Why Was Mahatma Gandhi Assassinated?
by What an irony that a man who had stood as an "apostle of peace" and practiced the doctrine of "non-violence" fell prey to violence.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the ‘mahatma’ or ‘great soul’ was assassinated on January 30, 1948. A man who had stood as an “apostle of peace” and practiced the doctrine of “non-violence” fell a prey to violence. Just five months back, he had architected the independence of India from a century-old British rule, but it created two nations based on religion: the Dominion of Pakistan on August 14, 1947 and the Union of India (later Republic of India) on August 15, 1947. The partition involved dividing the then Bengal province into East Pakistan and West Bengal (which went to India) and the Punjab province into West Punjab (which went to Pakistan and later became the capital Islamabad, and East Punjab (which became Indian territory of Punjab). Thus Pakistan came to acquire two geographically separated parts – northwestern and the far eastern sections of India, with parts of India sandwiched between the two. Independent princely states that were not under the British rule were given the option of remaining independent or joining either nations.
India and Pakistan at the time of partition
The partition uprooted 12 to 14 million who had to move across the border. Many of them had lost their loved ones in the partition riots — women were raped in front of their husbands and children and men were disembowelled; trains that crossed into either side of the border arrived laden with dead bodies. Adding to the confusion was the ongoing skirmishes between India and Pakistan regarding Kashmir.
After the British withdrew, the princely state of Kashmir and Jammu came under pressure from both India and Pakistan to accede to one of them, but the Maharaja of Kashmir, Hari Singh, resisted. But when Pakistan launched a guerrilla onslaught on Kashmir in 1947, the Maharaja asked for Indian military assistance and agreed to accede Kashmir to India. A formal cease-fire between the two countries was declared only on 31 December 1948.
As a result of the mass exodus as well as the ongoing war with Kashmir, chaos prevailed in Delhi where huge numbers of refugees were stationed. Many Hindus felt that Gandhi’s insistence on non-violence actually encouraged further violence, since it meant non-retaliation. They were aghast by what they perceived as a callous disregard for the sentiments of millions of refugees, and ominous, but scattered, cries of ‘Let Gandhi die!’ were heard in Birla mansion in Delhi where Gandhi stayed. Meanwhile, Pakistan was demanding that India hand over Rs 55 crore (Rs. 550 million), its remaining share of the cash reserve inherited from the previous British Government. At first, the Indian government had refused to honor its commitment, complaining the Pakistani aggression on Kashmir, but after Gandhi undertook fast unto death on January 13, the government agreed to pay the amount on 15th January.
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Post Commentunown971
On September 23, 2009 at 2:23 am
Great article!
papaleng
On September 23, 2009 at 3:02 am
great write, thanks for the enlightening us about the true story behind the killing of such a great man.
Mythili Kannan
On September 23, 2009 at 4:51 am
Great article… Mahatma, the ture Maha Atma
martie
On September 23, 2009 at 6:56 am
very interesting to learn why he was killed.
Darla Cooke
On September 23, 2009 at 7:12 am
Interesting article.
Diverseblogger
On September 23, 2009 at 7:40 am
Wow. This was a very interesting article. Keep it up
theSVK
On September 23, 2009 at 7:47 am
more or less summarises the thought process behind the killing. was the recent movie by Kamal hasan “Hey Ram” banned as well?
Christine Ramsay
On September 23, 2009 at 7:48 am
I never really knew the story behind the assassination so thank you for the information.
Christine
Uma Shankari
On September 23, 2009 at 8:32 am
hi theSVK, though ‘Hey Ram’ starts with disenchantment with Gandhi’s ideals, the protagonist understands and accepts Gandhi’s ideas in the end. So it was not banned. But in a way, it did make its points, without getting into trouble.
Yovita Siswati
On September 23, 2009 at 8:54 am
Assasination of Mahatma Gandhi is a tragedy. Thanks for sharing this very interesting story behind the killing. Great article.
CHAN LEE PENG
On September 23, 2009 at 9:45 am
Gandhi’s assasination, undeniably was a history mistake. I personally felt that he was assasinated by a person out of jealousy. Someone might had jeopardised on his great achievement for the mankind. Thanks and have me clicked you “liked it”.
ken bultman
On September 23, 2009 at 10:54 am
Not only a great explanation of gandhi’s murder but a wonderful post-war history of India, Pakistan and Kashmir and why an independent entity should never be “sandwiched.” Much research and/or personal knowledge poured into this post.
