The influential figure behind the nonviolent independence movement in India was Mahatma Gandhi. He advocated for civil disobedience and nonviolent resistance against British colonial rule, emphasizing the importance of moral power over violence. Gandhi's principles of Satyagraha, or truth force, galvanized large swathes of the Indian population and united diverse groups in the struggle for independence. His approaches were not only pivotal in ending British rule in India in 1947, but they also inspired global civil rights movements. Gandhi's legacy remains a symbol of peace, resilience, and the power of collective action in the face of oppression.