On the afternoon of January 30, 1948 as Gandhiji walked to his prayer meeting in Birla House (now known as Gandhi Smriti), a young man pushed his way forward from the crowd, pulled out a gun and shot him.
This unthinkable crime was committed by a fanatic, Nathuram Godse, because he disagreed with Gandhiji’s conviction that Hindus and Muslims should live together in harmony. Jawaharlal Nehru broke the tragic news to the country on radio. He said, “The light has gone out of our lives and there is darkness everywhere…A glory has departed and the sun that warmed and brightened our lives has set and we shiver in the cold and dark.”
Nehru’s sense of loss was intense. Gandhiji had been his guiding light throughout his political life. Prior to Gandhiji’s death, there had been some friction between Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru, but this changed after they met for Gandhiji’s memorial service.
They put their differences aside and worked in harmony after the tragic event.
Picture Credit : Google
