The Legacy of Mahatma Gandhi: 10 Defining Achievements

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869–1948), better known as Mahatma (“Great Soul”) Gandhi, was one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century. Starting his career as a lawyer, he first rose to prominence while fighting racial injustice in South Africa. Returning to India, he became the guiding force behind his country’s independence movement, pioneering the use of nonviolent resistance as a political weapon.

His philosophy of civil disobedience inspired figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela, and in India he is still affectionately known as the “Father of the Nation.”

Here are ten of Gandhi’s most remarkable achievements that continue to shape the world today.

Fighting Racial Discrimination in South Africa

In 1893, Gandhi arrived in South Africa to represent Indian merchants in Durban. What he encountered was a society steeped in racial segregation. When the Natal Assembly attempted to disenfranchise non-Europeans, Gandhi became a key voice of opposition.

Although the law eventually passed, Gandhi’s leadership helped unify the Indian community, laying the groundwork for what would become his lifelong campaign against oppression.

Launching the Satyagraha Movement

In 1906, South Africa imposed a law requiring Asian men in Transvaal to register their fingerprints and carry identification cards. In response, Gandhi introduced Satyagraha—“the force of truth”—a philosophy of peaceful resistance.

Indians refused to comply, enduring imprisonment, beatings, and even shootings. After years of struggle, public outrage forced the government to pass the Indian Relief Act in 1914, which scrapped discriminatory taxes and recognized Indian marriages.

The Champaran Struggle: A First Victory in India

When Gandhi returned to India in 1915, the country was still under British rule. In Champaran, Bihar, farmers were forced to grow indigo for British landlords at unfair prices, leaving them in poverty.

In 1917, Gandhi led nonviolent protests and strikes. The movement pressured landlords to make concessions, improving farmers’ conditions. It was during this time that people began to call him Mahatma—the Great Soul.

The Kheda Satyagraha: Standing with Farmers

In 1918, floods devastated crops in Kheda, Gujarat. Despite this, the British insisted farmers pay full taxes. Gandhi and local leader Vallabhbhai Patel encouraged peasants to refuse payment.

After months of resistance, the government relented—taxes were suspended, rates were reduced, and confiscated lands were returned. It was a powerful example of the effectiveness of collective nonviolent action.

The Non-Cooperation Movement

The 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre, where British troops killed hundreds of unarmed Indians, shocked the nation. Gandhi responded by launching the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920.

He urged Indians to boycott British goods, schools, and institutions. The campaign gained massive momentum, though Gandhi later called it off when violence erupted. Even so, it awakened a new sense of national unity and self-determination.

The Famous Salt March

Perhaps Gandhi’s most iconic protest came in 1930 with the Salt March. At the time, Indians were forbidden from making their own salt and were forced to pay heavy taxes on it.

Gandhi walked 240 miles from Ahmedabad to the coastal town of Dandi, collecting salt from the sea in defiance of the law. Thousands joined him, and millions followed his example nationwide. Over 80,000 were arrested, but the world took notice—India’s fight for freedom could no longer be ignored.

The Quit India Movement

When World War II broke out, Gandhi declared that India could not fight for democracy abroad while being denied freedom at home. In 1942, he launched the Quit India Movement, calling for the British to leave immediately.

Though leaders were swiftly jailed and protests brutally suppressed, the movement shook Britain’s control. By the end of the war, it was clear that independence could not be delayed much longer.

India’s Independence—and Its Division

On August 15, 1947, India finally gained independence. But freedom came with heartbreak—the partition of India and Pakistan. The division sparked widespread communal violence, killing hundreds of thousands.

Gandhi, already in his late seventies, worked tirelessly to promote peace. His fasts and presence in conflict zones saved countless lives, though he could not stop the tragedy of partition.

Championing Social Justice

Beyond politics, Gandhi fought against deep-rooted social issues in India. He campaigned to improve the lives of those once labeled “untouchables,” promoted women’s rights, and opposed child marriage and gender inequality.

He also encouraged women to join his movements, ensuring they played a vital role in shaping modern India.

A Global Legacy

Mahatma Gandhi’s commitment to nonviolence left an indelible mark on history. His methods inspired Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, and countless other leaders.

In 1930, TIME magazine named him Man of the Year, and later ranked him second only to Albert Einstein as “Person of the Century.” Although he never received the Nobel Peace Prize—despite five nominations—the Nobel Committee later expressed regret at the omission.

Gandhi’s influence continues to resonate as a reminder that true power lies not in violence, but in the courage to resist peacefully.