Indian Independence Activist Mohandas Gandhi was an agent of political and social change. Defender of Indian independence, he was persecuted and imprisoned. Perhaps the best-known proponent of nonviolent civil disobedience, he changed the way oppressed groups around the world viewed their struggle for equality. India gained independence from Britain in 1947, largely due to Gandhi's peaceful perseverance. After living for 20 years in South Africa, where he practiced law and defended equality for Indians, he returned to India at the age of 45. Its mission was to advance the cause of Indian independence from Britain. He led the Indian National Congress and was imprisoned several times for acts of civil disobedience. In one of his most famous protests against British rule, he led thousands of Indians in a march to the Arabian Sea to collect salt in protest against the salt tax. On this occasion, 60,000 people, including Gandhi, were imprisoned. Throughout India's struggle for independence, Gandhi was imprisoned several times and embarked on various hunger strikes to encourage cooperation between the divided factions of the Indian and British colonial governments. Thirty-three years after his return to India, Gandhi saw his dream come true when Britain granted India independence, but it came at a price. India was divided into two; the separate country of Pakistan was created for Indian Muslims. It was Gandhi's efforts to bring peace and unification between Hindus and Muslims that ultimately led to his assassination in 1948 (History.com Staff, 2010). As a proponent of Satyagraha, mass, non-violent civil disobedience, Gandhi believed change could be effected. without resorting to physical force. While practicing law in South Africa...... middle of paper ...... and when she became the face of the women's rights movement. Unafraid of persecution or humiliation, she spread new ideas of equality for women and minorities that took root and changed the face of America (Walker, 2011).Works CitedHistory .comStaff. (2010). Mohandas Gandhi. Retrieved from History.com: http://www.history.com/topics/mahatma-gandhiPal, A. (February 1, 2008). 60 years after his death, Gandhi is making the world a better place. Retrieved from The Progressive: http://mail.progressive.org/mp_pal012208Susan B. Anthony House. (2013). Biography of Susan B Anthony. Retrieved from SusanBAnthonyHouse.org: http://susanbanthonyhouse.org/her-story/biography.phpWalker, A.-M. (June 28, 2011). Political and social change created by the actions of Susan B Anthony. Taken from Voices.Yahoo.com: http://voices.yahoo.com/politique-social-change-created-actions-8855571.html