Where does “Gandhian” come from?

Gandhian derives from Gandhi, the English name from Gujarati ગાંધી, combined with the English suffix -ian ultimately from Latin -anus meaning "of or belonging to."

Gandhian (English): Of or relating to Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, 1869–1948), leader of Indian nationalism in British-ruled India, who led India to independence and inspired movements for nonviolence, civil rights, and freedom

Definitions

  1. Of or relating to Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, 1869–1948), leader of Indian nationalism in British-ruled India, who led India to independence and inspired movements for nonviolence, civil rights, and freedom

Ancestry of “Gandhian”, step by step

Gandhian traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Gandhi

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishGandhiused by Hindu, Jain, Parsi and Sikh people throughout India
2GujaratiગાંધીGandhi
3Hindiगांधी
4Sanskritगान्धिकperfumier
5Sanskritगन्धodour, smell, fragrance; fragrant substance,...
6Sanskritरसthe sap or juice of plants and fruits; fluid,...
7Proto-Indo-IranianHrásas
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁rṓs(trickling) liquid, moisture

via English ān

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishān
2Middle Englishāna, an indefinite article
3Old Englishānlonely; entirely alone, solitary, single; one
4Proto-West Germanicainone
5Proto-Germanicainazone; some
6Proto-Indo-Europeanóynosone; single
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁rṓsEvery word from Proto-Indo-Iranian HrásasEvery word from Sanskrit रस