Which of the following thinkers and movements influenced the development of Gandhiji’s political ideas ? 1. Henry David Thoreau 2. John Ituskin 3. John Milton 4. Jainism Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Mahatma Gandhi's political and ethical ideas were shaped by a diverse range of thinkers and religious traditions. Henry David Thoreau's essay on 'Civil Disobedience' provided Gandhi with a 'scientific confirmation' for his activities in South Africa and influenced his methods of non-violent resistance. John Ruskin's 'Unto This Last' (misspelled as 'Ituskin' in the prompt) was transformative, leading Gandhi to establish the Phoenix Settlement and adopt the principle that the good of the individual is contained in the good of all [2]. Additionally, Gandhi grew up in a religious atmosphere in Gujarat where Jainism was a primary influence, particularly the concept of 'Ahimsa' (non-violence). While Gandhi was well-read, there is no significant evidence that John Milton influenced his political ideas compared to the profound impacts of Thoreau, Ruskin, and Jainism.

Sources

1. [2] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 15: Emergence of Gandhi > Tolstoy Farm > p. 314