Raj Ghat - Memorial marking the cremation spot of Mahatma Gandhi

Followers of Mahatma Gandhi claim that there were five unsuccessful attempts to assassinate him. All of them were carried out by Hindu extremists. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1280x896, 197 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Raj Ghat and associated memorials User:Deeptrivia/Album Attempts to assassinate Mahatma Gandhi Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1280x896, 197 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Raj Ghat and associated memorials User:Deeptrivia/Album Attempts to assassinate Mahatma Gandhi Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (Gujarati: , Hindi: , IAST: mohandās karamcand gāndhī, IPA: ) (October 2, 1869 – January 30, 1948) was a major political and spiritual leader of the Indian Independence Movement. ...

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (October 2, 1869 – January 30, 1948) (Devanagari: मोहनदास करमचन्द गांधी, Gujarati મોહનદાસ કરમચંદ ગાંધી), called... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

First Attempt

On 25 June 1934, Mahatma Gandhi was in Pune along with Kasturba to deliver a speech at "Corporation Auditorium". They were travelling in a motorcade of two cars. En route, they came across a railway level crossing. The car in which the couple was travelling was left behind and the first car reached the auditorium. Just when the first car arrived at the auditorium, a bomb was thrown at the car which exploded. This caused grievous injury to the Chief Officer of the Pune Municipal Corporation, two policemen and seven others. However there is no account or records of investigation or arrests made in this connection. Mahatma Gandhi's secretary Pyarelal believes that the attempt failed due to lack of planning and co-ordination. Many have alleged that Nathuram Godse and Narayan Apte were involved in the attack. June 25 is the 176th day of the year (177th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 189 days remaining. ... 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (Gujarati: , Hindi: , IAST: mohandās karamcand gāndhī, IPA: ) (October 2, 1869 – January 30, 1948) was a major political and spiritual leader of the Indian Independence Movement. ... Puṇe (IPA: , Marathi: पुणे) is a city located in the western Indian state of Maharashtra. ... Kasturba Gandhi Kastürbā Gāndhi (April 11, 1869 – 22 February 1944), affectionately called Ba, was the wife of Mohandas Gandhi, whom she married at the age of 13. ... For other uses, see Bomb (disambiguation). ... Pyarelal Nayyar (? - 1982) was the personal secretary of Mahatma Gandhi in his later years. ... Nathuram Vinayak Godse (May 19, 1910 – November 15, 1949) born at Baramati, Poona District, is best known as the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi, the principal leader of the Indian Independence Movement. ... Narayan Dattatraya Apte was born in the year 1911. ...

Second Attempt

Gandhi's ashes are also interred at the Aga Khan's palace in Pune, where he had been imprisoned from 1942 to 1944, and where his wife and secretary had died.

The second attempt on the life of Mahatma Gandhi is not considered as much an attempt to assassinate, rather than an instance of anger showed by an angry young man. In May 1944 Mahatma Gandhi was released from Agha Khan Palace prison and in a very short period of time, he contracted Malaria. On the advice of doctors, he took a vacation to Panchgani, a hill station near Pune. During his stay at Panchgani, Gandhi was staying at Dilkush Bungalow. A group of 15-20 young men came to Panchgani after realizing that Gandhi was staying there. This young crowd led by Nathuram Godse came through a chartered bus. These youth held a day long protest demonstration and declined to talk to Gandhi when invited. However, by evening, during the prayer meeting, Nathuram Godse rushed towards Gandhi with a dagger shouting anti-Gandhi slogans. He was unable to reach Gandhi as he was overpowered by Mani Shankar Purohit (Proprietor of Surti Lodge, Pune) and D. Billare Guruji of Satara (who later became a congress legislator from Mahabaleshwar). Image File history File links MGashes. ... Image File history File links MGashes. ... Aga Khan (Persian: آغا خان ) is the hereditary title of the Imam (spiritual and general leader), of the Nizari (Nizari Ismaili) sect (result of the 1094 split with the Mustaˤliyya who followed Nizars younger brother Al-Mustali) within the Shia Ismaili branch of Islam. ... Puṇe (IPA: , Marathi: पुणे) is a city located in the western Indian state of Maharashtra. ... Malaria is an infectious disease that is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions. ... Panchgani is a small hill-station in the state of Maharashtra, India. ... A dagger (from Vulgar Latin: daca - a Dacian knife) is a double-edged knife used for stabbing, thrusting or as a secondary defense weapon in close combat. ... Satara   (Marathi:सातारा) is a town located in the Satara District of Maharashtra state of India. ...

The documentary evidence of this attack can be found in the disposition made by Mani Shankar Purohit and D.Billare Guruji before the Kapoor Commission set up to investigate the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. However the Kapoor Commission rejected this theory as many of the close associates of Mahatma Gandhi were not present during that time.

