Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi |
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A memorial marks the spot in Birla House (now Gandhi Smriti), New Delhi, where Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated at 5:17 PM on 30 January 1948.
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| Location | New Delhi, India |
| Date | 30 January 1948 17:17 (IST) |
| Target | Mahatma Gandhi |
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Attack type
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Assassination, murder by shooting |
| Weapons | Beretta M 1934 semi-automatic pistol |
| Deaths | 1 (Gandhi) |
| Perpetrators | Nathuram Godse Narayan Apte Dattatraya Parchure Vishnu Karkare Madanlal Pahwa Gopal Godse |
Mahatma Gandhi was a very important leader in India. He was known for his peaceful protests and for helping India gain independence. Sadly, on January 30, 1948, when he was 78 years old, he was killed. This happened at Birla House in New Delhi, where he was attending a prayer meeting. A man named Nathuram Godse was responsible for this act. Godse was from Pune, Maharashtra. He held strong Hindu beliefs and had been part of groups like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Hindu Mahasabha.
Around 5 PM, Gandhi was walking to a lawn behind Birla House. He held daily prayer meetings there. As he walked, Godse stepped out of the crowd. He fired three shots at Gandhi from very close range. Gandhi fell to the ground. He was quickly taken back to his room. A short while later, it was announced that he had passed away.
People in the crowd quickly caught Godse. One person widely mentioned was Herbert Reiner Jr., an American diplomat. Godse was then handed over to the police. The trial for Gandhi's killing began in May 1948 in Delhi. Godse was the main person accused. His helper, Narayan Apte, and six others were also accused. Godse and Apte were sentenced to death on November 8, 1949. Even though Gandhi's sons asked for their punishment to be changed, the leaders of India did not agree. Godse and Apte were executed on November 15, 1949.
Contents
Planning the Attack
In May 1944, Nathuram Godse tried to harm Gandhi with a knife. This happened during a prayer meeting. Godse and a group of young men rushed towards Gandhi. However, the crowd stopped them. Gandhi chose not to press charges, so Godse was released.
In September 1944, Godse tried again to stop Gandhi. He was arrested with a dagger and threatened Gandhi's life. Again, Gandhi chose not to press charges, and Godse was released.
In late 1947, Gandhi moved to Delhi. He wanted to help calm the violence happening there. This violence followed the division of British India. India and Pakistan became separate countries. Many people moved between the two new nations, causing much unrest.
Godse and his helpers lived in the Deccan region. Godse had previously led peaceful protests. These protests were against the Muslim ruler of Hyderabad State. He was arrested for political reasons and spent time in prison. After his release, Godse continued his work. He reported on the difficulties faced by Hindu refugees. These refugees were coming from Pakistan. He also reported on the religious conflicts of the 1940s.
Plans to kill Gandhi started in January 1948. This was after India and Pakistan began a conflict over Kashmir. India's government had held back a payment to Pakistan. This payment was part of dividing funds from British India. But Gandhi disagreed with this decision. He started a hunger strike on January 13, 1948. He wanted the Indian government to release the payment to Pakistan. The government then changed its mind. Godse and his group believed Gandhi was controlling things too much. They felt he was harming India.
On the day Gandhi started his hunger strike, Godse and his friends began planning. Nathuram Godse and Narayan Apte bought a pistol. They also watched Gandhi's movements closely.
First Attack Attempt: January 20, 1948
Gandhi first stayed at the Balmiki Temple in New Delhi. He held his prayer meetings there. Later, the temple was used for refugees. So, Gandhi moved to Birla House. This was a large mansion in south-central New Delhi. Gandhi lived in two simple rooms there. He held his prayer meetings on a lawn behind the house.
The first attempt to kill Gandhi at Birla House was on January 20, 1948. Godse and his group followed Gandhi to a park. Gandhi was speaking there. One of them threw a small explosive device away from the crowd. The loud noise caused people to panic and run. Gandhi was left alone on the stage. The plan was to throw another explosive at Gandhi. But the person meant to do it, Digambar Badge, got scared. He did not throw it and ran away with the crowd. All the plotters ran, except Madanlal Pahwa. He was a refugee from the division of India. He was arrested.
The Day of the Assassination: January 30, 1948
Manuben Gandhi's Account
Manu Gandhi, also called "Manuben," was Gandhi's great-niece. She joined Gandhi during his peace mission in East Bengal. Abha Chatterjee, a girl adopted by the Gandhis, was also with them. Both young women were walking with Gandhi when he was killed.
