Final answer:
Mahatma Gandhi was an Indian leader and philosopher who preached nonviolence and played a key role in India's independence movement from British rule.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mahatma Gandhi was an influential Indian leader and philosopher who advocated for nonviolence. He played a crucial role in India's independence movement from British rule during the first half of the 20th century. Gandhi led the Indian National Congress and promoted civil disobedience and peaceful resistance to fight for India's freedom. He emphasized the importance of ahimsa, or non-harming, and satyagraha, which means holding to the truth, as guiding principles in his teachings and actions.