PR Mace
On September 23, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Well researched and well written. In the article I able to see the whys of a murder.
Guy Hogan
On September 23, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Not only do great men have many people who love them they also have many who hate them.
mystery61
On September 23, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Excellent article, very interesting!
Joe Dorish
On September 23, 2009 at 8:08 pm
Fascinating article on such a tragic subject not only the assassination but the great partition upheaval as well.
valli
On September 23, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Great read about a great person. Well-written to bring out the facts.
athena goodlight
On September 23, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Thanks for sharing a lesson on history about a great man and a hero. Well done.
Joshua Miguel
On September 24, 2009 at 12:35 am
I always admire Mahatma Gandhi, he is a model of peace. tnx for the share.
monica55
On September 24, 2009 at 12:44 am
Excellent. A well researched and brilliantly written post. It’s an eye opener for me because I’m like Christine; did not know the story behind his assination.
Monica.
Payge
On September 24, 2009 at 5:13 am
I knew who he was but never what he stood for untill now.A well writren article and well worth reading.Great article!
chitragopi
On September 24, 2009 at 6:25 am
Godse was not a religious fanatic as he is made out to be, by our historians.
Fuck You and Fuck Jesus
On September 24, 2009 at 11:02 am
I wouldn’t say he stood for compelte non-violence. In fact, He insighted violence against black south Africans to the Indians living in South Africa. He might have been peaceful during the protests against China, but he was, overal, a violent and perverted man.
Sourav
On September 24, 2009 at 11:27 am
It’s a disturbing issue… people do have differences of opinion on it… well written.
Leonardo da Vinci E.
On September 24, 2009 at 11:39 am
Your act of writing certainly keeps this man of good will in our thoughts and in the ongoing appreciation of history in the making.
kamlesh786
On September 24, 2009 at 12:02 pm
great article
Nikita K
On September 24, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Mahatma Gandhi was a legend that a lot of Indians (even those who don’t live in India including me)revere even now and I highly respect him for all that he has done for his nation. I highly respect him and from the amount of things I’ve learned from your article, I just have a lot more respect for him than the respect I had for him before.
DynamicLethargy
On September 24, 2009 at 7:59 pm
I hadn’t known about this side of the story.
vijayanths
On September 27, 2009 at 9:31 am
You have once again proved that you are an excellent journalist. It is a great article of quality and useful information. I am proud to be your fan, Uma.
nsmukundan
On October 12, 2009 at 5:54 am
you have written in a great manner…My best wishes to you…
vikash
On October 28, 2009 at 11:22 pm
article is good but you hilited only on negative side of mahatma,godse was mently disturbed people.u know?
Amby
On December 3, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Well Written.
I read a lot of comments of people here sayin that Gandhiji was a great man & a great soul. While one says that Gandhiji was a great man, I would request all to pls also try and find out the truth for yourself & not be influenced by what somebody else tells you. If you have an opinion, let that opinion be based on the facts & not on mere hear say. I would like to quote that Nathuram Godse was not a psycho, nor was he mentally instable. If a person can be the editor of a newspaper which sold like Hot Cakes, you can imagine the intellect of the person here. Pls read Nathuram Godse’s final speech in court when he stood trial. The kind of language that he used, will drive you bonkers.
Freedom to India was not thru the efforts of just one human being. It can never be that way. It was a collective & cumulative effect of what happened in the country for almost a century, right since 1857- The Sepoy Mutiny.
Thousands of people, young & old, laid their lives with a vision that the future generations see a Free & Independent India.
Awareness is the key to Logical & Practical Thinking People.
The future of the world lies in the hands of those who can think freely, sensibly, & constructively !!!!
