Gandhi’s Gift : A Documentary
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| Gandhi’s Gift, the first major documentary about Mahatma Gandhi made in the U.S., asks the question: Were Gandhi’s final years his finest? The film reveals details about the most beloved political figure of all time that before now were known only to scholars and based upon rare, historical interviews of more than 25 Gandhi experts, some of whom actually knew Gandhi.
Gandhi’s Gift is directed by Kell Kearns, Director of the PBS Biography In Remembrance Of Martin, commissioned by Coretta Scott King. It was a special event for the First Anniversary of the First Federal King Holiday (1987). One of his more recent films was the Biography of the great Sufi poet filmed in Turkey and featuring Coleman Barks, Rumi Returning, which premiered at the Santa Fe Film Festival (2007) and was broadcast on more than 330 PBS Stations (2008-11). |
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 Gandhi’s Gift shows the Master of Nonviolence at the end of his life, on the brink of attaining his lifelong goal of independence from the British, but with his heart-breaking by the partition of India and the terrible communal violence that is killing untold hundreds of thousands. Having led masses in nonviolent marches, Gandhi now in his 70’s walks alone for unity and peace. In a dangerous grass-roots pilgrimage called “The Miracle of Noakhali,” he walks barefoot from village-to-village asking Hindus and Muslims to live together. He comforts refugees and endures two fasts to restore peace before being assassinated by religious extremists. Historians believe that his work for interfaith harmony kept India from expelling Muslims and becoming an exclusively Hindu nation. His life message of nonviolence and interfaith unity speaks volumes to the world today.
Gandhi’s Gift was filmed on location in India, South Africa and the UK at all of the important sites in Gandhi’s life. It is Director Kell Kearns’ 15th independent film. “Gandhi’s final years are especially inspiring because he showed our world a way out of the descending spiral of violence and hatred that King spoke about,” Kearns said. “Our world needs Gandhi now more than ever before.” In Gandhi’s Gift, audiences will meet a Gandhi for the 21st Century. Watch a trailer of Gandhi’s Gift: https://vimeo.com/184897141. For more information, contact Cynthia Lukas at (505)-501-2600 or gandhisgift@gmail.com. Visit www.gandhisgift.org. |
He and co-Producer Cynthia Lukas interviewed witnesses who actually grew up in the Mahatma’s presence. “One fascinating aspect of making this film has been meeting those who are living and teaching Gandhian principles of nonviolence, equality, interfaith harmony and sustainability,” Lukas said. One such commentator, Dr. Rajmohan Gandhi, is an historian and grandson with vivid memories of his grandfather’s final days. Other expert commentators are James Douglass, peace activist and best-selling author (Gandhi and the Unspeakable), and Dr. Vandana Shiva, environmental activist and author (Earth Democracy).
