Nathuram Godse
Nathuram Vinayakrao Godse entered the world on the 19th of May 1910 within a Chitpavan Brahmin family in Maharashtra. His father worked as a postal employee while his mother was named Lakshmi. The child born into this household carried the name Ramachandra for his first few years of life. Parents feared a curse had targeted their male children after losing three previous sons to early death. They dressed young Ramachandra as a girl during those initial childhood years. He wore a nose-ring known as nath in the Marathi language and had his own nose pierced. This specific practice earned him the nickname Nathuram, which literally translates to Ram with a nose-ring. After his younger brother was finally born, the family switched to treating him as a boy. He attended local school at Baramati through the fifth standard before moving to Pune. There he lived with an aunt so that he could study at an English-language school.
Godse dropped out of high school to become an activist with Hindu nationalist organisations. He joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in Sangli, Maharashtra, in 1932 as a boudhik karyawah or ground worker. Simultaneously he remained a member of the Hindu Mahasabha, a Hindutva political party. During this period Godse often wrote articles in newspapers to publicise his thoughts. He worked closely with M. S. Golwalkar who later became RSS chief. Together they translated Babarao Savarkar's book Rashtra Mimansa into English. A falling out occurred when Golwalkar took the entire credit for this translation. In the early 1940s Godse formed his own organisation called Hindu Rashtra Dal on Vijayadashami day of 1942. Historical sources do not corroborate claims that he left the RSS in 1946 over partition issues. Records kept by the RSS listed him as a member until his final days. His family stated he held membership at both the RSS and Hindu Mahasabha simultaneously.
In May 1944 Godse attempted to assassinate Gandhi using a knife during a prayer meeting at Panchgani. He led a group of fifteen to twenty young men who rushed toward Gandhi. Crowds prevented them from reaching their target before security intervened. He was released due to Gandhi's policy of declining to press criminal charges against attackers. September 1944 brought another attempt where Godse led a second group to block Gandhi's passage from Sevagram to Mumbai. This time Godse was arrested while carrying a dagger. He uttered threats to kill Gandhi during the confrontation. Police again released him owing to Gandhi's refusal to press criminal charges. These two unsuccessful efforts preceded his success three years later when he finally fired bullets into Gandhi's chest.
At 5:05 pm on the 30th of January 1948 Gandhi made his way to a prayer meeting on a raised lawn behind Birla House. A mansion in New Delhi served as the venue for this multi-faith gathering. Godse stepped out of the crowd flanking his path to the dais and fired three bullets into Gandhi's chest. The Mahatma fell immediately sending the attendant crowd into a state of shock. Herbert Reiner Jr., a thirty-two-year-old vice-consul at the new American embassy, rushed forward first. He grasped Godse by the shoulders and spun him into the arms of military personnel who disarmed him. Reiner then held Godse by the neck and shoulders until police took him away. Reiner reported that Godse looked stunned at how easily he had carried out his plan before being apprehended. Gandhi was taken back to his room where he died soon thereafter.
Godse faced trial at the Punjab High Court located within Peterhoff in Shimla. On the 8th of November 1949 he received a death sentence after proceedings lasting over a year. Pleas for commutation came from Gandhi's two sons named Manilal Gandhi and Ramdas Gandhi. These appeals were turned down by India's prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and deputy prime minister Vallabhbhai Patel. Governor-General Chakravarti Rajagopalachari also rejected the clemency requests. Godse was executed by hanging at Ambala Central Jail on the 15th of November 1949. Millions of Indians mourned the assassination while the Hindu Mahasabha became vilified. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was temporarily banned following these events.
The RSS has consistently denied any connection with Godse despite evidence suggesting otherwise. They maintain contrary to records that Godse left the organisation in the mid-1930s. Nathuram's brother Gopal Godse stated all brothers remained members until the time of assassination. In 2014 the Bharatiya Janata Party began attempts to rehabilitate Godse as a patriot. They requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to install a bust of Godse. A documentary film titled Desh Bhakt Nathuram Godse was created for release on the 30th of January 2015. Attempts included building a temple for him and celebrating the 30th of January as Shaurya Diwas or Bravery Day. Civil suits were filed in Pune Court asking for bans on related films. BJP candidate Pragya Thakur called Godse a patriot during May 2019 elections before facing backlash. Meerut city was proposed to be renamed after him but district magistrates ruled out such changes.
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Common questions
When was Nathuram Vinayakrao Godse born and what was his family background?
Nathuram Vinayakrao Godse entered the world on the 19th of May 1910 within a Chitpavan Brahmin family in Maharashtra. His father worked as a postal employee while his mother was named Lakshmi.
Why did Nathuram Godse receive the nickname Nathuram during his childhood?
Parents feared a curse had targeted their male children after losing three previous sons to early death so they dressed young Ramachandra as a girl. He wore a nose-ring known as nath in the Marathi language which earned him the nickname Nathuram that literally translates to Ram with a nose-ring.
What happened when Nathuram Godse attempted to assassinate Gandhi in May 1944?
In May 1944 Godse attempted to assassinate Gandhi using a knife during a prayer meeting at Panchgani but crowds prevented them from reaching their target before security intervened. He was released due to Gandhi's policy of declining to press criminal charges against attackers.
How did Nathuram Godse kill Mahatma Gandhi on the 30th of January 1948?
At 5:05 pm on the 30th of January 1948 Godse stepped out of the crowd flanking his path to the dais and fired three bullets into Gandhi's chest. The Mahatma fell immediately sending the attendant crowd into a state of shock before being taken back to his room where he died soon thereafter.
When was Nathuram Godse executed after receiving a death sentence for killing Gandhi?
On the 8th of November 1949 Godse received a death sentence after proceedings lasting over a year at the Punjab High Court located within Peterhoff in Shimla. Godse was executed by hanging at Ambala Central Jail on the 15th of November 1949.