Gandhi - How Did He Do It?

I'm struggling to understand how people can feel such conviction that they can create whole movements and influence so many people as to get whole nations to back off. As I'm reading Gandhi I am really struck by some of the first things said about him "Gandhi was a shy and mediocre student, and completed his education with average results." Where did the drive come from that created a non-violent political leader that (arguably) of which the world has never seen the likes of again? Did it stem from his religious beliefs? Was it simply from seeing injustice? He was such a simple and "average" man... Do we all have this sort of capacity?

I find myself really drawn to Gandhi's religious background. I feel a sense of satisfaction in reading that he developed his own religious ideas, and had such an eclectic summation to his beliefs. We hear of so many political leaders and leaders in general who have such a straight edge, one-way, use of religion in their lives.I feel there is a failure in people now a days to take the time to really think about their beliefs; there is a remedial sense of owning your religion and making it yours and people get caught up in adhering to and being OWNED, in a sense, by one set of doctrines. Gandhi devoted years of his life to finding out what he believed, and he took so many sides to his own beliefs... Is this where his convictions came from? His personal set of doctrines which he patch-worked together into a blanket of peaceful thought and living?

I have a bit more to read before I can make anymore ties, but this seems to be an important aspect... God, I wish I had such conviction...


Later note: HAHAHAHAHA, oh, page 45... I love you