Mahatma Gandhi 73rd Death Anniversary: 5 assassination attempts on his life

Mahatma Gandhi, the unofficial 'Father of the Nation', was assassinated on January 30, 1948 at the age of 78 years by Nathuram Godse. Today we are remembering this great leader on his 73rd death anniversary. India marks the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, as Martyrs' Day or Shaheed Divas every year on January 30. It is also observed to pay homage to the freedom fighters who laid their lives for the country's independence.

Born as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on October 2, 1869 in Gujarat's Porbandar, Mahatma Gandhi received his higher education in England before returning back to India and leading the freedom struggle against the British rule. He introduced 'ahimsa or non-violence' to India and took on the mighty British with the non-violent protests.

His ideals have been followed worldwide, and cited as a textbook of 'living the right way'. Fondly called 'Bapu', he was an exceptional persona emanating truth, non-violence, simplicity. 

Before suffering the final fatal blow on January 30, 1948, Gandhiji had already been subjected to five failed assassination attempts. Gandhi was assassinated when he was getting up from the evening prayer meeting at Birla House in Delhi. Godse shot Gandhi in his chest three times and killed him. The incident shocked the entire world. Later Godse got arrested and had been sentenced to death. He alleged that Gandhi was responsible for the partition of the country.

Here is a detailed description of the five failed assassination attempts on Mahatma Gandhi before he was finally killed on January 30, 1948.

June 25, 1934

It was in Pune when Gandhi ji had arrived to deliver a speech, that the conspirators had bombed a car presuming Bapu was in it.

July 1944

Gandhi ji was prescribed to go to Panchgani for rest, and it was here that a group of protesters started shouting anti-Gandhi slogans. Gandhi ji invited the leader of the group Nathuram for a discussion which the latter rejected. Later on, during the prayer meeting, Godse was seen rushing towards Gandhiji with a dagger but was luckily tackled by Manishankar Purohit and Bhillare Guruji of Satara. 

September 1944

When Mahatma Gandhi travelled from Sevagram to Bombay where the talks were to commence with Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Nathuram Godse, with his gang, mobbed the ashram to stop Gandhi from leaving Bombay. During the later investigation, Dr Sushila Nayyar revealed Nathuram Godse was detained by people at the ashram from reaching Gandhi and was found in possession of a dagger. 

June 1946

Another attempt to kill Gandhi ji was hatched when he was travelling by the train Gandhi special to Pune. The train had crashed into the boulders placed on the tracks and thanks to the driver’s skills that though the train had met with an accident between Nerul and Karjat station, Gandhi ji was saved.

January 20, 1948

It was during a meeting at Birla Bhavan that the conspiracy to yet again attack Bapu was hatched. Madanlal Pahwa, Nathuram Godse, Narayan Apte, Vishnu Karkare, Digambar Badge, Gopal Godse and Shankar Kistaiya had planned to attend the meeting to execute the murder. They were supposed to throw a bomb at the podium and then shoot. But fortunately, the plan did not work as Madanlal was caught, and identified in time by Sulochona Devi.