Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948), pre-eminent political and idealogical leader of the Indian independence movement. He was the most notable exponent of 'passive resistance', organising non-violent civil disobedience against British rule in India. India gained independence in 1947 but the decision to create partition between India and Pakistan resulted in ongoing violence and unrest including the assassination of Gandhi by a Hindu extremist in 1948.