After World War II, he was a leading figure in the negotiations that led to Indian independence in 1947. Although hailing the granting of Indian independence as the “noblest act of the British nation,” he was distressed by the religious partition of the former Mogul Empire into India and Pakistan. When violence broke out between Hindus and Muslims in India in 1947, he resorted to fasts and visits to the troubled areas in an effort to end India’s religious strife. On January 30, 1948, he was on one such prayer vigil in New Delhi when he was fatally shot by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu extremist who objected to Gandhi’s tolerance for the Muslims.
Known as Mahatma, or “the great soul,” during his lifetime, Gandhi’s persuasive methods of civil disobedience influenced leaders of civil rights movements around the world, especially Martin Luther King, Jr., in the United States.
Gandhi was one of the most important leaders in the struggle for Indian independence. He headed the Indian National Congress and organized others in civil disobedience to protest British rule. After World War II, his hard work paid off when India gained independence from British rule.
Gandhi absolutely believed in using nonviolent approaches to solving life's problems. He protested against injustice and intolerance, and he was not afraid to do what he thought was right. He influenced many leaders, from Martin Luther King Jr. to Nelson Mandela. His legacy will continue long into the future.
