Who conferred the honorary title Mahatma on Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in recognition of his moral leadership in India freedom struggle?

Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to Indian modern history and focuses on an important honorific title used for Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. The term Mahatma, meaning great soul, became closely associated with Gandhi due to his role in the freedom movement and his emphasis on non violence and truth. Many exams ask who first conferred this title on Gandhi, so remembering the correct personality is essential for aspirants of civil services and other competitive tests.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks about the person who accorded the title Mahatma to Gandhi.
• Options include Sardar Patel, Nehru, Sarojini Naidu and Rabindranath Tagore.
• We assume the commonly accepted historical account used in standard history textbooks.
• The context is Gandhi leadership in India freedom struggle and moral influence.

Concept / Approach:
The key concept is to link the title Mahatma with the intellectual and cultural circles of early twentieth century India. Rabindranath Tagore, a Nobel Prize winning poet and thinker, is widely credited with first referring to Gandhi as Mahatma. Over time, this description became popular and was adopted widely. The approach is to recall this widely accepted historical association and distinguish it from the roles of other leaders like Nehru and Sardar Patel, who respected Gandhi but are not known for originating the title.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Read the question carefully and note the exact demand, which is the identity of the person who accorded the title Mahatma to Gandhi. Step 2: Scan the options and recognise all four names as major Indian leaders and personalities. Step 3: Recall from history that Rabindranath Tagore wrote and spoke about Gandhi in deeply respectful terms and is usually credited with first using the term Mahatma for him. Step 4: Check your memory of common exam questions; many standard history question banks mention Tagore as the source of the title Mahatma for Gandhi. Step 5: Conclude that the correct answer is Rabindranath Tagore and choose that option.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, one can recall that Tagore and Gandhi had a rich intellectual relationship, sometimes agreeing and sometimes debating on issues like nationalism and education, yet always maintaining mutual respect. Tagore use of the word Mahatma gave the phrase a literary and moral weight that helped fix it in public imagination. Nehru and Patel, although close political colleagues of Gandhi, are not known in historical records as the first to apply this title. Sarojini Naidu admired Gandhi and often called him Bapu but is not the origin of Mahatma. This cross checking of relationships and famous anecdotes confirms Tagore as the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Sardar Patel: He was a key leader in the freedom struggle and integration of princely states but did not originate the title Mahatma for Gandhi.
Nehru: He was the first Prime Minister of independent India and a close associate of Gandhi, but history does not record him as the first person to confer the title Mahatma.
Sarojini Naidu: She frequently addressed Gandhi affectionately and played a major role in the movement, but she is not credited with coining the title Mahatma for him.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may incorrectly guess Nehru or Patel because they were prominent leaders and close to Gandhi. Confusion also arises because many leaders praised Gandhi in different ways, and the title Mahatma became so common that its origin is often forgotten. A simple strategy is to remember the association between poetry, literature and honorific titles; Tagore, as a poet, provided this powerful phrase that captured Gandhi moral stature. Keeping this pairing in mind helps one mark the correct option quickly in an exam.

Final Answer:
The title Mahatma was accorded to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi by Rabindranath Tagore.