Third Attempt

The third attempt was also a demonstration. However people who testified before Kapoor Commission referred it as an attempt to murder. Mahatma Gandhi began his talks with Mohammad Ali Jinnah on 9 September 1944 which lasted for 14 days. While leaving for Bombay from Sevagram Ashram, a group of Hindu activists stopped him. They did not want him to go to Bombay and hold talks with Jinnah. However, these protesters were stopped by volunteers of the ashram and the leader of this group, Nathuram Godse was again found in possession of a dagger. The policeman who found the dagger then looked up to him and joked,"Why do you want to kill Gandhiji? Lets leave it to the leaders themselves... perhaps (Veer) Savarkar will finish off the job!" At which Godse retorted, "Gandhi does not require such an honour. Even the jamadar (sweeper) is enough for that!(the assassination)" Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (Gujarati: , Hindi: , IAST: mohandās karamcand gāndhÄ«, IPA: ) (October 2, 1869 – January 30, 1948) was a major political and spiritual leader of the Indian Independence Movement. ... office: 1st Governor-General of Pakistan Term of office: August 14, 1947 – September 11, 1948 Succeeded by: Khawaja Nazimuddin Date of birth: December 25, 1876 Place of birth: Wazir Mansion, Karachi Wives: Emibai 1892–1893, Rattanbai Petit 1918–1929 Children: daughter Dina Wadia Date of Death: September 11, 1948 Place... September 9 is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years). ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... Mumbai (Marathi: मुंबई, IPA: ), formerly known as Bombay, is the capital of the state of Maharashtra, and the most populous city of India, also it is by some measures the most populous city in the world with an estimated population of about 50 billion (as of 2006). ... An Ashram (Pronounced aashram) in ancient India was a Hindu hermitage where sages (See Rishi) lived in peace and tranquility amidst nature. ...

Dr. Sushila Nayyar testified to this effect before the Kapoor Commission and she considered this an attempt at assassination. This incident has also been portrayed in the film Gandhi by Sir Richard Attenborough. However in the film it is not portrayed as an attempt to murder but as a peaceful demonstration in which the demonstrators were waving black flags. Sushila Nayyar, also spelled Nayar, was the younger sister of Pyarelal Nayyar, personal secretary to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and the Gandhis personal physician. ... Gandhi (1982) is an Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe winning British - Indian production, directed by Richard Attenborough, about the life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (also known as Mahatma Gandhi, Great Soul), leader of the nonviolent resistance movement against British colonial rule in India during the first half of the 20th... Richard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough, CBE (born August 29, 1923) is a prolific English film and stage actor, and Academy Award, BAFTA and three-time Golden Globe winning director and producer. ...

Fourth Attempt

June 29, 1946, the train carrying Mahatma Gandhi called Gandhi Special derailed between Neral and Karjat stations of Bombay Section. The report submitted by the motorman or driver of the train claimed that boulders were placed on the tracks of the train with the intention to derail it. The train had crashed into the boulders. The Pune police claimed that the boulders were placed to stop goods trains by looters. There were no goods trains on the section before or after the train known as the Gandhi Special carrying Gandhi and his entourage. The Police have not disclaimed sabotage and since the Gandhi Special was the only train on that route at that time, it is highly plausible that it must be the target. June 29 is the 180th day of the year (181st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 185 days remaining. ... Year 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... Neral is a small town, 90 km from Mumbai (Bombay) in the Maharashtra state of India. ... Karjat is a smalll town in central India. ...

By the grace of God I have escaped from the jaws of death seven times. I have not hurt anybody nor do I consider anybody to be my enemy, I can’t understand why there are so many attempts on my life? Yesterdays attempt on my life has failed. I will not die just yet, I aim to live till the age of 125.

—Mohandas K. Gandhi, at a prayer meeting in Pune. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (October 2, 1869 – January 30, 1948) (Devanagari: मोहनदास करमचन्द गांधी, Gujarati મોહનદાસ કરમચંદ ગાંધી), called...

