The paper offers an answer to the question of the nature of the doctrine of state-building of independent India by M. Gandhi. The author emphasizes that M. Gandhi cannot be called a reactionary figure, since the changes he proposed were significant, truly revolutionary in nature. However, comparing the works of M. Gandhi and V. I. Lenin, the author points out that they have fundamental contradictions, because of which the Indian leader cannot be recognized as a revolutionary in the sense that supporters of communist views put into this concept. In particular, the religious and philosophical nature of M. Gandhi’s teachings, his negative attitude to scientific and technological progress, as well as the ideology of nonviolence are noted. It is concluded that the teachings of M. Gandhi, in which religious and philosophical problems occupy a central place in state-building, although they did not correspond to the communist doctrine, were undoubtedly revolutionary for their time. The author also emphasizes the applied nature of M. Gandhi’s teaching. Gandhi, who not only laid the theoretical foundations of Indian independence, but also proposed concrete steps to achieve it and actively participated in their implementation himself.