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Mahatma Gandhi: Why the Icon of Non-Violence Never Won the Nobel Peace Prize
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News18•02-10-2026, 10:03
Mahatma Gandhi: Why the Icon of Non-Violence Never Won the Nobel Peace Prize
- •Mahatma Gandhi, a symbol of non-violence and architect of India's freedom struggle, was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize five times (1937, 1938, 1939, 1947, 1948) but never received it.
- •Early nominations faced reservations from the Nobel Committee's adviser, who viewed Gandhi as a complex figure—both an idealist and a politician, with "sharp turns in his policies."
- •In 1947, despite a more favorable assessment, the committee was divided; some members were concerned about Gandhi's perceived alignment with one side during the India-Pakistan conflict and a controversial statement about potential war.
- •Gandhi's final nomination in 1948, shortly before his assassination, raised the unprecedented question of a posthumous award, which the committee ultimately decided against, citing no suitable living candidate and concerns about the testator's intentions.
- •Later Nobel Committee members expressed regret over Gandhi's omission, with the 1989 Dalai Lama award partly seen as a tribute to Gandhi's memory.
Key Questions Answered
Mahatma Gandhi was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize five times in total, specifically in the years 1937, 1938, 1939, 1947, and 1948.
In 1947, the Nobel Committee was divided because of the Partition violence and strained India-Pakistan relations. Some members felt Gandhi was too strongly committed to one side, and doubts were raised by an incomplete news statement regarding a potential war with Pakistan.
No, Gandhi was never awarded the prize posthumously. Following his assassination on January 30, 1948, the committee ultimately concluded that awarding a posthumous prize would violate the testator's intentions.
