Gandhi's principles of nonviolence have inspired many renowned individuals worldwide, including artists, scientists, and politicians.
It is quite an irony that Mahatma Gandhi - the world's greatest advocate for peace and nonviolence - never received the Nobel Peace Prize (despite five nominations). But you know, that doesn't matter, and in fact, Gandhi never cared about such official recognitions. His true reward lies in the fact that countless individuals worldwide have embraced his principles and applied them to bring positive changes in society. Many of them are renowned personalities, some of whom have even won the Nobel Prize. Through them, Gandhi's legacy lives on.
Fondly called Bapu, Mahatma Gandhi breathed his last on January 30, 1948. On his 77th death anniversary, let's have a look at some of the important international personalities influenced by him.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama is referred to as "Gandhi's spiritual heir to nonviolence". And the Tibetan leader has time and again emphasized that Gandhi's ideas - even after so many years since his demise - can be "used to solve many modern-day problems".
In his acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, the Dalai Lama said, "I accept it as a tribute to the man who founded the modern tradition of nonviolent action for change - Mahatma Gandhi - whose life taught and inspired me."
”…true happiness comes from a sense of inner peace and contentment, which in turn must be achieved through the cultivation of altruism, of love and compassion and elimination of ignorance, selfishness and greed.”
— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) March 20, 2019
- Dalai Lama, Nobel Prize acceptance speech, 1989.#HappinessDay pic.twitter.com/eKLMbUzuwO
(Credit: The Nobel Prize)
Former US President Barack Obama, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, considers Gandhi as his 'hero'. In his book, 'A Promised Land', he wrote that Gandhi - along with Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, and Nelson Mandela - had profoundly influenced his thinking. In his words, "Gandhi’s actions had stirred me even more than his words; he’d put his beliefs to the test by risking his life, going to prison, and throwing himself fully into the struggles of his people."
President Obama tosses petals on a monument at Rajghat, a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi: http://t.co/2mTTydbrXl pic.twitter.com/z49fljXNti
— White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) January 26, 2015
(Credit: White House Archived)
Notably, back in 2009, when visiting a high school in the US, Obama was asked by a student, "If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?" His answer was, "Well, dead or alive, that’s a pretty big list. You know, I think that it might be Gandhi, who is a real hero of mine."
For John Lennon, music was a medium to spread the message of peace and nonviolence. And needless to say, he was incredibly influenced by Gandhi's teachings. He often acknowledged Gandhi for being the inspiration for his music.
According to reports, Lennon had included Gandhi in the initial drafts of the iconic album cover of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. However, the band later decided to not go ahead with it for some reasons.
Martin Luther King Jr was exposed to Gandhi's principles when he was studying at the Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania. Therefore, nonviolence became his weapon in his fight for the civil rights of African- Americans in the US. In his words, "Christ gave us the goals and Mahatma Gandhi the tactics."
To other countries I may go as a tourist, but to India I come as a pilgrim.’’ – Dr Martin Luther King. Today, we honor the life, memory, and legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Like Mahatma Gandhi, MLK was inspired by the power of nonviolence. Let us honor their… pic.twitter.com/GMyPnco0nk
— U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) January 20, 2025
(Credit: U.S. Embassy India)
In his tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, he wrote, "The Gandhian influence in some way still speaks to the conscience of the world as nations grapple with international problems. If we fail, on an international scale, to follow the Gandhian principle of non-violence, we may end up destroying ourselves through the misuse of our own instruments. The choice is no longer between violence and non-violence. It is now either non-violence or non-existence."
(Credit: BlackburnProductions)
Yes, the great scientist Albert Einstein was also deeply influenced by Gandhi's works - and the admiration was mutual. He described Gandhi as a "role model for the generations to come", adding, "I believe that Gandhi’s views were the most enlightened of all the political men of our time. We should strive to do things in his spirit: not to use violence in fighting for our cause but by non-participation in anything you believe is evil."
In 1939, when Gandhi was leading the Indian freedom movement, Einstein wrote a letter to him, expressing his admiration for the Indian leader’s life and works. He wrote, "A leader of his people, unsupported by any outward authority: a politician whose success rests not upon craft nor the mastery of technical devices, but simply on the convincing power of his personality... "
The list is actually so long that it's impossible to include all in one article. Besides the above-mentioned personalities, it also includes Nelson Mandela, Steve Jobes, Al Gore, Ho Chi Minh, and George Bernard Shaw among others.
