The two major personalities in the Indian nationalist struggle were Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi(1869–1948) is considered to be the leading figure of the Indian struggle for independence. Gandhi is famous for his principles of non-violence (ahimsa) and civil disobedience; he led millions of people through non-violent protests and campaigns like the Salt March and the Quit India Movement. The approaches that he used included individualism, social change, and consolidation of people of different groups. This leadership of Gandhi did not only motivate the Indian people but also the entire world civil rights movement.

Jawaharlal Nehru(1889–1964) was Gandhi’s follower a leader of the nationalist movement and the founder of modern India. Being the first Prime Minister of India, Nehru supported democracy, secularism and socialism in India. He dreamt of an industrialised India, a scientific India and an educationally developed India. Nehru is credited for the introduction of the parliamentary system as well as the formation of some of the most important institutions that helped India grow into a democratic country.

Thus, Gandhi and Nehru’s leadership was quite effective in the context of the Indian struggle for independence from British rule and in shaping the further development of the country.