Center and upcoming events, including an art exhibit and a classical Indian dance performance.
In addition, by visiting the Gandhi Memorial Center website, I learned that officials from the Embassy of India and other prominent dignitaries are actively involved with and great supporters of the Center. Furthermore, the Center appears to do a wonderful job educating the community about Gandhi and Indian culture so I hope to take advantage of its other offerings in the near future.
