Mahatma

[XCR1250]

When Mahatma Gandhi was studying law at the University College of

London, a professor by the name of Peters disliked him intensely and

always displayed animosity towards him.  And because Gandhi never

lowered his head when addressing the Professor, as he expected, there

were always "arguments" and confrontations.


One day Mr Peters was having lunch at the University dining room when

Gandhi came along with his tray and sat next to him. 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.


Peters, red with rage, decided to take revenge on the next test paper,

but Gandhi responded brilliantly to all questions. Unhappy and

frustrated, Mr Peters 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."  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 handed it

back to him.  Gandhi took the exam sheet and sat down at his desk,

trying 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 autographed

the sheet, but you did not give me a grade   …. "