30th January, 19:45
Name of the Prosecutor: Nandlal
Mehta s/o Nathalal Mehta
Crime Section: IPC 302
Location: Birla House, Delhi
Crime Section: IPC 302
Location: Birla House, Delhi
Front Page of The Time of India after Gandhi's assassination |
The most acclaimed movie – Gandhi!!
It begins on the day of Gandhi's assassination on 30 January 1948. After an
evening prayer, an elderly Gandhi is helped out for his evening walk to meet a
large number of greeters and admirers. One of these visitors, Nathuram Godse,
shoots him point blank in the chest. Gandhi exclaims, "Hey Ram!", and
then falls dead. The film then cuts to a huge procession at his funeral, which
is attended by dignitaries from around the world. Today is 30th January
2017 – the world is entering 70th year of Gandhi’s death, here is
what happened on the last day in Gandhi’s life.
News in The New York Time after Gandhi's assassination |
Friday, 30th January
1948
03:30 Gandhi woke up from his
wooden bed for morning prayer. (It wasn’t a bed as such. It was just a small
wooden rectangle lying on the ground.) He asks other companions, Vrijkrushna
Chandiwala, Manu and Aabha, to wake up. After the prayer, he comes to his
permanent room in Birla House taking Manu and Aabha’s support. In his room, he
revises draft of Congress’ Constitution Structure and made some required
changes.
04:45 He drank warm lime water.
05:45 He drank Orange juice and
asked for the Correspondence file to see the letter which he wrote to Kishorlal
Mashroowala
During those days, Gandhi used to
take Clove powder with Jaggery to cure cough. That day the powder was not
available and Manu started making the powder. Gandhi asked Manu – What are you
doing? She said, “I will come with you little later. Let me make this or else you
won’t have it when you need tonight.” Gandhi replied, “Who knows what is going
to happen till tonight? I may or may not be alive. If I am alive till night,
you can make it later in the evening.”
07:00 Gandhi’s first meeting with
Rajan Nehru, who came from America.
08:00 Went for Massage. On the
way, he dropped the revised draft of Congress’s Constitution Structure to his
Personal Secretary Pyarelal’s room and asked to make the required changes.
09.00 Gandhi took bath and Manu
weighed Gandhi – he was weighing 109 pounds.
09.30 Gandhi took his morning
meal – Goat milk, some vegetables, orange, tomatoes, basil juice, ginger etc. During
the meal, he deeply checked the draft which he received from Pyarelal and asked
to correct some numbers of Panchayat leaders.
10.00 Gandhi spent time in daily
practice for writing and learning Bengali language. He took some rest before
meeting the people who came to visit him. While talking to some moulvies he
mentioned about a visit to Vardha but he also added – if and only if God wishes
his visit. If something unexpected happens, it’s a different story then. He
also asked Bishan to give all the letters which have come on his name. He
wanted to address all of them the same day.
12.00 He slept for some time in
warm sunlight of January and put a soil-based plaster on his stomach. He drank
Carrot juice and lime juice and met some blind and refugee people.
14.15 The meetings started again.
Two Punjabis came and discussed about situation of Harijans in their state. A
representative from Srilanka came to meet him with his daughter. They discussed
about Srilanka’s independence on 14th February and asked for a
message for the same occasion. The representative’s daughter took Gandhi’s
signature which became his last autograph.
16.00 Gandhi finished all the
meetings and Sardar Patel came with his daughter Maniben to meet Bapu. They
discussed many different topics.
16.30 Aabha brought the last meal
for the Gandhi – goat milk, some cooked and uncooked vegetables, orange,
butter, ginger and lime. Gandhi took his last meal while talking to Sardar
Patel. During this, two Kathiyawadi men came to meet Gandhi. Manu asked his
permission, but Gandhi replied – if I am alive after my evening prayer, I will
meet them. Gandhi asked for his Charkha (the spinning wheel) and lovingly
worked with it.
17:00 Aabha showed the clock to
Gandhi and he stood up, became ready for evening prayer. He wore his chappals.
Everyday Gandhi used to go
through main door, but today he went through small door to reduce the walking
time. Thousands of people joined him for prayer. Between the crowd, there was a
man who came just in front of Gandhi. He bowed and said – Namaste Gandhiji!
Bapu just smiled and did Namaste to him. Manu realized that this man wants to
touch Bapu’s feet so she mentioned, “Bapu is already getting late for the
evening prayer. Why are you annoying?". Godse just pushed Manu with his
left hand. The revolver in his right pocket of the pant was visible now. Manu
fell off and all the things in her hand were shattered. Manu just bent to take
the beads and…….three shots were heard and rest is history.
There were only 168 days since
India became independent till Gandhi’s death. If we analyze Gandhi’s last few
days, speeches, lectures and people addresses, we realize that Gandhi was not
very happy. He somehow always knew that his last moment is coming very soon.
I only have sorrow in my heart. There
was a time when everyone agreed to all my thoughts and commands. Today no one
is listening to me. (2nd October 1947)
Everyone has to die. Today or
tomorrow. Why are we afraid of it? (9th January 1948)
Even if I am attacked, police doesn’t
help me, even if I am shot – I should be stable and take Ramnaam. Let God give
me such power. (21st January 1948)
I want peace, not unrest or else I
prefer to die in unrest (29th January 1948)