A role model in light of values: Mahatma Gandhi

The non-violent, tolerant, pacifistic and humanistic manner of Mahatma Gandhi is a globally recognized fact. UNESCO’s foundation of Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development is one of the best examples that support this fact. In this study, it is aimed to present “Mahatma Gandhi”, who is globally accepted as a role model with his personal characteristics, meaning and view of life, devotion to his beliefs, way of struggling with the problems he encountered, universal understanding of peace and tolerance, the value he attached to human beings, and his character, thus, from the values he possessed, to set forth an educational point of view. The study was conducted based on the method of document review in accordance with the qualitative approach to research. As a result of this study, it is assessed that Mahatma Gandhi accommodated in his personality many universal values such as love for his fellow humans, justice, peace, non-violence, tolerance, and freedom, and when faced with certain situations in his lifetime, exhibited an attitude that is compatible with his principles related to these values. In this context, it can be speculated that introducing and conveying Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of life and the treasure of values he had to students via various educational activities and biographies can make the processes of education for peace and values more effective. Key words: Universal values, values education, Mahatma Gandhi and values, peace education, social studies.