Final answer:
Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian Independence Movement and the Indian National Congress, was assassinated by a Hindu extremist in 1948. He pioneered non-violent resistance against British rule, culminating in India's independence, but his approach met with radical opposition leading to his untimely death.
Step-by-step explanation:
The leader known as the Mahatma, or "Great Soul," of the Indian Independence Movement who was assassinated in 1948 by a Hindu extremist was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, often referred to as Mahatma Gandhi. He was a central figure in the Indian struggle for independence from British rule, utilizing non-violent civil disobedience as a method to press for political changes. Gandhi became the leader of the Indian National Congress and spearheaded campaigns such as the Non-Cooperation Movement, the Salt March, and the "Quit India" movement. His assassination occurred shortly after he achieved his dream of Indian independence.
Gandhi's leadership during various crises, including the partition of India, was instrumental in mobilizing a national movement for independence. His asceticism and simplicity became symbols of the Indian resistance. However, Gandhi's moderate approach to seeking independence through non-violence did not align with the views of all nationalists, and this led to his assassination by Nathuram Godse, a radical Hindu nationalist who believed Gandhi favored the political demands of India's Muslims.