The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others" -- Mohandas K. Gandhi
It is with this philosophy in mind that the Indian Student Association, Spic Macay and other University student organizations are joining a nationwide celebration of Gandhi's birthday on Sunday.
Local participants in the "National Gandhi Day of Service" will sponsor activities at several sites in and around the Charlottesville community.
"Pretty much as many people as possible from as many organizations as possible around Grounds come together," said third-year Commerce student Shweta Agarwal, who is running the event this year. "Our sites range from building a handicap ramp for a couple, to volunteering at a nursing home, to cleaning up rivers and tributaries."
This year University students are volunteering at the Colonnades Nursing Home, Charlottesville Parks and Grounds, Nelson County International Community Farm, Loving Neighbors Inc., Rockfish Valley Community Center and the Animal Connections Adoption Show.
At each of the sites, students will be working to give back to the community -- paralleling Gandhi's lifelong philosophy
of service.
The event began in 1998 at the University of Michigan and slowly has grown and improved since then. Although it began with just a few students who wanted to do something to make a difference in their community, it has grown beyond its original bounds.
"This year I think we have about 165 organizations from around the country participating," Agarwal said.
Attempting to pull together the numbers necessary to accomplish all of these feats has been the only major problem that those organizing this event have faced. But with the hard work of the many volunteers participating this year, the numbers are beginning to improve.
Gandhi day was unheard of at the University -- now it is a major event here and at other colleges, even to the point of gaining media attention.
"U.Va. is really big on serving the community, so that's nothing new," fourth-year College student Mansi Master said. "But trying to incorporate something like Gandhi Day, which is so intrinsic in south-Asian culture, into a U.Va. thing
I think it makes south-Asians more a part of the whole U.Va. culture and it gets other people involved in our culture."
Some believe that this intermingling of cultures is exactly what the students here at the University need.
"I think it's good for people to step outside of U.Va.," second-year College student Sonya Patel said. "You could live a life that is U.Va and U.Va-oriented, but there's a whole world out there."
And then there are some that feel the importance of this day and the event can be lost on those who don't truly appreciate Gandhi's life and teachings.
"I feel that Gandhi is affiliated more with south-Asians, and they have more gratitude for him and his work, so other people don't feel the need to have a day," Master said. "I think to other people its just another service project to do."
Each of the projects planned for this weekend are events that student organizers hope will show the importance of giving back to the community
and the importance of remembering Gandhi for the many ways in which he did just that.
Participants can look forward to a variety of experiences at each of the sites. For example, one of the projects, to be held at the Rockfish Valley Community Center, will help refurbish the school there and its surroundings.
Volunteers will assist with the ongoing project of cleaning and renovating the old school and playgrounds, fourth-year College student Dhruti Kalathia said.
"The center is located in Afton (very close by) where they have a GREAT need for volunteers, especially with this project," Kalathia said.
This manual labor required at the community center is quite different from what will be required of those who travel to the Colonnades Nursing Home, where volunteers will lead bingo games, a nature hike and spend time with the residents.
Although there is a limit to how many sites the group can help in a year, there is no limit to the number of places that could use the assistance.
"There are a lot of sites out there that can be tapped into," Patel said.
With time, University student organizers hope National Gandhi Day will reach those of all nationalities and all beliefs, and that, eventually, everyone can make a difference.
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