The influential leader behind India's independence movement was Mahatma Gandhi, also known as the "Father of the Nation." Gandhi championed nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience as powerful tools for challenging British colonial rule. Through initiatives like the Salt March and various campaigns promoting self-reliance and unity among diverse Indian communities, he galvanized mass support for independence. Gandhi's philosophy of Satyagraha emphasized truth and nonviolence, inspiring similar movements for civil rights and freedom worldwide. His relentless pursuit of justice and equality played a crucial role in India achieving independence in 1947, leaving a lasting legacy in global socio-political activism.