Mohandas Gandhi was a leader of India's independence movement and a global icon of nonviolent protest. Though he was a devout Hindu, Gandhi's religious background is complex, and his influence stretches far beyond the borders of his religion. A number of his ideas illuminate current discourse on religion not only in India and within Hinduism but also elsewhere in the world, notably the West. They include the nature of religion and its relationship to the scriptures, to the discipline of prayer, to the state, and to social action. His thoughts on the phenomena of religious pluralism and secularism have also been significant.