When
Gandhi was studying law at the University College of London, a white professor,
whose last name was Peters, disliked him intensely and always displayed
prejudice and animosity towards him. Also, because Gandhi never lowered his
head when addressing him, as he expected, there were always “arguments” and
confrontations.
One day, Mr. Peters was having lunch at the dining room of the University, and
Gandhi came along with his tray and sat next to the professor. The professor
said, “Mr Gandhi, you do not understand. A pig and a bird do not sit together
to eat.” Gandhi looked at him as a parent would a rude child and calmly
replied, “You do not worry professor. I’ll fly away,” and he went and sat at
another table.
Mr. Peters, reddened with rage, decided to take revenge on the next test
paper, but Gandhi responded brilliantly to all questions. Mr. Peters,
unhappy and frustrated, asked him the following question: “Mr Gandhi, if you
were walking down the street and found a package, and within was a bag of
wisdom and another bag with a lot of money, which one would you take?” Without
hesitating, Gandhi responded, “The one with the money, of course.” Mr. Peters,
smiling sarcastically, said, “I, in your place, would have taken the
wisdom, don’t you think?” Gandhi shrugged indifferently and responded, “Each
one takes what he doesn’t have.” Mr. Peters by this time was fit to
be tied. So great was his anger that he wrote on Gandhi’s exam sheet the word
“idiot” and gave it to Gandhi. Gandhi took the exam sheet and sat down at his
desk trying very hard to remain calm while he contemplated his next move. A few
minutes later, Gandhi got up, went to the professor and said to him in a
dignified but sarcastically polite tone, “Mr. Peters, you signed the
sheet, but you did not give me the grade.”
Best regards
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