Mahatma Gandhi had some big ideas about how to change the world, and his thoughts on Ahimsa (which means non-violence) and Satyagraha (which is about standing up for the truth) have greatly inspired leaders fighting for civil rights around the globe, especially in the 20th century. His way of promoting peaceful protests helped many important leaders start significant changes all over the world.

1. Influence on Important Leaders:

   • Martin Luther King Jr.: He took Gandhi's ideas and used them in the American Civil Rights Movement. Because of this, he led successful efforts against unfair laws that separated people based on their race in the 1950s and 1960s.
   • Nelson Mandela: At first, Mandela thought fighting was necessary. But later, he started to focus more on talking things out and bringing people together, just like Gandhi did, while South Africa was moving away from apartheid.
   • Cesar Chavez: He used peaceful methods inspired by Gandhi to fight for the rights of farmworkers. Thanks to his efforts in the 1960s, many workers got better pay and working conditions.

2. Impact on Movements:

   • Gandhi's way of doing things helped spark over 100 peaceful movements around the world from 1900 to 2010.
   • A study from the University of Notre Dame found that nonviolent protests were almost twice as successful as violent ones. They had a success rate of about 53%, while violent movements only succeeded around 26% of the time.

3. Legacy:

   • In 2007, UNESCO declared October 2, Gandhi's birthday, as the International Day of Non-Violence. This shows how much people around the world value his teachings.
   • Today, many groups and leaders still find inspiration in Gandhi's work. They focus on talking things out and using peaceful means to create social change.