ideas through this channel. While an individual witness is important and absolutely 8 Aug necessary, we know that it is possible to do more through organized efforts. I have 1959 always longed for a white southerner to come into some predominantly Negro or- ganization and work side by side with Negro leaders. This would lift it above a mere racial struggle, and people would come to see that the tension is at bottom be- tween justice and injustice rather than between Negro people and white people. This was one of the most inspiring things that I saw in . When Mahatma was involved in the independence struggle many of the British people joined his movement and worked side by side with him to throw off British im- perialism. This made the struggle more than a struggle of Indian people against British people, but one of the forces of light against the forces of darkness. If you could find an organization in the South through which you could work, you would make a contribution that is desperately needed. I am the president of an organi- zation known as the Southern Christian Leadership Conference which seeks to implement the Supreme Court’s Desegregation Decision on the local level through nonviolent means. So far, we only have Negro participants in this organization, or I should say by and large Negro participation (there are a few white persons who have joined up with us). We would be happy to have you work with us and give your moral support wherever possible. Of course there are interracial organiza- tions such as the Southern Regional Council with its affiliates in each state of the South. I am sure that you could make avaluable contribution in this organization. You may consider these suggestions, and I hope they will be of some help. Again, thank you for your interest and concern. I hope it will be possible for us to meet personally in [the?] not-too-distant future. Enclosed is the very inter- esting material which you were gracious enough to send me. Very sincerely yours, Martin Luther King, Jr. Enc.

TLc. MLKP-MBU: Box 27.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project

To Ramdas M.Gandhi

8 August 1959 [Montgomery, Ala.]

Kingrtplies to an II May letterfrom Mohandm Gandhi’s third son, whom he had met in India. Gandhi had sent King biographical information on his father’s personal secretary MahahDesai and reported losing a memo book containing autographs from King and his traveling party.’

I. worked with Gandhi for over twenty years and translated several of Gandhi’s writ- ings into English. Desai died in the jail in August 1942,a few days after being ar- rested by the colonial government for his political activities. 255 The Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project

8 Aug Mr. Ramdas M. Gandhi 1959 P.O. Dist. Vardha, INDIA Dear Mr. Gandhi: I am very sorry that I am just getting to the point of answering your letter of several weeks ago. Absence from the city and many other pressing responsibilities account for the delay. I hope you will accept my apologies. It was certainly a rich experience to meet you in India. Since I did not have the opportunity to meet your great and immortal father, I considered it something of a blessing to be able to meet one so close to him in blood and kinship.2 My trip to India was one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. I came back with a new love and affection for the Indian people. I will never forget the warm hos- pitality extended to Mrs. King and me during our visit there. I am more convinced than ever before that resistance is the most potent weapon available to oppressed people in our struggle for freedom and human dignity. Enclosed you will find three cards with the autographs of me, Mrs. King, and Dr. Reddick. I am very sorry that your memo pocket diary was misplaced. Please extend our best regards to all of our friends in your area. Tell them that we long to see them again. We hope that it will be possible to come back to India in the not-too-distant future. With warm personal regards. Sincerely yours, Martin Luther King, Jr. MLK:mlb

TLc. MLKI-MBU: BOX17.

2. Ramdas Mohandas Gandhi (1 897-1 969), born in Johannesburg, was imprisoned in South Africa at the age of fourteen for his political activity. He later moved to India and became involved in the in- dependence movement; he was arrested in Champaran during his father’s first protest campaign in India. For a time, Ramdas Gandhi served as the editor of the weekly Nuvjzvan newspaper, founded by his father in 1919,and managed the ashram at Bardoli, established by Indian independence leader Sardar Patel.