Gandhi built non-violence movement. India built Gandhi. Nonviolence is part of India's culture and teachings. Gandhi was merely the genius saint who applied old teachings for the independence movement.
Gandhi ji strived for bringing unity among various castes in Hinduism to keep the society intact, hence it could be easily understood as to why religious minorities in India prefer former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru (an agnostic) over Mahatma Gandhi who championed for the cause of Hinduism.