Re: Martin L. King & Mahatma Gandhi
Gandhi's methods are not novel. That was the path many others had tread including Buddha, Jesus et al.
Gandhi was also influenced by many writers prominent among them being Leo Tolstoy. But, the greatness of Gandhi was he took the theory of those great thinkers and converted the idealogy into applicable format called Satyagraha.
When Martin L King came to India he came precisely to study and understand Gandhian application of the peace and non violence in day to day struggle against oppression.