Looking for Mahatma Gandhi Quotes. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2 October 1869 ñ 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement. A pioneer of satyagraha, or resistance to tyranny through mass civil disobedienceóa philosophy firmly founded upon ahimsa total nonviolenceóGandhi led India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world.