Be the change
that you wish to
see in the world.
BACKGROUND
Since 1984, the San Diego Indian American Society has hosted the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Lectures, featuring distinguished speakers such as peace activists, scientists, diplomats, and public leaders.
These annual lectures honor Gandhi’s enduring legacy, offering reflections on his values of non-violence, service, and his profound impact on humanity.
The Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Lectures aim to reflect on Gandhi’s contributions to humanity and inspire individuals to support the harmonious development of society. Closely linked to the Gandhi Scholar awards, the lectures promote non-violence, peace, and ethical leadership, especially among youth committed to social responsibility.
TIMELINE
Hon Judge Jogi Dhillon
Judge of the state superior court of Sacramento
Dr Sunita “sunny” Cooke
Superintendent/ President of MiraCosta community college District
Dr Adela De La Torre
President of San Diego State University
Ambassador Dr Nagendra Prasad
Brother Chidananda
President and spiritual head of the Self-Realisation Fellowship/ Yogoda Satsanga Society of India
Dr. Elizabeth Simmons
Executive Vice Chancellor, University of California, San Diego
Ambassador Jamal Khokkar
President, The Institute of the Americas
Ms Nisha Desai Biswal
Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, US State Department
Dr. Pradeep Khosla
Distinguished Engineer and Chancellor of UCSD
Dr. William Brody
Distinguished Scientist and Engineer and President, Salk Institute
Dr. Ami Bera
United States Congressman
Ambassador Nirupama Rao
Ambassador of India to the United States
Mr Robert Blake
Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, US State Department
Padma Bushan Dr. V.S. Rama Chandran
Distinguished Neuroscientist
Ambassador Meera Shankar
Ambassador of India to the United States
Silver Jubilee Dr. Raj Mohan Gandhi
Grandsons of Mahatma Gandhi
Silver Jubilee Mr. Arun Gandhi
Grandsons of Mahatma Gandhi
Ambassador Jeffery Davidow
Distinguished career Ambassador of the United States
Ambassador Nirupam Sen
India’s Representative at the United Nations
Padma Bushan Dr. C. K. Prahalad
Distinguished Professor of Management, University of Michigan
Dr. V.R. Ramanathan
Distinguished Professor, Scripps Institute and UCSD
Dr. Inder Verma
Distinguished Scientist, Salk Institute
Mayor Dick Murphy
Mayor of San Diego
Congressman Dr. Bob Filner
United States Congressman
Ambassador T.P. Sreenivasan
Charge d’Affairs, Indian Embassy
Ambassador Kishen Rana
Pundit Ravi Shankar
Sitar Maestro and Bharath Ratna Awardee
Ambassador Naresh Chandra
Ambassador of India to the United States
Ambassador Kanwal Sibal
Charge d’Affairs, Indian Embassy
Mr Arun Gandhi
Peace Activist and Gandhi’s Grandson
Ambassador Siddhartha Shankar Ray
Ambassador of India to the United States
Ambassador Sushil Dubey
Consul General of India at San Francisco
Congressman Duncan Hunter
United States Congressman
Dr Herbert York
World-renowned Physicist and First Chancellor, UCSD
Ambassador Abid Hussain
Indian Ambassador to the United States
Dr MC Madhavan
Dr Roger Revelle
Distinguished World-Renowned Scientist and Founder, Scripps
Dr John Sommerville
Recipient of the Gandhi Peace Award and author, No First Strike Initiative
Congressman Jim Bates
United States congressman
Dr Jonas Salk
Inventor of the Polio vaccine and founder of the Salk Institute