On January 30, 1948, Nathuram Godse assassinated Mahatma Gandhi at Birla House in Delhi. Godse, a former follower of Gandhi, had become disillusioned with his leader's policies, particularly his approach to Muslims and the partition of India. Godse and his co-conspirators, Narayan Apte and Vishnu Karkare, had planned the assassination carefully, with Godse shooting Gandhi three times at point-blank range.
Godse's motivations for the assassination were rooted in his extreme Hindu nationalist ideology, which he believed Gandhi's policies were undermining. He was particularly opposed to Gandhi's support for Muslim rights and his promotion of a united India that included Muslims.
After the assassination, Godse and his co-conspirators were arrested, tried, and sentenced to death. Godse was proud of his actions, believing that he had done what was necessary to protect India from Gandhi's perceived betrayal.
The assassination sent shockwaves across India, with widespread mourning and outrage. However, the incident also highlighted the deep-seated communal tensions that existed in the country at the time, with some Hindus targeting Muslims and Brahmins in the aftermath of the assassination.
The podcast also touches on the trial of Godse and his co-conspirators, during which Godse proudly defended his actions and was ultimately sentenced to death. The podcast concludes by reflecting on the significance of the assassination and its ongoing impact on Indian society.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Mahatma Gandhi was shot by Nathuram Godse on January 30, 1948, at Birla House.
2. Godse was born in 1910 in Baramati, a village near Bombay Pune Line.
3. Godse was a staunch follower of Gandhi, but his ideology shifted in 1942, and he started hating Gandhi.
4. Godse joined the RSS and Hindu Mahasabha in 1932 and came into contact with Veer Savarkar.
5. Godse believed that Gandhi had weakened the concept of a united India and was more sympathetic to Muslims.
6. Godse loaded seven bullets into his Beretta pistol before going to Birla House.
7. Godse and his companions, Narayan Apte and Vishnu Karkare, were not searched at the gate of Birla House due to Gandhi's instructions.
8. Godse shot Gandhi three times at 5:17 pm on January 30, 1948, and was caught by a Royal Indian Air Force officer and a US diplomat.
9. Gandhi died at 5:30 pm on January 30, 1948, due to bullet injuries.
10. Godse was arrested and taken to Tughlaq Road Police Station.
11. Godse was tried in a special court in Red Fort and sentenced to death.
12. Godse and his associate Narayan Apte were hanged on November 15, 1949.
13. Veer Savarkar was acquitted in the trial.
14. Gandhi's funeral procession was held on January 31, 1948, and he was cremated on the banks of the Yamuna River.
15. Gandhi's death led to widespread mourning and violence, including attacks on Brahmins and people with the surname "Godse" in Maharashtra.
16. The violence was suppressed, but it is estimated that the damage was around Rs 6-10 crores.
17. Godse and his associates were motivated by a desire to avenge the perceived wrongs done to Hindus and to assert their ideology of a united India.
18. Godse believed that Gandhi's policies had failed to protect Hindus and had led to the partition of India.
19. Godse saw himself as a patriot and a defender of Hinduism, and he believed that his actions were justified.
20. Gandhi's death marked the end of an era in Indian politics and had a profound impact on the country.