Gandhian

American  

[gahn-dee-uhn, gan-] / ˈgɑn di ən, ˈgæn- /

adjective

1. of or relating to Mohandas Gandhi or to Gandhiism.

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Gandhian British  

/ ˈɡændɪən /

adjective

1. of or relating to Mahatma Gandhi or his ideas

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noun

1. a follower of Gandhi or his ideas

Etymology

Origin of Gandhian

First recorded in 1920–25; Gandhi + -an

Example Sentences

As the planning historian Thomas Campanella wrote in 2011, “The literature on grassroots planning tends to assume a citizenry of Gandhian humanists. In fact, most people are not motivated by altruism but by self-interest.”

From Slate • Sep. 16, 2024

In 1953, Lawson joined a Methodist mission to India and devoted himself to studying Gandhian nonviolence.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2024

Ricks emphasizes the tactical value that the movement derived from its willingness to endure the brutality its opponents inflicted without retaliating in kind; its success rested, he says, on its embrace of Gandhian resistance.

From Washington Post • Oct. 6, 2022

“It’s a basic principle of the Gandhian philosophy: If you have wealth, you are not owners of the wealth,” said Chandaria, who also attributes generosity to being a follower of the Indian religion Jainism.

From Washington Times • Aug. 3, 2022

We also discussed whether the campaign should follow Gandhian principles of nonviolence, or what the Mahatma called satyagraba, a nonviolence that seeks to conquer through conversion.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela