The exact origins of the Indian people are impossible to determine, because of the large variety of cultures that have invaded and been assimilated into the subcontinent. It is indisputable, however, that some of the world's most influential thinkers were Indians. In the 20th century, Mohandas Gandhi instituted basic and unprecedented literacy and community-improvement programs. But more than expert leadership in the complex struggle of home rule, Gandhi gained international respect by leading his country in peaceful resistance to the oppression of civil liberties and political rights for common people.
Another Indian visionary of the 20th century was Rabindranath Tagore, who received international recognition for establishing an international college (Visva-Bharati) at Bìrbhum in an effort to bridge the cultural gap between East and West. He was awarded the 1913 Nobel Prize in literature, and in 1915 he was knighted by the British king George V.
