Gandhi, Ma ‧ hat ‧ ma /məˈhætmə $ -ˈhɑːt-/ BrE AmE
(1869–1948) an Indian lawyer and politician who successfully led the fight for India’s independence from the British. Gandhi is famous especially for developing the idea of non-violent protest, and his methods have been copied in many other places. Gandhi wore very simple ↑ homespun clothes, including a ↑ loincloth , to support the Indian way of life. His real name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi but he was given the name ‘Mahatma’ (meaning ‘great soul’) by his followers. He was ↑ assassinate d soon after India gained independence.