Four of the following names are of great religious or spiritual teachers and reformers. Choose the one name that does not belong with the others.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Gandhi

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This is a general knowledge based classification question. It involves famous historical figures and asks you to pick the one whose primary role is different from that of the others. The focus here is on religious and spiritual founders as compared to a mainly political leader.



Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Nanak (Guru Nanak), the founder of Sikhism.
  • Christ (Jesus Christ), central figure of Christianity.
  • Buddha (Gautama Buddha), founder of Buddhism.
  • Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi), leader of the Indian freedom movement.
  • Mahavira, the key teacher associated with Jainism (added as an additional similar figure).
  • We focus on their primary and most recognised roles in history.


Concept / Approach:
The question can be solved by categorising these figures based on whether they are primarily remembered as founders or central spiritual leaders of major religions, or as political and social reformers without founding a new religion. If four of the names clearly belong to the first category and one belongs mainly to the second category, that one is the odd one out.



Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Guru Nanak is widely known as the founder and first Guru of Sikhism, a major world religion.Step 2: Jesus Christ is the central figure and saviour in Christianity, which developed around his life and teachings.Step 3: Gautama Buddha is recognised as the founder of Buddhism, another major world religion focused on his teachings about suffering and enlightenment.Step 4: Mahavira is the most prominent teacher in Jainism and is commonly associated with shaping the religion in its present form. He is revered as a Tirthankara.Step 5: Mahatma Gandhi, on the other hand, is primarily known as the political and moral leader of the Indian independence movement against colonial rule. His philosophy of non violence and truth had a strong spiritual dimension, but he did not found a new religion.Step 6: Therefore, four names (Nanak, Christ, Buddha, Mahavira) are directly linked to religious founding or central spiritual roles, while Gandhi is mainly a political and national leader.Step 7: Thus, Gandhi is the one who does not belong to the group of religious founders and is the odd one out.


Verification / Alternative check:
Ask which of these names is associated with a formal religion named after or directly built around their teachings. Sikhism is associated with Guru Nanak, Christianity with Christ, Buddhism with Buddha and Jainism with Mahavira. There is no separate organised religion named after Gandhi in the same way; instead, he inspired political movements and moral thought. This simple test clearly distinguishes Gandhi from the others.



Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Nanak, Christ, Buddha and Mahavira all hold central positions in major religious traditions. They are venerated as spiritual guides, prophets or enlightened beings. Their primary legacy is religious and spiritual. Because they share this common role, they form a natural group and cannot be considered the odd ones out in this context.



Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may be confused by the fact that Gandhi was also deeply spiritual and used religious ideas in his political work. However, the question is asking about the main category of contribution, not whether someone was personally religious. The key difference is that Gandhi did not establish a distinct religion or become its central divine or enlightened figure. Focusing on that distinction leads to the correct answer.



Final Answer:
The name that does not belong with the others is Gandhi.

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