SAVARKAR – FACTS AND MYTHS CREATED
The name Savarkar evokes different emotional responses in people depending on their political and religious viewpoints.
- If you are a Hindutva ideologue and believe in India as Hindu nation, Savarkar would be like a God to you. If any person even utters another view, you will treat him as a traitor. You may or may not be a RSS or BJP supporter. You may or may not be Muslim / Christian hater, but Savarkar is worshipped.
- On the other hand, if you are a
Muslim, Christian or a Hindu Secularist, then your views will be totally
different. You may treat him as one standing against Indian values
and ethos and even accessory to the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.
- It is very much possible that you may belong to the third group who don’t have any opinion on Savarkar and are not concerned or indifferent. You form your views as you are being fed.
What I have found is that all the three groups of people
have very little actual knowledge on Savarkar and are highly biased. Through
this blog, I wish to study his life and what he stood for. I have made all the
efforts to present only documented facts here so as not to bias any person.
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (also called Tatyarao) was born on
28 May 1883 in the Marathi Hindu Chitpavan Brahmin family, to Damodar and
Radhabai Savarkar in the village of Bhagur, near the city of Nashik
Maharashtra.
Siblings
He had three other siblings - brothers namely Ganesh,
Narayan, and a sister named Maina. All the three brothers had a Hindu militant
bent of mind from the very beginning of their life. However, it is not very
clear the origin of their thought process and belief system.
Ganesh Dāmodar Sāvarkar (13 June 1879 – 16 March 1945)
Also called Babarao, Ganesh Savarkar, was the eldest of the Savarkar brothers. He was an Indian revolutionary, activist and founder of the Abhinav Bharat Society.
Abhinav Bharat Society (Young India Society) was an Indian Independence secret society founded by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and his brother Ganesh Damodar Savarkar in 1904. Abhinav Bharat's main objectives were to overthrow British rule and revive Hindu pride. Initially founded at Nashik as "Mitra Mela" when Vinayak Savarkar was still a student of Fergusson College at Pune, the society grew to include several hundred revolutionaries and political activists with branches in various parts of India, extending to London after Savarkar went to study law. It carried out a few assassinations of British officials, after which the Savarkar brothers were convicted and imprisoned. The society was formally disbanded in 1952.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abhinav_Bharat_Society )
After a lot of research, Ganesh Savarkar wrote a book in English titled 'India as a Nation'. To avoid confiscation of the book, the book was written under the pseudonym Durganand. However, the British came to know about it and the book was banned. Ganesh organized an armed revolt against the Morley- Minto reforms of 1909.
The Indian Councils Act 1909 , commonly known as the Morley
- Minto or Minto - Reforms, was an act of Parliament of the United
Kingdom that brought about a limited increase in the involvement of
Indians in the governance of British India. Named after Viceroy Lord Minto and
Secretary of State John Morley, the act introduced elections to legislative
councils and admitted Indians to councils of the Secretary of State for India,
the viceroy, and to the executive councils of Bombay and Madras
states.
In the act, Muslims were granted separate electorates according to the demands of the Muslim League.There was widespread discontent and agitation on separate electorates for muslims in the country. The introduction of separate electorates for Muslims was viewed by the Congress as a British attempt to control India through a policy of divide-and-rule.
Ganesh Savarkar was arrested from Nashik
in June 1909 and a case of treason was filed against him. He was
sentenced to Kala Pani and was also imprisoned in Andaman's Cellular Jail for
20 years. In retaliation, A. M. T. Jackson the collector of Nashik was
assassinated by Anant Laxman Kanhere.
Anant Laxman Kanhere (7 January 1892 - 19 April 1910)
was an Indian revolutionary,. On 21 December 1909, he shot Arthur Mason
Tippetts Jackson who was district collector of Nashik in British India. On 29
March 1910, the Chief Justice of Bombay found Anant Laxman Kanhere
guilty. He was hanged in the Thane Prison on 19 April 1910.
In 1921, Ganesh was brought to Gujarat
and was imprisoned in Sabarmati Jail for a year. After this, the British
released him.
It is said that Ganesh along with four friends namely B.
S. Moonje, L. V. Paranjpe, Dr. Tholkar and Hedgewar started the Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The first systematic statement of the RSS ideology by
Golwalkar, in 1938 titled "We, and our Nationhood, Defined" was an
abridgement of Ganesh Savarkar's essay on nationalism "Rashtra
Mimansa".