According to Manuben's memories, Gandhi started the day at Birla House. He listened to religious readings. He worked on a new plan for the Congress party. He had his bath and massage. He also reminded Manuben to take care of her health. Gandhi, who was 78, weighed about 49.6 kg (109.5 pounds). He then ate lunch and discussed important matters. After lunch, Gandhi took a nap. When he woke up, he had a meeting. Two leaders wanted to meet him. Gandhi told Manuben, "If I am still alive, they can talk to me after my prayer walk."
Manuben said that Gandhi's meeting ran late. He was about ten minutes behind schedule for the prayer meeting. He began his walk, holding onto Manuben on his right and Abha on his left. They were like walking sticks for him. A strong young man in a khaki uniform pushed through the crowd. He was bent over with his hands together. Manuben thought he wanted to touch Gandhi's feet. She pushed him aside, saying, "Bapu is already ten minutes late; why do you bother him?" Godse pushed her so hard that she lost her balance. The items she was carrying fell to the ground. As she bent to pick them up, she heard four loud shots. She saw smoke everywhere. Gandhi's hands were together, and he was saying, "Hey Ram...! Hey Ram...!" Manuben saw Gandhi fall into Abha's lap.
Manuben wrote that the gunshots made her deaf. The smoke was very thick. The whole event happened in about 3 to 4 minutes. A crowd of people rushed towards them. Her watch showed 5:17 PM. Blood was on their white clothes. Manuben thought it took about ten minutes to carry Gandhi back inside the house. No doctor was available right away. They only had a first aid box, but no medicine for Gandhi's wounds. Manuben described where the bullets hit Gandhi. He had lost a lot of blood. Everyone was crying loudly. Someone called the hospital many times but couldn't get help. A doctor arrived later and said Gandhi had passed away.
Herbert Reiner's Actions
Many reports say that while the crowd was shocked, Godse was grabbed. He was seized by Herbert Reiner Jr. Reiner was a 32-year-old American diplomat. He had just arrived at the American embassy in Delhi. News of Reiner's actions was reported in newspapers worldwide.
According to one account, Reiner arrived at Birla House before 5 PM. He found a small crowd there. Even with some guards, Reiner felt the security was not enough. This was especially true after an explosive device was thrown ten days earlier. By the time Gandhi reached the garden, the crowd had grown to hundreds. Reiner described the crowd as many different kinds of people. Reiner moved closer to see Gandhi better.
As Gandhi walked quickly up the steps, a man in the crowd spoke rudely. He said, "Gandhiji, you are late." Gandhi slowed down and looked annoyed. Just as Gandhi reached the top of the steps, another man stepped out. This was a strong Indian man in his 30s, wearing khaki clothes. He fired several shots from close by, and Gandhi fell. A BBC reporter, Robert Stimson, was there. He reported that everyone was stunned for a few seconds. Then, a young American rushed forward and grabbed the man in khaki. This broke the shock. Others then helped lift Gandhi. People also rushed to the attacker. He was overpowered and taken away. Many said the crowd was frozen until Reiner acted.
Robert Trumbull, a reporter for The New York Times, saw what happened. He wrote that Reiner grabbed the attacker by the shoulders. He pushed him towards the police guards. Only then did the crowd understand what had happened. Many fists hit the attacker as he was taken away. Reiner heard sounds like "damp firecrackers." For a moment, he wondered if it was some kind of celebration.
The details of Reiner's role vary a bit in different reports. Some say Godse stood still with the pistol. Reiner grabbed his shoulder, spinning him into the hands of Indian Air Force men. They disarmed Godse. Reiner then held Godse until police took him. Others say Reiner seized and held Godse. Some called Reiner an "unsung hero." They said if he hadn't acted, Godse might have tried to escape.
Other Accounts
Some reports say Godse gave himself up willingly. He asked for the police. Other reports say the crowd rushed him, beat him, and then he was arrested. Some witnesses and court records say Godse was immediately seized. An Indian Air Force officer took his pistol. The crowd beat him until he was bleeding. The police took him away from the angry crowd to jail. A police report was filed.
A British newspaper, the Manchester Guardian, reported on January 31, 1948. It said Gandhi was walking to his prayer meeting. He was leaning on his two grand-nieces. A man [Godse] approached him. He was wearing a khaki jacket and blue trousers. One version said Gandhi smiled and spoke to Godse. Then the attacker pulled out a pistol. He fired three times from very close range. Gandhi died at 5:40 PM, about half an hour after being shot.
According to some, Godse bowed to Gandhi before shooting. He wanted to show respect for Gandhi's work for the country. He did not try to run away. He even shouted for the police himself. Others say Godse raised his hand with the gun. He surrendered and called for the police. Some say Godse stood silently, waiting to be arrested. But no one approached him at first because he was still armed. Finally, an Indian Air Force member grabbed his wrist. Godse then let go of his weapon. Police quickly surrounded Godse. They wanted to stop the crowd from harming him further.
Gandhi's Passing
Some accounts say Gandhi died right away. Other accounts, like one from a reporter who saw it, say Gandhi was carried back to a bedroom in Birla House. He passed away about 30 minutes later. One of Gandhi's family members read verses from Hindu holy books as he lay there.
Why Godse Did It
During the trial and in books written since, people have tried to understand why Godse killed Gandhi. Godse admitted to the killing. He gave a long statement explaining his reasons. Here are some of his main points:
- Godse believed that the great sadness and difficulties caused by the division of India could have been avoided. He felt Gandhi and the Indian government did not do enough. He thought they should have stopped the harm to minority groups (Hindus and Sikhs) in Pakistan. He said Gandhi had not protested these problems for Hindus in Pakistan. Instead, Gandhi used hunger strikes. Godse believed that without Gandhi, Indian politics would be stronger. He thought India would be able to protect itself better. He felt his own future would be ruined, but the nation would be saved.
- Godse claimed Gandhi's hunger strike put pressure on the Indian government. This was to release a payment to Pakistan. The government had stopped this payment because of the conflict in Kashmir. The government then changed its decision. Godse saw this as proof that Gandhi was controlling the government. He felt Gandhi was trying to please Pakistan. To Godse, India was not being led by public opinion. Instead, it was led by Gandhi's wishes. Godse said he admired Gandhi's good character and hard work. But he believed Gandhi's strong influence would continue as long as he was alive. Godse felt Gandhi had to be removed from politics. This way, India could focus on its own interests as a nation.
- Godse stated he did not disagree with Gandhi's teachings of non-violence. But he believed Gandhi's talks of religious tolerance and non-violence had already caused problems. He felt it led to India giving Pakistan to Muslims. Millions of people lost their homes. There was also immense violence and broken families. He thought if Gandhi was not stopped, he would bring more harm to Hindus. In Godse's view, the only way to respond to violence was with self-defense. Godse believed Gandhi had betrayed his Hindu religion and culture. He felt Gandhi supported Muslims at the expense of Hindus. This was because Gandhi's non-violence teachings were mainly followed by Hindus. Godse said, "I thought deeply about the problems faced by Hinduism. I worried about its future if it faced Islam (Pakistan) outside and Gandhi inside. So, I suddenly decided to take extreme action against Gandhi. I did not hate Gandhi, I respected him. We both valued much in Hindu religion, history, and culture. We both were against wrong parts of Hinduism. Therefore, I bowed before Gandhi when I met him. Then I performed what I believed was my duty and killed Gandhi."
Trial and Judgments
The killing was investigated, and many people were arrested. They were charged and tried in a court. The case and its appeal received a lot of attention from the news. However, Godse's statement in his defense was immediately banned by the Indian government. Those found guilty were either executed or served their full prison terms.
Investigation and Arrests
Along with Nathuram Godse, many other helpers were arrested. They were all known members of the Hindu Mahasabha, a nationalist group.
Police also arrested 65-year-old Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. They accused him of being the main planner behind the plot.
People Arrested
The people accused, where they lived, and their jobs were:
- Nathuram Vinayak Godse (Pune, Maharashtra; a former member of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, editor, journalist)
- Narayan Apte (Pune, Maharashtra; formerly: British military service, teacher, newspaper manager)
- Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (Mumbai, Maharashtra; author, lawyer, politician and former president of Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha)
- Shankar Kistayya (Pune, Maharashtra; rickshaw puller, domestic worker employed by Digambar Badge)
- Dattatraya Parchure (Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh; medical service, care giver)
- Vishnu Karkare (Ahmednagar, Maharashtra; orphan; odd jobs in hotels, musician in a traveling group, volunteer in relief efforts to religious riots (Noakhali), later restaurant owner)
- Madanlal Pahwa (Ahmednagar refugee camp, Maharashtra; former British Indian army soldier, unemployed, Punjabi refugee who had moved to India from Pakistan during the Partition.)
- Gopal Godse (Pune, Maharashtra; brother of Nathuram Godse; storekeeper, merchant)
Digambar Badge was said to be one of the planners and an active part of the assassination plot. After his arrest, he admitted his guilt. He also gave information about his helpers. He agreed to repeat his statement to a judge. So, he was given a special pardon and became a witness for the prosecution.
Court Decisions
The trial started on May 27, 1948. It lasted for eight months. Justice Atma Charan gave his final decision on February 10, 1949. The prosecution called 149 witnesses, but the defense called none. The court found all but one of the accused guilty. Eight men were found guilty of planning the murder. Others were found guilty of breaking laws about explosives. Savarkar was found not guilty and set free. Nathuram Godse and Narayan Apte were sentenced to death. The other six (including Godse's brother, Gopal) were sentenced to life imprisonment. Pahwa, Gopal Godse, and Karkare were released from prison in October 1964.
High Court Appeal
All those found guilty, except Godse, appealed their conviction and sentence. Godse accepted his death sentence. But he appealed the part of the ruling that said he was part of a conspiracy. Godse argued that there was no conspiracy. He said he alone was responsible for the crime. Witnesses only saw him kill Gandhi. He claimed all the other accused were innocent and should be released. People have looked at Godse's statements during the appeal in different ways. Some say his statement was not logical. Others say his actions were very logical. They believe it showed the fears of some high-caste Hindus about Gandhi's ideas.
The appeal by the convicted men was heard starting May 2, 1949. It took place at Peterhoff, Shimla. The High Court agreed with the lower court's decisions and sentences. However, Dattatraya Parchure and Shankar Kistayya were found not guilty of all charges.
Professor Claude Markovits, a researcher, wrote in a 2004 book that the trial and execution were rushed. He believed this was because Vallabhbhai Patel wanted to avoid questions. He wanted to avoid questions about why the killing was not prevented.
Executions
Godse and Apte were sentenced to death on November 8, 1949. Gandhi's two sons, Manilal Gandhi and Ramdas Gandhi, asked for their sentences to be changed. But these requests were turned down. India's prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, deputy prime minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Governor-General Chakravarti Rajagopalachari did not agree. Godse and Apte were executed in Ambala Jail on November 15, 1949. "
Public Reaction and Judge's Comments
The Indian government made the trial public. Godse tried to use the courtroom to share his political views. He read a long statement explaining his crime. He accused Gandhi of being too easy on Muslims. He blamed Gandhi for the problems of the Partition. He also criticized Gandhi for thinking he had all the answers. Some high-caste Hindus, who did not like Gandhi, agreed with Godse's attacks. But Godse could not get widespread support.
Godse later appealed his death sentence. He asked to appear and defend himself in person. This request was allowed. So, Godse was the only accused person to appear in person at the appeal. G.D. Khosla, one of the three judges, later wrote about Godse's statement:
The audience was clearly moved. There was a deep silence when he finished speaking. Many women were crying, and men were coughing and looking for handkerchiefs. The silence was made deeper by quiet sniffs or muffled coughs. It felt like a play or a movie scene. The audience certainly thought Godse's speech was the most important part of the long proceedings. The judge believed that if the audience had been the jury, they would have found Godse "not guilty" by a large majority.
Tributes to Gandhi
After Gandhi's death, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru spoke to the nation on the radio: "Friends and comrades, the light has gone out of our lives. There is darkness everywhere. I do not quite know what to tell you or how to say it. Our beloved leader, Bapu as we called him, the father of the nation, is no more. Perhaps I am wrong to say that. Nevertheless, we will not see him again, as we have seen him for these many years. We will not run to him for advice or seek comfort from him. That is a terrible blow, not only for me, but for millions and millions in this country."
Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, said on the day Gandhi was killed: "I am shocked to learn of the most terrible attack on Mr. Gandhi's life, which led to his death. No matter our political differences, he was one of the greatest men from the Hindu community. He was a leader who had their full trust and respect. I want to express my deep sadness. I sincerely sympathize with the great Hindu community and his family in their loss. This is a very important and difficult time, so soon after India and Pakistan became free. India's loss is huge. It will be very hard to fill the empty space left by such a great man at this moment."
Gandhi's death was mourned around the world.
See also
- Kapur Commission
- Hindutva terrorism
