Sawan Presents An Autobiography of Gandhi from Biographis of Great Personalities. Indian lawyer, politician, social activist, and writer Mahatma Gandhi (born Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi), also known by his pen name Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, rose to prominence as the leader of the nationalist struggle against British rule in India. Consequently, he came to be regarded as the founding father of his nation. Gandhi is worldwide renowned for his theory of peaceful protest (satyagraha), which he advocated for the advancement of political and social causes.