Zambia’s founding president Dr Kenneth David Kaunda, who was known as "Africa's Gandhi" for his espousal of nonviolent independence activism in the 1960s, was a man who followed the principles of Mahatma Gandhi in his life and became an inspiration to millions.

Zambian founding father Dr Kaunda ruled Zambia for 27 years from the time the country gained independence from Great Britain in October 1964. Kaunda rose to fame as a result of his advocacy for the liberation and black equality movements in other African countries, particularly the African National Congress (ANC), which Nelson Mandela was leading at the time.

In 1991's first multi-party elections in Zambia, Kaunda lost to trade unionist Fredrick Chiluba and handed over the reins of power. As he handled crises in nations like Zimbabwe and Kenya, Kaunda later gained recognition as a pan-African politician.

His leadership of the campaign for Zambia’s independence from British colonial rule attracted inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King. The movement emphasised boycotts, strikes, and civil disobedience. KK burned his colonial identification card in a nod to Gandhi's famous act of defiance against the "pass laws" in South Africa.

Gandhi's asceticism impressed him; he was a non-drinker and a non-smoker, and gave up eating meat, because, during colonial times, customers of colour had to use a different butcher shop window. He was an orator who could rouse crowds, yet utterly soft-spoken in private, a perfect host pouring out the coffee for guests after a state house banquet.

Kaunda also became a spokesperson of the campaign against AIDS in Africa; one of his sons died of the virus. "We fought colonialism. We must now use the same zeal to fight AIDS, which threatens to wipe out Africa," Kaunda told Reuters in 2002.

Dr Kaunda was not only one of the icons of Africa’s liberation struggle but he was also one of India’s staunchest and most steadfast friends. During his stay in power, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda paid more than ten visits to India, starting from 1967. While India supported Zambia with the country's economic and technological development, the latter also reciprocated on matters important to it, such as the 1998 nuclear tests, terrorism, and the J&K conflict, in exchange for India's assistance.

Today on his 99th anniversary, Gandhi Mandela Foundation remembers the legendary statesman, champion against disease and a model of human dignity.