Why did Nathuram Godse kill Mahatma Gandhi?

What did Godse himself say about assasinating Mahatma Gandhi? In a book published by Gopal Godse, brother of Nathuram, 15 years after the incident, Godse is quoted as saying in the court during his trial that, “Gandhi was the reason for partition. He is the main reason for all the atrocities against Hindus during the partition. Gandhi acted in favour of Muslims. His presence will be harmful to Hindus. Hence, by killing Gandhi I did  great justice to this nation.” 

Godse said in the court that while people in general were against transferring Rs 55 crore to Pakistan after partition, Gandhi forced it upon the nation to transfer the money by going on a hunger strike. The Indian government too was hesititating to transfer the money. The Indian government and its people had to give way to one man’s adamancy, Godse had said justifying his act.

Justice Khosla who conducted the proceedings in Gandhiji’s murder case has said that, “Godse’s decision to shoot Gandhiji was the end result of a well planned and well executed action in association with so many people,” says the book Life and Death of Mahatma Gandhi by Robert Payne.

According to K Mohan, the Chairman of Gandhi Study Centre, when Mahatma Gandhi returned to the country in 1915, most Congress leaders were seen as elitist. The party was also grappling with caste conflicts within. It was only after Gandhiji took over that the freedom movement took shape and gained momentum.

Hindu-Muslim conflicts were a worrying factor. Untouchability was rampant and certain sects were reeling under social oppression. Gandhiji brought all religions together and paved the way for the freedom struggle to became a unifier of people from different ethnicities, linguistic backgrounds, cultures and religions, notes Louis Fischer in his book The Life of Mahatma Gandhi. 

“Gandhiji is for everyone. To expect Gandhiji to be faithful to only Hindus in itself is a mistake. Gandhiji was against partition. In fact he said ‘if at all partion happened it should happen only over my dead body’. He even agreed to make Mohammed Ali Jinnah the Prime Minister of India,” Mohan added.  

Mahatma Gandhi National Memorial Museum Director and Gandhian, A Annamalai argues that “When Gandhiji was shot at, among those who rushed to the spot first was Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhai Patel and Lord Mountbatten. At that time, a voice from the crowd shouted that a Muslim has killed Gandhiji. Shocked at it, Lord Mountbatten replied in full throat, “the one who killed Gandhi is a Hindu and not a Muslim.” Fearing that this could put the Muslims in grave danger, Nehru immediately clarified over a radio broadcast that the father of the nation was shot dead by a Hindu. But what Kamal Haasan has done now for gaining votes is not right. 

Commenting on this issue in reply to Kamal Haasan’s speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that, “No Hindu can ever be a terrorist and if he is a terrorist, he can never be a Hindu.” 

The book Gandhijis Last 200 Days by Pyarelal (Gandhji’s secretary) recalls, Gandhiji was a firm believer in the Hindu religion. In 1909 he wrote ‘Hindu Swarajya’ and in this book and in his subsequent writings in Harijan newspapers, he wrote that Hindu religion is based on non-violence and compassion.  According to him, there is no space for inequality in Hindu dharma and treats not only fellow human beings but all living beings as equals. Tolerance, sacrifice and no harm to living beings are the ways to attain salvation. If one goes by Gandhiji’s definition, Godse cannot be considered a Hindu. However, all fundamentalists take refuge in religion to justify their acts and Godse was a fundamentalist. Fundamentalists who say that they are fighting hard for their religion can be dangerous for their own people, making them objects of shame and suffering.

Other Congress leaders like Rajaji said that partition was inevitable and that people should think about how it could be achieved without bloodshed. Gandhiji had a difference of opinion with Rajaji over this, but in the end, had to accept the party’s decision. Gandhiji tried to instil confidence among the Muslims that they would not be discriminated against.

Godse was initially a follower of Gandhiji, even showing interest in his civil disobedience movement. But after joining RSS in 1932, his outlook on Gandhiji changed.

M. Mariappan in his book Gandhiyin Kolaikku Pinnani, a translation of a book written by Gandhian Chunnibhai Vaidya, has listed the 10 murder attempts on Gandhiji. 

In 1944, Godse tried to stab Gandhiji at Panchgani near Pune. Bank officer BT Prare, Manishankar Purohit and Bhillare Guruji foiled the attempt by seizing the dagger from Godse. Gandhiji showed keen interest to speak to the youngster, Godse. But Godse refused saying “I don’t have 

anything to speak to Gandhi”.

 “The RSS leader, MS Golwalkar, was in Chennai when he got the news of Mahatma Gandhi had been shot. He promptly sent a telegram to Prime Minister Nehru and Vallabhbhai Patel conveying his condolences. Also for 13 days all major activities were suspended by RSS, as mark of condolence for Gandhi.” Says Ramadevi Prasad, state representative, Vishwa Samvad Kendra, Tamil Nadu.

 In his letter dated September 11, 1948, after the death of Gandhiji, Sardar Vallabhai Patel said, “RSS leaders’ speech had enough venom. Gandhiji’s murder was a result of this. RSS people distributed sweets and celebrated Gandhiji’s murder. Hence, banning RSS movement became imperative for the government.”  Some years before that, both Gandhiji and Patel  had participated in an RSS event as chief guests. Gandhiji had said about RSS, ”I know you serve the nation with dedication. But your hatred and attitude towards Muslims should change.”