Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi 2 October 1869 - 30 January 1948) was the preeminent leader of Indian nationalism in British-ruled India. Employing nonviolent civil disobedience, Gandhi led India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. The honorific Mahatma (Sanskrit: "high-souled", "venerable"applied to him first in 1914 in South Africa,is now used worldwide. He is also called Bapu (Gujarati: endearment for "father","papa" in India.
