52W52B - Book 7 The men who killed Gandhi

I bought this book on an impulse. At a friend’s suggestion, I visited Cha Bar, Oxford bookstore at Churchgate. There I found it, and just picked it up. I always wanted to read about Nathuram Godse. When I first saw this book, I felt that this was a propaganda to get the book sold. But then I thought to give it a try.

Talking about the book: the author tried hard not to take sides but I feel inadvertently he did – sometimes he got towards Godse, and sometimes (more number of times) towards Gandhi.

I believe this book is a wonderful lesson in history to all. It is a must-read for most of those who think that Nathuram Godse was a Hindu fanatic – a madman, and Gandhi a saint. There were striking similarities between the two. Both were born into devout Hindu families – just that Gandhi’s family was well-off unlike Godse’s. Both led austere and self-effacing lives. Godse was a step ahead of Gandhi – he remain celibate all through his life. Both wanted to help the downtrodden and bring about reform in the country. Godse had high regards for Gandhi, and before shooting him, he respectfully folded his hands (which might sound ironic).

The book brought out the Godse’s side of story. Gandhi’s policy of Muslim appeasement at the cost of Hindus was what turned Godse against Gandhi. Unprecedented and unspeakable atrocities were hurled at Hindus and Sikhs refugees in Pakistan who were pouring in India. Gandhi advised them to go back to their homes in Pakistan even if it meant certain death. In Godse's words, "When all these happenings were taking place in Pakistan, Gandhiji did not even by a single word protest and censure the Pakistan Government or the Muslims concerned.”

The last straw proved to be Gandhi's threat to the Indian Government that he would go on an indefinite fast unless it immediately released Rs 55 crore to the Government of Pakistan. At first Nehru objected but eventually yielded to Gandhi's “blackmail”. Hence, the decision was made. In Godse’s words, “There was no legal machinery by which [Gandhi] could be brought to book… I felt that [he] should not be allowed to meet a natural death.”

After he shot him, instead of running away, he stood his ground and surrendered. He said, "No one should think that Gandhi was killed by a madman". In fact, while reading also it was evident that he was not a fanatic who killed Gandhi out of passion ONLY and without reason. One, the murder was done in cold blood: lot of planning had gone behind it, howsoever imperfect the plan be, which proves that the murder was not done out of sheer passion or an emotional outburst. Two, he pushed aside the girl on whom Gandhi was leaning while walking. This was done to ensure that only Gandhi was hurt and no one else, which clearly proves that he was not an unemotional and callous human being.

Further, Justice G D Khosla gave a statement, “… had the audience of that day [in the High Court] been constituted into a jury and entrusted with the task of deciding Godse’s appeal, they would have brought in a verdict of ‘not guilty’.”

This is definitely not an anti-Gandhi book nor is this an anti-Gandhi article that I am writing. Gandhi was a great man without doubt. Godse himself accepted that. However, I feel the history should not be so skewed that it hides the facts and figures, and raises human beings to a level of a “Mahatma”. In fact, the author didn’t get access to loads of information, which was hidden from the public.

One must definitely read Nathuram Godse’s last speech. The essence of the whole book is present there. His side of the story should be known as well.

Karl Popper said: "If our civilisation is to survive we must break with the habit of deference to great men. Great men make great mistakes." While I am not so sure whether Gandhi made mistakes or not, there are certain questions to which I couldn’t find many answers.

One more suggestion I have here is not to stop at this book only. Go through history, especially on Noahkhali genocide. Like The Great Indian Novel inspired me to read more on The Indian Freedom Struggle and Mahabharata, this book has inspired me to read more on Gandhi as well as on history of India.

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