The Death of Gandhi

On January 30, 1948, Mohandas Gandhi was assassinated, an event that changed the course of Indian history, and most importantly the future of Hindu and Muslim relations. The night he was killed, Gandhi was taking part in a prayer meeting in New Delhi. Vincent Sheean, an American reporter, recalled attending the prayer meeting, and waiting just outside the prayer ground when “[he] heard four small, dull, dark explosions.” Disorder ensued on the prayer ground, as everyone was panic stricken with the thought of Mohandas Gandhi’s possible shooting. Unfortunately everyone’s worst fears were confirmed when Sheean’s friend verified that he had seen Gandhi being “carried away and that the khadi which he wore was heavily stained with blood." An America newspaper reported that the assassin tried to fire a fourth shot in an effort to kill himself, but a sergeant witnessing the event grabbed the pistol from the attacker. An infuriated crowd of people then charged the killer and beat him with sticks until police arrived and arrested the man. This killing properly foreshadowed the future progress of Hindu and Muslim relations, as it was later revealed that Gandhi’s attacker was a Hindu extremist who justified his actions by saying that Gandhi had acted too kindly towards the Islamic people. This lead to even more damaged relations between the rival religious groups as violence and outrage over his death followed.  It was clear that Gandhi’s dream of religious tolerance of Hindus and Muslims would never come true. Meanwhile, the entire world was left devastated upon hearing about the demise of the most influential, and pivotal figure involved in the fight for Indian independence. Jawaharlal Nehru addressed the Indian people regarding their immense loss, “Friends and comrades, the light has gone out of our lives and there is darkness everywhere.” Click here for a recording of Jawaharlal Nehru announcing Gandhi's death.The grief of the people was extraordinary as India would be without its acclaimed, and beloved spiritual leader. He had inspired the world, and shaped a new nation through his unconventional use of passive resistance, or never resorting to violence. India owed Gandhi its freedom, the man who believed that "A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.”