The influential leader of the nonviolent movement against British colonial rule in India was Mahatma Gandhi. He advocated for civil disobedience and nonviolent resistance as means to achieve independence from British rule. Gandhi's philosophy emphasized the power of peaceful protest and the importance of self-reliance, which resonated with millions of Indians. Through various campaigns, like the Salt March, he mobilized the masses and garnered international attention for the Indian independence movement, ultimately playing a crucial role in India gaining independence in 1947.