Fifth Attempt

A group photo of people accused in the Mahatma Gandhi's murder case. Standing: Sukhwinder Singh, Madanlal Pahwa, Digambar Badge (Approver). Sitting: Narayan Apte, Vinayak D. Savarkar, Nathuram Godse, Vishnu Karkare

On January 14, 1948, Madanlal Pahwa, Shankar Kishtaiyya, Digambar Bagde Vishnu Karkare, Gopal Godse, Nathuram Godse and Narayan Apte came to Birla Bhavan (aka Birla House) in Delhi to carry out an attack on Mahatama Gandhi. Except for Madanlal Pahwa and Vishnu Karkare, everyone else reached the venue through the rear entrance in a cab. Surjeet Singh was the cab driver. Madanlal Pahwa tried to bribe the driver at Birla Bhavan, named Choturam, to let him go behind the podium to take pictures of the Mahatma. However, Choturam became suspicious and asked Madanlal Pahwa, why he needed photographs from behind, and inquired about the absence of a camera. Madanlal Pahwa just left, having Choturam think he was going back to the taxi; however, he placed a cotton ball enclosing a bomb on the wall behind the podium and ignited it. The bomb went off without creating any panic. The team had left after abandoning Madanlal Pahwa. Image File history File links Nathuram. ... Image File history File links Nathuram. ... Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (Gujarati: , Hindi: , IAST: mohandās karamcand gāndhī, IPA: ) (October 2, 1869 – January 30, 1948) was a major political and spiritual leader of the Indian Independence Movement. ... Sukhwinder Singh is an Indian singer, most famous as a Bollywood playback singer. ... Madanlal Pahwa Madanlal Pahwa to India as a refugee, which was his own country. ... Digambar Badge was a Indian Hindu political activist. ... Narayan Dattatraya Apte was born in the year 1911. ... Nathuram Vinayak Godse (May 19, 1910 – November 15, 1949) born at Baramati, Poona District, is best known as the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi, the principal leader of the Indian Independence Movement. ... Vishnu Ramakrishna Karkare, a Hindu Mahasabha activist was awarded life sentence for his role in an attempt to assinate Mahatma Gandhi // Early Life Vishnu Ramkrishna Karkare was born of Brahmin parents, which is about all he knew of his early days. ... January 14 is the 14th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Madanlal Pahwa Madanlal Pahwa to India as a refugee, which was his own country. ... Gopal Vinayak Godse (c. ... Nathuram Vinayak Godse (May 19, 1910 – November 15, 1949) born at Baramati, Poona District, is best known as the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi, the principal leader of the Indian Independence Movement. ... Narayan Dattatraya Apte was born in the year 1911. ... For the capital of India, see New Delhi. ... A camera is a device used to capture images, usually photographs, either singly or in sequence such as with video cameras. ...

Gandhi and Jinnah in Bombay, September 1944

On interrogation, Madanlal Pahwa admitted that he was part of a seven member gang who wanted to kill the Mahatma. The plan was that Madanlal Pahwa would explode the bomb as close to the podium as possible while Digambar Bagde or Shankar Kishtaiyya would shoot Mahatma Gandhi in the head, ensuing panic and stampede, using the chaotic situation to effect their escape. Vishnu Karkare was to compound the chaos by hurling hand grenades. However, faced with Choturam's suspicious attitude, Digambar Bagde decided not to act at the last minute, and also instructed Shankar Kishtaiyya (who was his servant) to do the same. Image File history File links Jinnah_Gandhi. ... Image File history File links Jinnah_Gandhi. ... Madanlal Pahwa Madanlal Pahwa to India as a refugee, which was his own country. ... A stampede is an act of mass impulse among herd animals or a crowd of people in which the herd (or crowd) collectively begins running with no clear direction or purpose. ...

Later, Madanlal Phawa lead the police to the Marina Hotel where Nathuram Godse and Narayan Apte were staying and also to Sharief Hotel where all other gang members were staying. Everyone had left by that time and the police was only able to recover some letters and clothes which had the initials "NVG" on it. By this time they were able to identify that the members of that team were from Maharashtra; however they were not able to establish the identity and the involvement of Nathuram Godse. Maharashtra   (Marathi: महाराष्ट्र , English: , IPA: ) is Indias third largest state in terms of area and second largest in terms of population after Uttar Pradesh. ...

During the Mahatma Gandhi Murder trial, Madanlal Pahwa was identified by Mrs. Sulochana Devi, who had come to Birla Bhavan in search of her three year old son (who used to play in the servant quarters). She was the fifteenth witness in the trial, and Surjeet Singh, the driver was the fourteenth witness. In legal parlance, a trial is an event in which parties to a dispute present information (in the form of evidence) in a formal setting, usually a court, before a judge, jury, or other designated finder of fact, in order to achieve a resolution to their dispute. ...

Is it true that on the day of the bomb blast during the search of the room at Marina Hotel clothes were found bearing the initials N.V.G. – Nathuram Vinayak Godse -? On the basis of which the police went to Bombay and requested the Bombay police to look for this person, the Bombay police assured the Delhi police to do the needful and asked them to return, but did nothing. Is it true that the Bombay Police failed in tracing Nathuram Vinayak Godse?

—Balkrishna Sharma, during the debate on murder of Mahatma Gandhi in the Constituent Assembly of India.

