This seminal paper aims to present not only Gandhi’s philosophy of fearlessness but also his success in putting it into practice as a moral tool. It is well known that Gandhi was deeply influenced by the moral philosophy of fearlessness described in the classical Hindu texts, which mention fearlessness as one of the key cardinal virtues, although academically less explored. Very few of us know that Gandhi’s political success in India and abroad was largely determined by his fearless moral character, which was greatly shaped by the psycho-philosophical principles of Hinduism, and to some extent by other religions such as Jainism, Christianity, and Islam. This paper is divided into four major sections: the “The Virtue of Fearlessness in Classical Indian Texts” section gives a brief philosophical account of fearlessness as one of the fundamental virtues found in classical Indian literature, for example, the Vedas, Upaniṣads, the Rāmāyana, the Mahābhārata, and the Śrīmad-Bhagavad-Gītā among other texts. The “Hinduism’s Influence and the Emergence of the “Fearless” Gandhi” section presents the influence of Hinduism on Gandhi and his moral orientation, which helped him evolve into the “fearless” Gandhi. The “The Transformative Power of Fasting and Self-restraint” section highlights the practice and power of fasting and self-restraint that was crucial to his disciplined life, fearless leadership and political struggle. The “The Vital Role of Fasting and Fearlessness in Gandhi’s Political Success” section briefly describes Gandhi’s remarkable political and social success in the freedom struggle, building and reforming India through his thoughts and actions, empowered by his belief in the philosophy of freedom, fearlessness, and fasting. Finally, a concluding note is presented in the “A Concluding Remark” section.
