Zee Media Bureau/Ajith Vijay Kumar
“If I’m to die by the bullet of a mad man, I must do so smiling. God must be in my heart and on my lips. And if anything happens, you are not to shed a single tear.”— Gandhiji, January 28, 1948
The nation lost its soul, the apostle of non-violence Mahatma Gandhi on January 30, 1948 in Delhi. The Father of the Nation was shot by Nathuram Godse at 5.17 pm, minutes before a prayer meeting at Birla House, now called the Gandhi Smriti Van.
The final moments:
The prayer meeting was scheduled to begin at 5 pm but the Mahatma, who was very particular about punctuality, was late that day as he was engaged in talks with Sardar Vallabhai Patel.
It was 5.10 pm when Gandhiji told Sardar Patel that “he had to go.”
A crowd of 250 people was anxiously waiting for his arrival at the prayer lawns.
Supporting himself on the shoulders of his grand nieces Manu and Abha, Gandhiji walked briskly, his head bent and his glance on the ground.
He was heard admonishing them for not telling him that it was getting late for the prayer meeting. “I am late. I do not like all this,” he said.
Mahatma Gandhi ascended the steps to the platform and had barely walked a few paces when a young man wearing khakhi trousers blocked his way.
The man, later identified as Nathuram Godse, offered pranam. Gandhiji returned the salute. Godse remarked “You are late for the prayer.” Gandhiji smiled and replied, “Yes, I am”. Abha asked him to make way for them as Bapu was late.
Godse did not respond and, in a flash, took out his Beretta M semi-automatic pistol, and shot at Gandhi thrice in the chest from point-blank range.
Mahatma Gandhi died instantaneously. Godse made no attempt to escape, he started shouting `police` and surrendered himself.
Gandhiji`s last words were: “Hey... Ram.” (There has been a dispute over the last words said by Gandhi.)
The nation is remembering the Mahatma today on his 66th death anniversary.
