Recently i happened to read a book on Nathuram Godse, yes the assassin of one of the greatest apostle of truth and non violence 'Mahatma Gandhi'.
Almost 60 and odd years after that mournful event ghost of Godse refuses to go away and still emerges out time and again to haunt a nation which can still feel the warmth of its struggle for independence but still unsure how to cope with its history.
In the cold wee hours of 15 November 1949, Godse and his co-conspirator Narayan apte were executed. Clutching a map of undivided India in one hand and the bhagwa dhwaj (saffron flag) in another, 38-year-old Nathuram Godse and 37-year-old Narayan Apte walked to the gallows chanting in unison a Sanskrit invocation to the motherland. Godse died instantly, but Apte's end was more painful, he had to be hanged a second time. A few hours later, their bodies were cremated outside the prison walls. Immediately afterwards, the whole area was ploughed and planted with grass so that no one could identify the spot and build a shrine.
Nathuram was the Editor of a Marathi newspaper - Hindu Rashtra and a well-known member of the Hindu Mahasabha. He had written scathing editorials denouncing Gandhiji and the Congress party. On 8 November 1948, he was allowed his day in the sun when he rose to make his statement. Reading quietly from a typed manuscript, he sought to explain why he had killed Gandhiji. His thesis covered ninety-pages, and he was on his feet for five hours. Godse's statement should be quoted extensively, for it provides an insight into his personality.
Almost 60 and odd years after that mournful event ghost of Godse refuses to go away and still emerges out time and again to haunt a nation which can still feel the warmth of its struggle for independence but still unsure how to cope with its history.
In the cold wee hours of 15 November 1949, Godse and his co-conspirator Narayan apte were executed. Clutching a map of undivided India in one hand and the bhagwa dhwaj (saffron flag) in another, 38-year-old Nathuram Godse and 37-year-old Narayan Apte walked to the gallows chanting in unison a Sanskrit invocation to the motherland. Godse died instantly, but Apte's end was more painful, he had to be hanged a second time. A few hours later, their bodies were cremated outside the prison walls. Immediately afterwards, the whole area was ploughed and planted with grass so that no one could identify the spot and build a shrine.
Nathuram was the Editor of a Marathi newspaper - Hindu Rashtra and a well-known member of the Hindu Mahasabha. He had written scathing editorials denouncing Gandhiji and the Congress party. On 8 November 1948, he was allowed his day in the sun when he rose to make his statement. Reading quietly from a typed manuscript, he sought to explain why he had killed Gandhiji. His thesis covered ninety-pages, and he was on his feet for five hours. Godse's statement should be quoted extensively, for it provides an insight into his personality.
In this thesis Nathuram vehemently condemned Gandhiji for his monopoly over congress. He accused Gandhiji claiming that "He was, paradoxical, as it may appear, a violent pacifist who brought untold calamities on the country in the name of truth and non-violence, while Rana Pratap, Shivaji and the Guru will remain enshrined in the hearts of their countrymen forever for the freedom they brought to them. ....he failed in his paternal duty in as much he has acted very treacherously to the nation by his consenting to the partitioning of it. I stoutly maintain that Gandhi has failed in his duty. He has proved to be the Father of Pakistan. His inner-voice, his spiritual power, his doctrine of non-violence of which so much is made of, all crumbled against Jinnah's iron will and proved to be powerless."(Sources: “Why Gandhi Assassinated” by Gopal Godse)
Nathuram's ideology of armed struggle for freedom was not suited to the mass of india in that era. There was a total lack of political consciousness. Workers and Peasants,the backbone of any struggle, had to liberate themselves not only from the grip of British Imperialism but also from the landlords and capitalists. India was neither united nor politically awake.
Gandhiji knew that the real power to revolt lies in the workers and peasants of this country. An Armed Revolt could have never been successful in india. In 19th century India was a 'Nation in Making'. Gandhiji did a brilliant work in politicizing and uniting indian people without which independence would have been a far cry.
Moreover great Martyrs like Bhagat singh and Ram Prasad Bismil were also convinced at the end that Armed struggle, revolutionary terrorism and individual vendetta could not gain us anything. Gnadhiji had faith in his non-violent Satyagraha and in the capacity of the indian people to adopt it.
After the introduction of swarijsts and other left wings like Communists and Socialist there was always a possibility of Congress to get split into pieces but He saved congress on many occasions by avoiding an impending split and made all his fellows in congress to remain united even though they differed in their views and style of politics.Had a split occured Moderates would have been pacified by mere constitutional reforms and extremists would have been repressed with violent measures. Any further political awakening would have been crushed. An entire generation of leaders would have been beheaded like what happened after 'Gadhar revolt' and 'Kuka Revolt'. Thus Gandhiji was the only person who could have pacified all the disagreement and conflict in views of fellow leaders and kept them all united. It was some of the basic features of his political style and ultimate leadership,especially when dealing with co-workers.That is why leaders of all groups fully accepted the essentiality of Gandhiji's leadership in which Nathuram perceived fascism, a radical and authoritarian nationalist political ideology, self-conceit and irresponsibility.
