Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela were both leaders of independence movements in their respective countries of India and South Africa. Gandhi employed nonviolent civil disobedience to lead India to independence from British rule. Nelson Mandela was born in South Africa and experienced discrimination as a black man under apartheid. He fought for civil rights through nonviolent protest and was later imprisoned for over 20 years for his opposition to apartheid. Both men inspired movements for freedom and equality through their nonviolent activism.