Mahatma Gandhi was a major political and spiritual leader of India and the Indian independence movement. He practiced and advocated for non-violence and peaceful civil disobedience in fighting for independence and civil rights in South Africa and India. Some of his most notable acts of non-violent protest included marching 400 kilometers to make salt himself in defiance of British salt taxes and organizing campaigns that led to over 60,000 Indians being imprisoned. Gandhi continues to be a globally respected figure for his principles of non-violence and peaceful resistance to injustice.