Mahatma Gandhi is regarded as one of the great men of the 20th century for introducing nonviolence to oust the British Empire from India. Bernie Meyer, a long-time peace activist, will give a portrayal of Gandhi at the Olympia Timberland Library on Thursday, April 26 from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. A discussion will follow on the place of nonviolence movements in our world today.

 Dressed in a dhoti, a traditional men’s garment in India, and carrying a walking stick, Meyer will portray the historical Gandhi in six scenes that highlight the significant life events and nonviolent teachings of the Mahatma (Sanskrit for "Great Soul). Meyer has been portraying Mohandas Karamachand Gandhi since 2002, traveling throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. He has also made ten journeys to India portraying Gandhi and is now known in India as "The American Gandhi."

Meyer began his justice and peace career as a Roman Catholic priest in Cleveland, Ohio in the 1960s. Taking to heart the teaching of Gandhi to "Be the change you want to see in the world," Meyer has focused on the study of human motivations for violence and of methods for pursuing nonviolent relations since 1995. In December 2007 he received an Individual Lifetime Achievement in Human Rights award from the Thurston Council on Cultural Diversity and Human Rights. Meyer lives in Olympia. His website is www.oly-wa.us/berniemeyer.

The presentation is sponsored by Humanities Washington. The Olympia Timberland Library is located at 313 8th Avenue SE. For more information, please contact the library at (360) 352-0595 or go to www.TRL.org.