A gunshot which killed the light: Remembering Gandhi (Pics)

Updated: Thursday, January 30, 2014, 17:10 [IST]

A gunshot which killed the light: Remembering Gandhi

New Delhi, Jan 30: A frail oldman was shot dead 66 years ago, on this date. He, who led a simple, peaceful life and taught the world the lessons of non-violence, was killed violently in the serene premises of Birla House in New Delhi while he was going for his evening prayer. The world was shaken by the death of this 78-year-old man, who strived all his life for peace and religious harmony.

Mohandas Karam Chand Gandhi, fondly called as Bapu, is revered not just in India, but across the world, for the courage and conviction he displayed throughout his life.

He led the people of India to fight against the oppressive British Raj. But more remarkable were his efforts to unite the country which was torn by religious strifes. His efforts to pacify rioters and bring back Muslims who had fled to Pakistan after a bloody riot broke out in the border regions after the partition in 1947, earned him many haters. Eventually, Nathuram Godse, a Hindu fanatic from Maharashtra, shot him dead on January 30, 1948.

If the assasin were a Muslim, the nation would have witnessed another communal riot. Even in his death, Gandhiji saved the nation from another bloodbath, many sighed in relief. (See NYT frontpage)

In the evening of his death, Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhai Patel addressed the nation over All India Radio. "The light has gone out of our lives..." said Nehru. Patel said, "My heart is aching...my tongue is tied...the occasion demands not anger but earnest heart searching from us..". The entire nation was in mourning and thousands flocked to Birla House to see him for one last time.

66 years have gone and many books, innumerous movies have been made on Gandhi's life. His life looks incredible and inspiring at the same time. Like the brilliant Albert Einstein prophesied, "Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth."

In New Delhi

"You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind."

In New Delhi

"An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind."

In New Delhi

"You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is like an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty."

In New Delhi

"A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes."

In New Delhi

"All the religions of the world, while they may differ in other respects, unitedly proclaim that nothing lives in this world but truth."

In New Delhi

"The main purpose of life is to live rightly, think rightly, act rightly. The soul must languish when we give all our thought to the body."

In New Delhi

"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, and then you win."

In Varanasi

People pay floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 66th death anniversary in Varanasi on Thursday.

In New Delhi

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi paying tributes to father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary, observed as Martyrs' Day, at Rajghat in New Delhi on Thursday.

In New Delhi

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh paying tributes to father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary, observed as Martyrs' Day, at Rajghat in New Delhi on Thursday.

In New Delhi

Chief of Army staff General Bikram Singh, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral D K Joshi and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha paying tributes to father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary, observed as Martyrs' Day, at Rajghat in New Delhi on Thursday.

In New Delhi

President Pranab Mukherjee paying tributes to father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary, observed as Martyrs' Day, at Rajghat in New Delhi on Thursday.

In New Delhi

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal paying tributes to father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary, observed as Martyrs' Day, at Rajghat in New Delhi on Thursday.

In New Delhi

Members of National Student Union of India (NSUI) shout slogans during the hunger strike against corruption at Azad Maidan in Mumbai on Thursday.

In New Delhi

People paying tributes to father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary, observed as Martyrs' Day, at Rajghat in New Delhi on Thursday.

In New Delhi

Tri-services personnel paying tributes to father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary, observed as Martyrs' Day, at Rajghat in New Delhi on Thursday.

In New Delhi

Tri-services bands paying tributes to father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary, observed as Martyrs' Day, at Rajghat in New Delhi on Thursday.

In New Delhi

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal paying tribute to father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary, observed as Martyrs' Day, at Rajghat in New Delhi on Thursday.

In New Delhi

Delhi Women and Child Welfare Minister Rakhi Birla and Law Minister Somnath Bharti paying tributes to father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary, observed as Martyrs' Day, at Rajghat in New Delhi on Thursday.

In New Delhi

Delhi Law and Tourism Minister Somanth Bharti paying tributes to father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary, observed as Martyrs' Day, at Rajghat in New Delhi on Thursday.