Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi
Indian leader whose assassination marked a tragic end to the independence movement.
Quick Facts: Who was Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi?
Origins & Early Life
Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on 30 January 1948 at the age of 78 in the compound of The Birla House (now Gandhi Smriti), a large mansion in central New Delhi. His assassin was Nathuram Godse, from Pune, Maharastra a right-wing Hindu nationalist, with a history of association with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a right-wing Hindu paramilitary organization, and with membership in the Hindu Mahasabha. Sometime after 5 PM, according to witnesses, Gandhi had reached the top of the stairs leading to the raised lawn behind Birla House where he had been conducting multi-faith prayer meetings every evening. As Gandhi began to walk toward the dais, Godse stepped out of the crowd flanking Gandhi's path, and fired three bullets into Gandhi's chest and stomach at point-blank range. Gandhi fell to the ground.
Career & Major Achievements
He was carried back to his room in Birla House from which a representative emerged sometime later to announce his death. Godse was captured by members of the crowd—the most widely reported of whom was Herbert Reiner Jr., a vice-consul at the American embassy in Delhi—and handed over to the police. The Gandhi murder trial opened in May 1948 in Delhi's historic Red Fort, with Godse the main defendant, and his collaborator Narayan Apte, and six more, deemed co-defendants. The trial was rushed through, the haste sometimes attributed to the Minister of Home Vallabhbhai Patel's desire "to avoid scrutiny for the failure to prevent the assassination." Godse and Apte were sentenced to death on 8 November 1949. Although pleas for commutation were made by Gandhi's two sons, Manilal Gandhi and Ramdas Gandhi, they were turned down by Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru, deputy prime minister Vallabhbhai Patel, and Governor-General C. Rajagopalachari.
Enduring Legacy & Impact
Godse and Apte were hanged in the Ambala jail on 15 November 1949. In May 1944, Nathuram Godse attempted to assassinate Gandhi with a knife. He led a group of 15 to 20 young men who rushed at Gandhi during a prayer meeting at Panchgani. Godse and his group were prevented by the crowds from reaching Gandhi. He was released due to Gandhi's own policy of declining to press criminal charges.
Chronological Milestones & Life Events
- 1944: 1944 Milestone — In May 1944, Nathuram Godse attempted to assassinate Gandhi with a knife.
- 1948 (1948-01-30): Passing & Historical Legacy — Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi passed away on 1948-01-30, leaving an enduring historical legacy.
- 1949: 1949 Milestone — " Godse and Apte were sentenced to death on 8 November 1949.
Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi
True or False: “Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated while conducting multi-faith prayer meetings at Birla House in New Delhi.”
Answer (TRUE ⭕): Witness accounts confirm that he was near the raised lawn behind Birla House where he held these evening prayers when the attack occurred.
Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines
- A. Wyatt Tilby — Contemporary (Died in 1948) (1948): British author, journalist, and traveler known for his writings on history and philosophy.
- Abby Aldrich Rockefeller — Contemporary (Died in 1948) (1948): American socialite and influential philanthropist, key patron of modern art.
- Abdullah Öcalan — Contemporary (Born in 1948) (1948): Founder of the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and advocate for Kurdish rights.
- Abdullah II of Jordan — Shared historical date (01-30 · Born) (1962): King of Jordan, a Hashemite monarch who assumed the throne in 1999.
- Akira Yoshino — Shared historical date (01-30 · Born) (1948): Pioneering chemist credited with the first safe, production-viable lithium-ion battery.
- Abdulrazak Gurnah — Historical peer (Born in 1948) (1948): Acclaimed Tanzanian novelist and Nobel laureate exploring themes of colonialism and refuge.
- Akira Mutō — Historical peer (Died in 1948) (1948): Imperial Japanese Army General implicated in war crimes during WWII.
- Ahmed Zaki (actor) — Historical peer (Born in 1949) (1949): Iconic Egyptian actor celebrated for intense dramatic performances and masterful impersonation.
- Alan García — Historical peer (Born in 1949) (1949): Controversial Peruvian politician who served two non-consecutive terms as President of Peru.
- Abdülmecid II — Historical peer (Died in 1944) (1944): Last Ottoman Caliph and prominent Turkish aesthete, head of the Osmanoğlu family.
- 1948 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1948
- January 30 (01-30) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on January 30
Frequently Asked Questions about Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi
Who was Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi and what are their primary contributions?
Indian leader whose assassination marked a tragic end to the independence movement. Origins & Early Life: Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on 30 January 1948 at the age of 78 in the compound of The Birla House (now Gandhi Smriti), a large mansion in central New Delhi. His assassin was Nathuram Godse, from Pune, Maharastra a right-wing Hindu nationalist, with a history of association with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a right-wing Hindu paramilitary organization, and with membership in the Hindu Mahasabha. Sometime after 5 PM, according to witnesses, Gandhi had reached the top of the stairs leading to the raised lawn behind Birla House where he had been conducting multi-faith prayer meetings every evening. As Gandhi began to walk toward the dais, Godse stepped out of the crowd flanking Gandhi's path, and fired three bullets into Gandhi's chest and stomach at point-blank range. Gandhi fell to the ground.
Where can I read more verified chronological archives on Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi?
Explore verified primary sources, interactive timelines, and contemporary figures in the 2Day Chrono-Wiki encyclopedia or review the original entry on Wikipedia.
Source: Wikipedia