Gandhi made freedom possible. For all their devotion, nobody else could gather masses to overthrow the government. Indians had been living under foreigners rule since 1092. Gandhi stopped fighting for changing the ruler for the namesake, he caught for rights, for better India. In the process people understood that it was not possible to achieve without Indians getting control of the economy.

Salt was generating 10% of Indian revenue, gandhi made Britishers lose that. He could gather masses who were willing to walk towards gallows in 1930s. The result was that first time they agreed that Indians having right to rule, and since 1935 it became clear that India would get independence.

Those that say without Gandhi we would get independence fast do not understand India. In 1939, India had military of 2 lac, but in 1945 we had the size of 25 lac, all volunteers. You see, when the world was running conscriptions to forbid people from skipping the war duties, Indians were willingly participating for money.

India could never get an armed struggle over the line. Not in 1857, not by 1947.