In 2002, while addressing a gathering during the naming ceremony of a street after Mahatma Gandhi in Kazakhstan's Almaty, Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had said that even though both Gautam Buddha and Gandhi were born in India, they belong to the world.

Gandhi, an apostle of peace and non-violence, not only mobilized millions of Indians into a unique national liberation movement but also influenced several public figures like Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela.

India has highlighted how Gandhi's tools to fight social and political inequalities were used by other movements in the 20th century, like those of the American black people and Guatemalan Indians in the Americas, struggles of the Poles, Czechs and others in East Europe as well as the Thais and Filipinos in Asia for their rights, empowerment and freedom.

Martin Luther King Jr., the civil rights hero of the United States of America, who adopted non-violence as the weapon of choice to help millions of African Americans fight for their rights once remarked, “Christ gave us the goals and Mahatma Gandhi the tactic”. He viewed Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence and peaceful resistance as the only logical and moral approach in the struggle for justice and progress.

Nelson Mandela often cited Gandhi as one of his great teachers and acknowledged that his ideas had played a vital role in South Africa’s transformation, aiding in the overthrow of apartheid.

India Narrative puts together for its readers thoughts of some more famous personalities and the leaders of the world who were, or still continue to be, influenced by the life and works of Mahatma Gandhi:

* Impressions of Gandhi? You might well ask for someone’s impression of the Himalayas ― George Bernard Shaw

* Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth ― Albert Einstein

Former US President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama tour the Mani Bhavan Gandhi Museum (White House Photo by Pete Souza)

* To other countries, I may go as a tourist but to India I come as a pilgrim… if this age is to survive, it must follow the way of love and non-violence that Gandhi so nobly illustrated in his life ― Martin Luther King Jr

* Mohandas Gandhi showed us the way out of the destructive side of our human nature. Gandhi demonstrated that we can force change and justice through moral acts of aggression instead of physical acts of aggression. Never has our species needed this wisdom more ― Steve Jobs

* Gandhi’s actions had stirred me even more than his words; he’d put his beliefs to the test by risking his life, going to prison, and throwing himself fully into the struggles of his people ― Barack Obama

* Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King are great examples of fantastic non-violents who died violently ― John Lennon

* He was the most influential person of the 20th century with his idea of ahimsa (non-violence). He took a 3,000-year-old Indian tradition of ahimsa and karuna (compassion) and made it something living and relevant ― Dalai Lama

* I and others may be revolutionaries but we are disciples of Mahatma Gandhi, directly or indirectly, nothing more nothing less ― Ho Chi Minh

* Not since Buddha has India so revered any man. Not since St. Francis of Assisi has any life known to history been so marked by gentleness, disinterestedness, the simplicity of soul and forgiveness of enemies. We have the astonishing phenomenon of a revolution led by a saint ― Will Durant

Nelson Mandela often cited Gandhi as one of his great teachers 

* When asked what attribute he most admired in human nature, Mahatma Gandhi replied, simply and immediately, ‘Courage’. ‘Non-violence’, he said, ‘is not to be used ever as the shield of the coward. It is the weapon of the brave ― Richard Attenborough

* I want to take this opportunity of sending you a message… to tell you how deeply I admire your life and message. You are one of the greatest men the world has ever known. May God help you and guide your lofty work ― Henry Ford

* He was a great Indian nationalist, but at the same time was a leader of international stature. His teachings and actions have left a deep impression on millions of people ― Harry S Truman

* India is proud to have given to the world a man of his imperishable renown and is confident that his example will be a source of inspiration and strength in the fulfillment of her destiny… India, indeed the world, will not see the like of him again, perhaps, for centuries ― Lord Mountbatten

* Mahatma Gandhi came and stood at the door of India’s destitute millions, clad as one of themselves ― Rabindranath Tagore

* The only ray of light – He was the only ray of light to help us through these darkest days ― Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan

* Gandhi’s ideas have played a vital role in South Africa’s transformation and with the help of Gandhi’s teaching, apartheid has been overcome ― Nelson Mandela

* Gandhi is somebody really phenomenal. I think you must all read his works, the more you read Gandhi, the more impressed you are by who he was and what he was ― Aung San Suu Kyi    

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too, has spoken extensively on contributions of Mahatma Gandhi to the cause of greater human freedom in the 20th century; emphasis on the welfare of all (Sarvodaya); championing of the downtrodden (Antyodaya); and prescient concern for environmental sustainability.

"I believe that Mahatma Gandhi is still as relevant in today’s world as he was in his lifetime," says PM Modi.

Also Read: PM Modi’s second roll out of Swachh Bharat Mission links Gandhi’s vision with SDG goals