Uma Shankari
On December 4, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Thanks to all of you. I wrote to Dean Snyder asking him why he thought what he thought. He wrote an explanatory note saying how biased Gandhi was against the Black. Gandhi was indeed great: much, much greater than any contemporary figure we know of. He gave the doctrine of non-violence and self reliance and expounded the cause and strength of common, rural man, which was his greatest strength, and that’s where his mass appeal came from. But he had his quirks and eccentricities and minus points. On the one hand, he encouraged women participation, but on the other hand, accounts of his “experiments” with women as a proof of his voluntary celibacy was disgusting. It was such a one-sided affair, such a contorted thinking of a self-centered man who could never think of the disastrous effect it was causing on the women participants, that I can’t help thinking he was an egotist.
Lohit
On January 20, 2010 at 12:23 pm
Gandhi is one of the most hated person by many INDIAN youth, it was his EGO not the principle which divided the nation helping the cause of Greedy Nehru and Jinnah.
Our history is presented and thought in the British point of view, neither Gandhi or Congress was responsible for the freedom of India similar to countless Countries around the world, In a way all these countries should be Thankful to Mr. Hitler, Germany, Japan and their partners in weakening the White superiority complex which lead to COLONIALISM and ethnic cleansing through out the world.
India without Gandhi would have been success full, to an extent of getting freedom at least 20 years earlier if not more.
Gandhi did not ascend the congress by the virtue of credibility, he in fact was responsible for ousting BAL GANGHADAR TILAK with the help of British help, BAL had declared for complete Independence in 1910’s but GANDHI opposed it and deviated the whole pitch of FREEDOM struggle into British appeasement and Timidness thus prolonging the FREEDOM struggle.
INDIA never achieved freedom but it was offered by British as their weakness to maintain distant colonies after being injured badly by Germany, If S.C.BOSE was at least given some funding support INDIA would have won its Independence and could have held their head High unlike now.
Also the media plays a greater role in shaping the people ideology if you control them 90% of home work is done, 10% should be executed, Gandhi was Shrewd enough for that.
In my view Gandhi always worked as BRITISH double agent in delaying our fight and thanks for his ego which further helped the British in dividing us.
His legacy does not end even after 60 years, his Last name is utilized even today by the grand old corrupt party of India to an extent that a person has to go through his Last name while doing activities like Traveling, Visiting Hospitals, while working, why all these,we have to go through his name even before we take a piss in many public toilets.
Dipayan
On October 2, 2010 at 9:11 am
Why was everything against Mahatma banned? why common people are not aware what happened in the court room? Don’t we feel that as an Indian we should know everything? why should we always have to believe and know what government wants us to believe and know? Why can’t we know everything and judge on our own? Are we truely doing justice to our country and to ourselves? Are we really chosing a government? or we are being forced to chose? What choice are we left with? I have lot of questions but I don’t think any one has an answer. Please think don’t need to answer… just answer your own self…
INDIANTIGERS
On November 7, 2010 at 6:12 am
Every coin has two different faces, hence people bound to have different opinion on his assassination. But as MR. Obama told yesterday in his visit to mumbai that “GANDHIJI WAS NOT ONLY A INDIAN HERO BUT WILL BE A HERO FOR WHOLE WORLD”
Jimmy Shilaho
On December 27, 2010 at 3:20 pm
Quite a lesson in history. Gandhi was the greatest Indian to have lived.
papaleng
On December 27, 2010 at 10:35 pm
Excellent post, you have done a lot of researches to come out with this highly informative article.
Eunice Tan
On December 27, 2010 at 10:47 pm
This is a precious article about Gandhi.
Anuradha Ramkumar
On December 28, 2010 at 12:31 am
Thnx a lot for you for brining out the facts.
samgoldencoffee
On December 28, 2010 at 4:41 am
nice article..
Judy Sheldon
On December 28, 2010 at 8:59 am
Uma, you have truly written a wonderful and well researched article. It has caused me to want to dig further. I feel that much can be attained in peaceful methods.
albert1jemi
On December 28, 2010 at 1:32 pm
Thanks for share.
Yovita Siswati
On December 28, 2010 at 2:52 pm
Gandhi was a remarkable man, his death is a tragedy. I do respect Gandhi and what he did to the Indian people. Great write.
ittech
On January 10, 2012 at 3:55 am
very nice and wonderful saved it for offline reading and guidance thanks
http://socyberty.com/history/relevance-of-gandhi-today/
MVR
On February 12, 2012 at 7:43 pm
A nicely written article which has tried to show the other side of the story for the execution