“What Grade would you give?”
When Gandhi was studying law at University College, London, a Caucasian
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 wisdom, don't you think?"
Gandhi shrugged indifferently and responded, "Each one takes what he doesn't have."
Mr. Peters, by this time was beside himself and 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."
Wit always wins over anger.
Image courtesy of Farconville/freedigitalphotos.net
