3. Mahatma Gandhi, India's Father of the Nation
Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on 30th January 1948 by Nathuram Godse. Gandhi, in the company of his grandnieces, was on his way to address a prayer meeting at Birla House (now known as Gandhi Smriti) in Delhi.
He was shot by one of the conspirators who opposed Gandhi's leniency towards Pakistan and his doctrine of nonviolence. Nathuram Godse and his co-conspirators held Gandhi guilty of favoring Pakistan.
Gandhi was shot three times from a Beretta 9 mm pistol into his chest at point-blank range.
Gandhi's last words before his death were “hey Ram” (Oh God).
On his death, the then Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru addressed the nation through radio and said:
“Friends and comrades, the light has gone out of our lives, and there is darkness everywhere, and I do not quite know what to tell you or how to say it. Our beloved leader, Bapu as we called him, the father of the nation, is no more”.
Mahatma Gandhi was born on 2nd October, 1869. He is considered one of the greatest leaders of India, who propagated non-violence and ‘satyagrah' as means of victory.
Nathuram Godse and co-conspirator were executed in 1949.
