Mahatma Gandhi, a towering figure in the history of non-violent resistance and a profound advocate for peace, was considered for the Nobel Peace Prize on multiple occasions but ultimately never received the prestigious honor. His nominations spanned five different years—1937, 1938, 1939, 1947, and 1948—totaling 12 individual nominations and leading to him being shortlisted three times by the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
Early Nominations and Committee Doubts (1937-1939)
Gandhi's first nomination came in 1937 from Norwegian politician Ole Colbjørnsen. During this period, committee adviser Professor Jacob Worm-Müller raised significant questions about Gandhi's political methods. While acknowledging his moral leadership, Worm-Müller debated whether Gandhi's political campaigns could always be considered entirely pacifist. Despite his principles of Ahimsa (non-violence) and Satyagraha, some movements against British rule were regrettably followed by outbreaks of violence, posing a dilemma for the committee regarding the practical implications of his leadership.
Post-Independence Challenges (1947)
Gandhi was again nominated in 1947 by prominent Indian leaders, shortly after India gained independence and experienced the traumatic Partition, which ignited widespread communal violence. He was shortlisted among six candidates, but his position on the India-Pakistan conflict became a point of concern. A statement attributed to Gandhi in September 1947, suggesting that war with Pakistan might become necessary if other methods failed, was difficult for the committee to reconcile with his international reputation as a champion of non-violence. Although Gandhi later clarified his stance, the 1947 Peace Prize was ultimately awarded to the British and American Friends Service Councils.
The Posthumous Award Dilemma (1948)
Gandhi received his final set of nominations in 1948, including from 1946 laureate Emily Greene Balch and the American Friends Service Committee. However, tragedy struck on January 30, 1948, when Gandhi was assassinated in New Delhi. This presented the Nobel Committee with an unprecedented question: could the Peace Prize be awarded posthumously? After serious consideration and seeking legal advice, the committee decided against a posthumous award. On November 18, 1948, the Nobel Committee chose not to award the Peace Prize that year, formally stating there was “no suitable living candidate,” a decision widely understood to reference Gandhi.
Debunking Myths and Lasting Legacy
A persistent theory suggests that Gandhi was denied the Nobel Prize to avoid angering Britain. However, archival research by the Nobel Foundation indicates no evidence supporting this claim. Instead, committee records highlight the complexities of Gandhi's political role, the questions surrounding violence within his movements, the India-Pakistan conflict, and the circumstances of his death as the key factors. Despite never receiving the award, Gandhi's legacy was acknowledged when the Dalai Lama received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, with the chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee stating the award was, in part, a tribute to Gandhi's memory.