5 Greatest World Leaders Deeply Inspired By Mahatma Gandhi

The messenger of peace and brotherhood, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is known globally for his one-of-its-kind nonviolent freedom movement that contributed to India’s independence. Several decades may have passed and the world is no longer the same, but Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings continue to inspire millions across the globe. Gandhi has been a role model and an inspiration for several world leaders and thinkers. To understand his contributions and the value of his belief system, let’s take a look at some of the greatest personalities who were deeply inspired by Mahatma Gandhi.

Barack Obama – The first black president in the United States, Barack Obama has always been vocal about the inspiration that he gets from Mahatma Gandhi. During his tenure as US president, Obama had added a photo of Gandhi inside the Senate office. One of Gandhi’s teachings that specially inspire Obama is “Be the change that you wish to see in the world”. Obama had even said that Gandhi’s teachings played an important role in guiding him to become the president of the United States. Obama had also described Gandhi as a “rare gift to the world”.

Nelson Mandela – The face of anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, Nelson Mandela considered Mahatma Gandhi as his political guru. Such was the influence that Mandela was often referred to as the South African Gandhi. It was Gandhi’s teachings that inspired Mandela to fight oppressive and colonial forces in his own country. Mandela once said that Gandhi’s beliefs have played an important role in the transformation of South Africa and the end of apartheid.

Martin Luther King Jr. – The individual who lead the civil rights movement in the United States, Martin Luther King Jr. was greatly inspired by the teachings and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. He utilized a nonviolent method to civil disobedience, which was inspired by Gandhi’s approach in South Africa and India. King once described Gandhi as “individuals who greatly reveal the working of the Spirit of God”.

Albert Einstein – Most commonly associated with the theory of relativity and E = mc2, Albert Einstein had described Gandhi as a role model who would continue to inspire several generations. History books reveal that Albert Einstein and Gandhi admired each other and frequently shared written letters. Einstein believed that’s Gandhi’s philosophy was the most enlightened of all political leaders in those times.

Steve Jobs – The man credited with creating Apple Inc., Steve Jobs is said to have been inspired by Gandhi’s role as a disruptor, a misfit and a rebel. He once said that change is brought about by people who are crazy enough to believe that they can change the world. An inspirational video with the same message once shared by Steve Jobs had Mahatma Gandhi as one of the change makers.