Differences Between Gandhi And Martin Luther King

Last Updated on March 19, 2022 by QCity Editorial Stuff

Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. were two of the most influential figures in American history, however, their beliefs and actions differed greatly. Gandhi believed that violence was never necessary while King felt it was necessary at times to achieve peace. Gandhi’s nonviolent protests led India to independence from Great Britain, but Martin Luther King Jr.’s nonviolence didn’t work as well with the Civil Rights movement in America during the 1960s. Although both men are known for their peaceful protests, they had different views on how change could be achieved through these methods.

Martin Luther King and Gandhi were both leaders in the movement for civil rights, but there are some key differences between them. Martin Luther King was a minister who taught nonviolence and passive resistance to achieve social change. On the other hand, Gandhi is known as a Hindu nationalist, who believed that violence could be used to liberate India from British rule. The two men differed with their approach towards achieving social change: one advocated for nonviolent protest while the other believed in using force when necessary.

Comparison Between Cells Gandhi And Martin Luther King

Parameters of Comparison	Gandhi	Martin Luther king
Religion	Hindu	Christian
Lead	Gandhi led India to independence	Martin Luther King fought for civil rights in the United States
Assassinated	Assassinated	Assassinated
Born	1929	1869
Father died	Gandhi’s father died when he was only 9 years old,	King’s father lived until 1944

Who Is Gandhi?

Born in 1869, Mohandas Gandhi was an Indian lawyer and politician who led India to independence from Great Britain. He is often hailed as the man who united India because of his peaceful methods, such as boycotting British goods and non-violent protest. 

Gandhi studied law at University College London and became a barrister in Bombay before returning to South Africa where he fought discrimination against Indians with great success. In 1914 he returned home again but this time to fight for Indian Independence. Gandhi’s philosophy on nonviolent resistance made him one of the most influential thinkers of all time, although it would eventually lead to his death when he was assassinated by Nathuram Godse on January 30th, 1948.

Gandhi, a name that is well known in the world of politics and social activism. Gandhi was a leader who not only fought for Indian independence from Britain but also helped to establish India as a free nation once his work was completed. However, there are many things you may not have known about this influential man because he has been idolized by so many people over the years. To learn more about Gandhi’s life and accomplishments, read on.

Who Was Martin Luther King?

Martin Luther King Jr. was a prominent American activist who led the African-American Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s by using nonviolent methods to achieve equality for all. Born January 15, 1929, he became involved with civil rights at the age of 16 when his family moved from Atlanta to Montgomery, Alabama. He studied theology and philosophy at Morehouse College before graduating with a Doctorate of Philosophy degree in sociology from Boston University. After working as an assistant pastor in Georgia and Alabama, he completed his doctorate while continuing to teach part-time at two universities in Atlanta–all while fighting against racism on many fronts. His involvement with activism deepened after 1954 when Rosa Parks’ arrest sparked the yearlong bus boycott that ended segregation on public transportation across town.

10 Differences Between Gandhi And Martin Luther King

1. Gandhi was a Hindu while Martin Luther King was Christian.

2. Gandhi led India to independence while Martin Luther King fought for civil rights in the United States.

3. Both men were assassinated, but by different people and with different weapons.

4. Gandhi’s assassination resulted in riots that left many dead whereas Martin Luther king’s death caused peaceful demonstrations.

5. The Indian National Congress is still active today, whereas the Southern Christian Leadership Conference has disbanded. 

6. Gandhi supported non-violence as a means of protest; MLK used nonviolent and violent methods at times (such as boycotts).

7. Gandhi was born in 1869 and Martin Luther King was born in 1929.

8. Gandhi’s father died when he was only 9 years old, while King’s father lived until 1944.

9. Gandhi became an attorney at the age of 13; King didn’t go to college. 

10. Gandhi had a son who died at age 40; King had 4 children (who all survived). 

Interesting Statistics Or Facts Of Gandhi

1. Gandhi was the first person to ever be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize.

2. He has been ranked as one of the greatest people in history by many historians and scholars.

3. It is said that he once ran 200 miles across India to protest against British rule.

4. His refusal to use violence led him to create strategies like hunger strikes, non-cooperation, and boycotts.

5. He was assassinated on 30th January 1948 at age 78 by Nathuram Godse who disagreed with his views on Hinduism.

6. Gandhi’s birthday is now celebrated as a national holiday known as Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti or “Gandhi Day” in India.

Interesting Statistics Or Facts Of Martin Luther King

1. Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929.

2. He was assassinated at the age of 39.

3. His Nobel Prize acceptance speech is one of the most famous speeches in history.

4. He received more than 50 honorary degrees from colleges and universities worldwide.

5. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday is a federal holiday in America to honor his accomplishments. 

6. The FBI’s COINTELPRO program targeted him for surveillance because he advocated non-violent protest against racial segregation and discrimination.

Conclusion About The Differences Between Gandhi And Martin Luther King

Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi were both influential figures in the fight for civil rights, but they had different philosophies on how to achieve these goals. Dr. King believed that violence was not an acceptable means of accomplishing change, while Gandhi felt it could be necessary at times. Both men won their respective battles against segregationist laws; however, their tactics differed greatly from one another–leading us to ask which approach is more effective? Ultimately each person must decide what type of activism he or she wants to participate in and then use his or her voice accordingly (or perhaps even create a new option). The fact remains though that we need all types of activists working towards equality so there can never be any discrimination based on race, religion, etc. 

References:

Resource 01: https://www.biography.com/activist/mahatma-gandhi
Resource 02: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083987/