Tolstoy’s Influence On Gandhi In Making Of Mahatma

Abstract

This article summarizes the influence of two great minds, who lived during the period between 19th and 20th centuries. Despite the fact, that the two great social reformers and thinkers Mahatma Gandhi and Leo Tolstoy, hailing from different geographical areas and having diverse cultures, traditions, mentalities, religions, yet, both of them shared common values, principles, and doctrines of love, truth, non-violence, peace, faith in humanity, tolerance, and brotherhood.

The two, were also regarded as great humanitarian for their true services to humanity, who always raised their voices against all nature of evils and came forward without any personal ambitions to lead those who were exploited, hopeless and weaker sections of the society. Their prime aim was not only to strengthen them, but also to generate a feeling in them that only they themselves could change their fate and destiny.

As far as Gandhi’s and Tolstoy’s relationship is concerned, it was filled with warmth and respect. Each of them was very close to each other. Although Gandhi considered himself a disciple of Tolstoy, yet, they had equally influenced each other. In this article, we have tried from Gandhi’s angle how Tolstoy’s principles, ethics and morals, had transformed his life and helped him not only to become a great leader and freedom fighter, but also the father of nation and Mahatma.

We hope that this article would not only enable the students and young researchers to know the greatness and the depth of the relationship between Mahatma Gandhi and Leo Tolstoy in a much better way, but also encourage them to do some comparative studies on Gandhi and Tolstoy, to uncover those aspects of their lives, which are still a mystery to many of us.