Mahatma Gandhi is the historical figure best known for his practice of nonviolent protest. His philosophy of Satyagraha, which means "truth force" or "soul force," emphasized civil disobedience and non-aggression as powerful tools for social and political change. Gandhi led India’s struggle for independence from British rule using methods that resisted violence and promoted moral integrity. His approach inspired numerous civil rights movements worldwide and left a lasting legacy on thinkers and activists advocating nonviolent resistance, notably affecting figures like Martin Luther King Jr. in the American civil rights movement.