ABSTRACT
Mahatma Gandhi earned international acclaim, admiration and a worldwide following for his lifelong commitment to non-violence. His contemporaries, as well as future generations, were inspired by his ability to lead the teeming millions on the path of non-violence in India’s struggle for freedom. A host of later day international icons from the Dalai Lama to Martin Luther King to Nelson Mandela took inspiration from his experience in pursuing their struggles for freedom and equality. Gandhi’s ability to evolve non-violence as a tool in conflict resolution is seen as the most defining feature of the 20th century. One could argue that Gandhi’s non-violent political struggle against the British was a tactical move driven by the asymmetric power constellation. By dragging the militarily powerful Empire into civil disobedience and ahimsa, Gandhi outmaneuvered the British Empire, exposed its limitations, and eventually managed to vanquish it.
