At the time of India’s Independence, Mahatma Gandhi was

The correct answer is Option 2: not a member of the Congress.

Although Mahatma Gandhi was the spiritual and political figurehead of the Indian National Congress for decades, he formally resigned from his primary membership of the party in 1934. He took this step to focus on constructive work, village upliftment, and the removal of untouchability, believing that his presence as a formal member might stifle the growth of different ideological strands within the party.

By August 15, 1947, Gandhi held no official position—neither as President, General Secretary, nor a member of the Congress Working Committee. On the day of Independence, he was not in Delhi for the celebrations; instead, he was in Noakhali (Bengal), fasting and praying to quell the communal riots following Partition. This detachment from formal power underscored his philosophy that the struggle for social reform was distinct from the pursuit of political office.