By Sanskriti Singh
Nathuram Godse had requested the court not to show any mercy to him or any one begging for mercy on his behalf and that the court should pass orders of sentence that might be proper. He professed that honest writers of history would weigh his act and find the truth behind his decision to assassinate the Mahatma.
Godse had stated 150 reasons to assassinate Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. But the main reason stated by him was the Mahatma’s fast to put pressure on the Indian government to pay Rs 55 crore to Pakistan at the time of the partition. They had no other method of hindering this act of the Mahatma.
Had India paid this amount, its economy would have drastically declined, Godse had noted.
The book Why I Assassinated Gandhi? presents the statements of Godse in its unabridged form at the Red Fort trial. It also accounts the events, details of the investigation and formation of the special court. It was noted that at this juncture, the government became wiser when Godse completed his arguments before the High Court in Simla in June 1949.
As soon as the judges returned to their chambers, the police pounced on the press-reporter, snatched notebooks and tore them into pieces. They threatened them too.
The world had, since then, been curious to know about the details of Gandhi’s murder. “What kind of men were they and of what ilk” had been asked all through these years.
Many writers of repute have ventured into this subject. In doing so they have destroyed the facts, substituted plain facts with malicious statements, and made insinuation in this so-called literary works.
The authentic statement will clear the air of misgivings.
The author, Gopal Godse, is the younger brother of the assassin. Gopal was also an accused in Gandhi’s murder.
If one wants to know the point of view of the assassination of Gandhi, one must read this book. Godse’s love for his country is truly revealed by the last statement — “Akhand Bharat Amar Rahe-Vande Matram (long live undivided India-Vande Mataram)”.
(The author has appeared for Class X examination from BK Bajoria School)
Book: Why I Assassinated Gandhi; Author: Nathuram Godse & Gopal Godse; Compiled and Edited by:
Virender Mehta; Publisher: Farsight Publishers and Distributers, Delhi; Pages: 207; Price: Rs 170