To comment on matters under investigation is both difficult and unwarranted. I can only say that after the arrest and interrogation of the bomber, an officer of Delhi police went to Bombay and briefed the C.I.D. in Bombay. After the briefing, it was decided that some people should be arrested but to arrest them immediately would lead to the other conspirators going underground. So the Delhi police and Bombay C.I.D. decided to defer the arrests for some time to enable them to uncover the conspiracy and all who were involved in it. It is true that the police were on a look out for them but all of them were not in Bombay

—Sardar Patel, during the debate on murder of Mahatma Gandhi in the Constituent Assembly of India. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel (October 31, 1875–December 15, 1950), popularly referred to as Sardar Patel, was an Indian statesman, an important leader of the Indian National Congress and the deputy Prime Minister in the first cabinet of Independent India. ...

Final Attempt

A press photo Published in The Manchester Guardian, February 18, 1948 show Mahatma Gandhi's ashes being carried through the streets of Allahabad

After the failed attempt at Birla House, Nathuram Godse and Narayan Apte returned to Pune via Bombay. Image File history File links GandhisLastJourney. ... Image File history File links GandhisLastJourney. ... The white, palatial house of the business dynasty, Birla, stands just a couple of kilometres from Connought Place, a well-known tourist attraction in the greenest area of Delhi. ...

With the help of Dr. Dattatraya Parchure and Gangadhar Dandavate they purchased a Beretta automatic and eleven rounds of ammunition at Gwalior and reached Delhi on January 29, 1948. On January 30, 1948 at 5:10 p.m. Nathuram Godse got close to Mahatma Gandhi and shot him thrice in his chest at point blank range. Mahatma Gandhi was declared dead. Many people have also said that sweets were distributed in Pune and other places of India, when the news of Mahatma Gandhi's assassination reached them through the supporters of Hindu Mahasabha. Logo of Pietro Beretta This article is about a firearm manufacturer; for the car, see Chevrolet Beretta. ... Gwalior   is a city in Madhya Pradesh in India. ... January 29 is the 29th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... January 30 is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha, a Hindu nationalist organization originally founded in 1915 to counter the Muslim League and the secular Indian National Congress. ...

Controversy over Hey Ram

The controversy over the last word(s) uttered by Mahatma Gandhi is still a matter of debate. Venkita Kalyanam, former personal assistant to Mr. Gandhi said that he was present at the spot and Gandhi did not utter a single word.

New Delhi's Tughlak Road police station's assistant sub-inspector Dhalu Ram says recorded Nand Lal Mehta's statement

...suddenly a man, who was later identified as Nathu Ram Godse took steps out of the crowd and fired three shots at Mahatmaji. Bullets hit him on the stomach and chest. The Mahatma fell down saying Ram-Ram...

—Nand Lal Mehta, in the First Information Report recorded on January 30, 1948, at 9.45 p.m.

There is no mention in the FIR that any doctor was called. It is still debated that as to why he was not rushed to hospital and was instead taken to the Birla House where he died later.

English version of the First Information Report can be found here [1]

Conspirators

• Nathuram Vinayak Godse
• Narayan Dattatraya Apte
• Vishnu Ramkrishna Karkare
• Madanlal Kashmirilal Pahwa
• Shankar Kistaiya
• Gopal Vinayak Godse
• Digambar Ramchandra Badge
• Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
• Dattatraya Sadashiv Parchure
• Gangadhar Dandavate
• Gangadhar Jadhao
• Suryadeo Sharma

Nathuram Vinayak Godse (May 19, 1910 – November 15, 1949) born at Baramati, Poona District, is best known as the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi, the principal leader of the Indian Independence Movement. ... Narayan Dattatraya Apte was born in the year 1911. ... Vishnu Ramakrishna Karkare, a Hindu Mahasabha activist was awarded life sentence for his role in an attempt to assinate Mahatma Gandhi // Early Life Vishnu Ramkrishna Karkare was born of Brahmin parents, which is about all he knew of his early days. ... Madanlal Pahwa Madanlal Pahwa to India as a refugee, which was his own country. ... A group photo of people accused in the Mahatma Gandhis murder case. ... Gopal Vinayak Godse (c. ... Digambar Badge was a Indian Hindu political activist. ... Vinayak Damodar Sarvakar Vināyak Dāmodar Sāvarkar (Marathi: विनायक दामोदर सावरकर) (May 28, 1883 – February 27, 1966) was an Indian revolutionary and Hindu nationalist political leader, who is credited with developing a Hindu nationalist political ideology he termed as Hindutva (Hinduness). ...

Source

• Mahatma Gandhi's secretary Pyarelal in his book Last Phase
• Controversy over "Hey Ram"

External links

• First Information Report on Gandhi's Murder in Urdu [2]English version [3]
• Soldiers of Hindutva
• Mahatma.Org