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How did Leo Tolstoy’s ideas influence Mahatma Gandhi?

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Portrait of Leo Tolstoy with a long white beard, wearing a dark shirt and looking slightly to the side. — Leo Tolstoy Russian writer Leo Tolstoy is widely regarded as one of the world's greatest novelists. His masterpieces are *War and Peace* (1865–69) and *Anna Karenina* (1875–77).

Leo Tolstoy’s moral and religious philosophy significantly influenced Mahatma Gandhi, particularly through the doctrine of nonresistance to evil. Tolstoy argued that while evil exists, it should not be fought with violence, as violence only perpetuates further harm. This pacifist perspective helped shape Gandhi’s own philosophy of satyagraha, or nonviolent resistance.1234

The two figures corresponded between 1909 and 1910, discussing morality and the struggle against racial discrimination in South Africa. In his work A Letter to a Hindu, Tolstoy explicitly encouraged the use of love and nonviolence to challenge British colonial rule in India. Gandhi’s commitment to these ideals was so profound that he established the Tolstoy Farm near Johannesburg, a communal settlement where individuals trained in nonviolent resistance. Additionally, Tolstoy’s analysis of Christian theology and his focus on the Sermon on the Mount played a major role in shaping Gandhi’s evolving conception of spirituality.352