Many factors influenced Gandhiji’s thinking. Among these factors, all the role of his family was paramount. Gandhiji got the inspiration to lead a moral life and respect towards all religions from his family. He was very much impressed with the victory of truth over untruth in the Mahabharata, the selfless karmyoga of the Geeta, truth and non – violence of Jain and Buddhist religions, the preachings of Christ, the simplicity of the character of Hazrat Muhammad and Islamic brotherhood.
Gandhiji was very much impressed with the western thinkers like Ruskin, Leo Tolstoy, Socrates, Henry David Thoreau, and the Indian social reformers and thinkers such as Swami Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Swami Vivekananda. Clear effect of two important leaders of independence movement, Gokhale and Tilak, is seen on Gandhiji. He learnt the importance of public movement from Bal Gangadhar Tilak and inspiration for spiritualistic of politics from Gokhale.