Though we may classify all the movements launched by Gandhiji as failures that brought untold disaster as put by Nathuram instead of freedom, but the success or failure of a political movement is not always to be measured in terms of its achievement of stated objectives. But if success or failure are to be measured in terms of the deepening of national consciousness,the evolution and testing of new methods of struggle then the movements certainly contributed their share to the india's struggle for freedom.
Nathuram Godse in his last speech tried to degrade Mahatma Gandhi by saying him a dictator and someone who forced his thinking on masses but what he himself did? He made up his mind on certain own explained principles and killed mahatma. On one side he condemned Mahatma Gandhi's efforts to maintain communal harmony and at the same time he is pleading for a united India. Was it possible to have a united India with the kind of Ideologies Nathuram had? Of-course to patronize one section of the society and neglect the other can not be accepted but no one has a right to kill some great leader on some debatable issues.
Many people condemn Mahatma's way of struggle but every great leader has many debatable issues. Still Gandhiji had done a lot for india and truly deserves the honour of 'Father of Nation'.
When Godse's associate Madanlal Pahwa, a refugee from Punjab, threw a bomb at his prayer meeting a few days before the assassination, Gandhiji implored forgiveness and understanding. For thousands years we were ruled and exploited by outsiders because we lacked unity. Gandhiji united this country and centralized the power vested in indians especially peasants, and workers. He gave a voice to india and created a central force which uprooted the British Imperial empire. In his absence from the indian polity i believe india was not matured enough to get the freedom and the same was believed by other global leaders as well.
Last lines of Godse were "I have no doubt that honest writers of history will weigh my act and find the true value thereof someday in future." But what i see in Nathuram is an extreme and fanatic communalist whose views were based on hatred, fear, psychosis and irrationality which he falsely proclaimed as patriotism. His act will always be condemned and can never gain any historians sympathy. Communalism has brought many catastrophes to our country, took away millions of lives and even 'Father of Nation' fell prey to this while fighting against it.
Last lines of Godse were "I have no doubt that honest writers of history will weigh my act and find the true value thereof someday in future." But what i see in Nathuram is an extreme and fanatic communalist whose views were based on hatred, fear, psychosis and irrationality which he falsely proclaimed as patriotism. His act will always be condemned and can never gain any historians sympathy. Communalism has brought many catastrophes to our country, took away millions of lives and even 'Father of Nation' fell prey to this while fighting against it.
Nathuram might have some valid points against discrimination of Hindus by government but his act was totally wrong and unacceptable. Even his views regarding pure Hindi as national language have no relevance in today’s contest while Hindi as Hinusthani is getting better acceptance all over the India in which the words and phrases of other languages are included.
Godse saw only one aspect of his suffering or his Hindus suffering. He had to understand the things in broder perspective. He holds Gandhiji responsible for such a massacre. Godse did not understand the people(both Hindus and Muslims) who liked Gandhiji, were responsible for such a mayhem. People who justify Godse's act of violence to serve Hindu community also justify the violence erupted like a wildfire after the partition because every person involved in riots had their legitimate reason like Godse, a reason of narroewdness lacking the haumanity. Godse too has some points like Gandhiji was involved in Muslim appeasment. My strong conviction is Gandhiji tried to appease Muslims but he did not try to hurt the sentiments of Hindus. Circumstances went out of hand. Gandhiji's non-violence got a hit during partition because humanity failed. Again it is because of the people like Godse it happened even though he could be corect in his logic.
I also do not agree completely with Gandhiji's ideologies which were inspired by the sanskrit phrase 'Ahimsa Paramo Dharma' but i also accept the next phrase 'Dharma Himsa Tathaiva cha'(Non-violence is the ultimate dharma. So too is violence in service of Dharma.). I revere non violent freedom fighters but also revere equally the great revolutionaries who sacrificed their lives for their motherland. No doubt that our freedom fighters who wanted to get freedom by violent means had a great role in the freedom struggle but the roles of leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru etc. can not be downgraded.
Jawaharlal Nehru rightly addressed the nation through radio after the assassination:
“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.”
It is understandable that Godse didn't understand Gandhiji because of the prevailing circumstances and was led by extreme communal ideologies, but it is unfortunate that educated people like us still debate over the righteousness of a person who killed Truth, Peace and Unity and became the emblem of communalism which has plagued the country even now.
Let's free ourselves from the ghost of Godse forever and revere our great leaders instead of stirring fanatic and irrational communalism.
“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.”
It is understandable that Godse didn't understand Gandhiji because of the prevailing circumstances and was led by extreme communal ideologies, but it is unfortunate that educated people like us still debate over the righteousness of a person who killed Truth, Peace and Unity and became the emblem of communalism which has plagued the country even now.
Let's free ourselves from the ghost of Godse forever and revere our great leaders instead of stirring fanatic and irrational communalism.
- Saurabh
"The world suffers a lot. Not because of the violence of bad people, but because of the silence of good people." 
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