Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence and truth continues to inspire leaders and thinkers across the globe. Many of the most influential people from the 20th and 21st centuries have openly acknowledged Gandhi’s impact on their work, movements, and personal philosophies. Below are some of the iconic figures who were deeply moved by Gandhi’s teachings:
1. Barack Obama
When asked who he would dine with, dead or alive, President Obama said he’d choose Gandhi, referring to him as “a real hero.” Gandhi’s dedication to non-violence greatly inspired Obama’s own leadership journey.
2. Aung San Suu Kyi
The Burmese leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner acknowledged Gandhi’s influence on her life, advising students at Columbia University to read his works and embrace his teachings of peaceful resistance.
3. Nelson Mandela
Mandela credited Gandhi for influencing the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, acknowledging the vital role Gandhi’s principles played in their victory against racial oppression.
4. His Holiness the Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama has often expressed deep admiration for Gandhi, citing him as a role model. He shared that both he and Gandhi believed spiritual growth should precede political change. “His life has inspired me,” the Dalai Lama said.
5. John Lennon
The legendary musician of The Beatles cited Gandhi as a major influence on his advocacy for peace. John Lennon and Yoko Ono famously protested the Vietnam War using non-violent means, following Gandhi’s example.
6. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. King, the face of the American Civil Rights Movement, embraced Gandhi’s non-violent resistance as the cornerstone of his campaign. He once said, “Christ gave us the goals and Mahatma Gandhi the tactics.”
7. Albert Einstein
Einstein admired Gandhi’s wisdom and simplicity, praising him as a model for future generations. The two intellectuals exchanged letters, and Einstein called Gandhi “the most enlightened of all the political men of our time.”
8. Al Gore
Former US Vice President and environmental activist, Al Gore, credited Gandhi’s concept of “truth force” (Satyagraha) as an inspiration in his global fight against climate change.
9. Steve Jobs
During his return to Apple in 1997, Steve Jobs delivered an iconic speech standing before a portrait of Gandhi. He honored Gandhi’s rebellious spirit with the words, “Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels… the ones who think they can change the world.”
10. Rabindranath Tagore
Though Gandhi and the renowned poet had their differences, Tagore was the first to call Gandhi “Mahatma.” He said, “Truth awakened Truth” when describing Gandhi’s connection with India’s poor and downtrodden.
11. Pearl S. Buck
The American novelist praised Gandhi after his assassination, stating, “He was right, we all knew he was right. The man who killed him knew he was right… But without violence.”
12. U Thant
The third Secretary General of the United Nations admired Gandhi’s teachings, saying, “His principles have universal application and eternal validity.” He believed Gandhi’s philosophy still holds relevance globally.
13. Will Durant
Historian Will Durant placed Gandhi among the greats like Buddha and St. Francis of Assisi, praising him for leading a revolution with saintly principles, marked by forgiveness and humility.
14. Richard Attenborough
The director of the Oscar-winning film Gandhi admired the Mahatma’s courage. Attenborough said Gandhi believed non-violence wasn’t the refuge of cowards but the weapon of the brave.
15. Ho Chi Minh
The Vietnamese revolutionary leader respected Gandhi’s methods, acknowledging himself and others as “disciples of Mahatma Gandhi” in their efforts toward independence.
16. Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan
Also known as the “Frontier Gandhi,” Abdul Ghaffar Khan was a close ally of Gandhi. He practiced non-violence and fought British colonialism alongside Gandhi until India’s independence in 1947.
17. Cesar Chavez
The Mexican-American labor leader modeled his activism for Latino farmworkers after Gandhi’s non-violent protests, using hunger strikes and boycotts to bring about change.
18. Louis Fischer
The Jewish-American journalist, whose biography of Gandhi inspired the film Gandhi, said after the leader’s assassination: “Just an old man in a loincloth in distant India. Yet, when he died, humanity wept.”
19. Haile Selassie I
The Emperor of Ethiopia admired Gandhi’s contribution to human freedom, stating, “Mahatma Gandhi will always be remembered as long as free men and those who love freedom and justice live.”
20. George Bernard Shaw
The Nobel-winning playwright summed up Gandhi’s towering presence with the analogy, “Impressions of Gandhi? You might well ask for someone’s impression of the Himalayas.
