Final answer:
People did not expect Gandhi to become a great leader due to his background as a lawyer advocating legalism in South Africa and his subsequent adoption of non-violent civil disobedience, and his lifestyle of simplicity which contrasted with the leadership norms of his time.
Step-by-step explanation:
People did not expect Mahatma Gandhi to become a great leader for several reasons. Initially, Gandhi was perceived as a mere lawyer who had lived away from India for a considerable period, primarily serving the South African Indian community after being educated in England. His transition into a leader advocating for Indian independence involved significant changes from a professional advocating legalism to practicing and promoting non-violent civil disobedience. Additionally, Gandhi embraced an ascetic lifestyle that went against the norms of contemporary influential leaders and was radically different from the aggressive and militaristic leadership styles that were prevalent during his time.
Gandhi's philosophy and methods also challenged the status quo, as he sought to eliminate the deeply entrenched caste system in India and promote unity between different religious communities. His stance was in direct opposition to the divisive policies enacted by the British colonial rulers. By employing nonviolent methods like fasting and peaceful protest, Gandhi not only argued for better rights and treatment for women and poor people but played a pivotal role in India's struggle for independence, which diverged from the conventional strategies used by other contemporary political movements.