Aldo Capitini

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Traits

Italian philosopher, poet, political activist, anti-Fascist and educator. He was one of the first Italians to take up and develop Mahatma Gandhi's theories of nonviolence and was known as "the Italian Gandhi". Capitini was physically fragile, had a long painful illness in his youth. During the Fascist period he was very active in anti-fascist activities. Capitini was imprisoned twice for five months. From the end of World War II until his death, he was involved in a number of important areas: religious, civil, social and political. Furthermore he promoted Social Guidance Centres, the Movement of Religion, the Italian Vegetarian Society, and the Association for the Protection and Development of Public Schools. Additionally he became the most important exponent of nonviolence in Italy. In particular, he organized the creation of associations, groups, magazines, national events, public meetings, seminars and conferences. In 1956 he became a professor of pedagogy. Capitini died on 19 October 1968 following the after-effects of surgery. Link to Wikipedia biography