Oct 2: Gandhi Jayanthi - Last Part

Dear All,

30th January 1948 – Delhi – the last day of the Mahatma

Gandhiji had said to Manu, "If someone fires bullets at me and I die without a groan and with God's name on my lips, then you should tell the world that here was a real Mahatma."

On 30th January 1948 at Birla House, Delhi, from 2.15 p.m. Gandhiji gave interviews to several representatives from various parts of the country and outside. At 4 p.m. Gandhiji had a meeting with Sardar Patel. Abha served him his meal. Asking for his charkha (spinning wheel) he plied it for a while.

Gandhiji was then ready to go for his evening prayer meet where he was to address the gathering. The usually punctual Gandhiji was slightly late for the prayer meet. The congregation wondered about the delay. Gandhiji put on his chappals (foot wear) and stepped out. He walked leaning on his 'walking sticks' (Abha and Manu, his grand nieces). Manu carried his spittoon, spectacle case, rosary and her notebook.

Being late, instead of the usual path, Gandhiji took a short cut across the
lawn to reach the place of prayer meet. Even as he walked towards it he joked about the raw carrot that Abha had served him a little while ago. To Abha and Manu who pointed to his neglect of his watch he remarked that he was late to the prayer meet due to their fault and said that he hated to be late for prayers even by a minute. By then they had reached the foot of the staircase leading to the prayer place. Everyone became quiet as Gandhiji preferred silence before entering the place of prayer.

Hundreds of people had congregated and there were plainclothes policemen, too. People made way for him. Nathuram Godse elbowed his way through the crowd and stood in front of Gandhiji. The tiny pistol was hidden in his joined palms. He bowed low and said, "Namaste! Gandhiji!"  Gandhiji acknowledged his greeting with joined palms. As it was already late for the prayer meet Manu chided Godse for bothering Gandhiji. However, Godse, set on the task that he had come for, pushed Manu aside with his left hand. Her protests were to no avail; the articles in her hand fell down and when the rosary dropped down she bent to pick it up.

Just at that moment Godse fired three shots into Gandhiji's abdomen and chest. At the third shot, Gandhiji who still stood with palms joined together gasped ‘hey Ram! hey Ram!’ and sank to the ground. The white shawl was drenched with blood oozing out of Gandhiji’s body. His head rested on the lap of Manu and Abha. And, in a moment Gandhiji was dead. It was 5.17 p.m.

In his address to the bereaving Nation, Jawaharlal Nehru said, "Friends and comrades, the light has gone out of our lives, and there is darkness everywhere, and 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 solace from him, and that is a terrible blow, not only for me, but for millions and millions in this country."

Gandhiji’s death shook the entire world. The UN General assembly mourned the death of the Mahatma.

Mahatma Gandhi who released Bharata Mata (Mother India) from the shackles of the British Empire with the weapon of Ahimsa, empowered by Ramanaama that was part of his being, was cremated at Raj Ghat where a memorial has been set up. Most of his ashes were immersed at Sangam, Allahabad.  


Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare