On This Day, January 30, 1948, a pivotal and tragic event occurred in the history of India and the world: the assassination of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi,. Known for his principles of non-violence and civil disobedience, Gandhi was a key figure in India’s struggle for independence from British rule and a symbol of peace and tolerance globally.
Known as Mahatma, or “the great soul,” during his lifetime, Gandhi was assassinated in New Delhi by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu extremist who harbored anger towards Gandhi’s tolerance towards Muslims and his methods of non-violent protest. The assassination took place during Gandhi’s evening walk in the gardens of Birla House. Godse approached Gandhi during this routine walk and shot him three times at close range, leading to his immediate death.
The assassination of Mahatma Gandhi sent shockwaves across the world. It was not just the loss of a national leader but the death of an ideology of non-violence and peaceful resistance. Gandhi’s teachings and life continue to inspire movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. His death is mourned as a moment when the world lost one of its greatest proponents of peace and non-violent struggle.
