The prominent Indian leader advocating nonviolent resistance was Mahatma Gandhi. Although he primarily fought for Indian independence from British rule, his philosophy of nonviolence (ahimsa) and civil disobedience inspired various movements for social change worldwide, including the American civil rights movement. Gandhi's techniques of peaceful protest, such as the Salt March, demonstrated the power of nonviolent action against oppression. His beliefs emphasized the importance of social justice and moral integrity, establishing a framework that leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. later adopted to challenge systemic injustice and advocate for civil rights through peaceful means.