Ill health dogged Babarao for the better
part of his life. He had contracted tuberculosis of the lungs in the Cellular
Jail. Later, he developed tuberculosis of the intestines and the bone later in
his life. These woes were compounded by intermittent fever, anemia, heart
problems and bloody diarrhoea. Ultimately , after a long illness, he died on 16
March 1945 in Sangli Maharashtra.
He was against secularism and hated Gandhi for
promoting this philosophy. He openly expressed it on more than one occasion.
Narayan Damodar Savarkar (25 May, 1888 – 19 October)
Narayan was the youngest of the three Savarkar brothers. He
was a biographer and novelist. He translated into Marathi the books
Hindutva and Hindupadpadshahi written by Vinayak Savarkar in the original
English language.
After graduating from a medical college
in Calcutta, he practiced dentistry in Mumbai. He also faced imprisonment for
participating in the Home Rule movement and some other political movements. He
was the editor of the Savarkarist weekly Shraddhanand for seven years. A branch
of RSS in Mumbai was started in his hospital. Himani Ashok Savarkar,
president of Hindu Mahasabha and Abhinav Bharat was a close friend of Narayan.
After the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, riots broke out
in Maharashtra. Narayan Savarkar was injured by stones. Eventually he died due
to this.
Mainatai (Mai) Bhaskar Kale (1886 -1947)
Maina was Savarkar’s sister and married Bhaskarrao Kale of Trimbakeshwar in her childhood as per custom. She didn’t take part in any political activities of her brothers. She had three sons who were well educated and settled. She passed away in 1947.
Vinayak Savarkar (left), Narayan Savarkar (centre), and Ganesh Savarkar (right).
Photo - Savarkar Brothers
(https://savarkar.org/en/encyc/2017/5/28/Veer-Savarkar-s-Family-Members.html)
Vinayak Savarkar considered violence as a rightful and
legitimate means of expression of views. In fact, He began his activism as a
school student.
In 1895, when he was 12 years old, he led fellow students in an attack on his village mosque following Hindu-Muslim riots. He even boasted by declaring: "We vandalized the mosque to our heart's content."
In 1903, in Nashik, Vinayak Savarkar and his elder brother Ganesh Savarkar founded the Mitra Mela, an underground revolutionary organization, which became Abhinav Bharat Society in 1906. He later joined Fergusson College, Pune where he continued his political activism as a student.
Association with Lokmanya Tilak
While
in Fergusson College, Savarkar came in contact with radical Nationalist leader,
Lokmanya Tilak and was greatly influenced by him. To protest against Bengal
partition of 1905, Vinayak Savarkar led foreign-clothes bonfire in India with
other students in presence of Lokmanya Tilak. Tilak was in turn
impressed with the young student and helped him obtain the Shivaji Scholarship
in 1906 for his law studies in London.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak born Keshav Gangadhar Tilak (23 July 1856 – 1 August 1920), endeared as Lokmanya, was an Indian nationalist, teacher and an independence activist. He was one third of the LAL BAL PAL triumvirate. The British colonial authorities called him "The father of the Indian unrest". He was also conferred with the title of " Lokmanya ", which means "accepted by the people as their leader". Mahatma Gandhi called him "The Maker of Modern India".
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Photo - Lokmanya Tilak
Tilak was one of the first and strongest advocates of Swaraj
('self-rule') and a strong radical in Indian consciousness. He is known for
his quote in Marathi: "Swaraj is my Birthright and I shall have it!".
He formed a close alliance with many Indian National Congress leaders including
Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai, Aurobindo Ghose, V.O. Chidambaram Pillai
and Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
Major Activities of Lokmanya Tilak as Independence Activist
Ganapati Festival (1893): Tilak transformed the Ganapati
festival into a public celebration, using it as a platform to promote
nationalism and mobilize people against British rule.
Swadeshi Movement (1905): Tilak was a strong advocate for
the Swadeshi movement, which encouraged the boycott of British goods and the
promotion of Indian products, especially after the partition of Bengal.
Arrest and Imprisonment (1908): Tilak was arrested for
sedition due to his writings in "Kesari" and "Maratha." He
was sentenced to six years in prison, where he continued to inspire the
nationalist movement.
Home Rule League (1916): Along with Annie Besant, Tilak
founded the Home Rule League, which aimed to achieve self-rule for India. This
movement gained significant traction among Indians.
Relationship with Vinayak Savarkar
Lokmanya Tilak and Vinayak Savarkar had a complex
relationship during the Indian freedom struggle, characterized by mutual
respect and ideological differences.
- Tilak, a senior leader in the Indian National Congress and a prominent figure in the early nationalist movement, respected Savarkar's intellect and revolutionary zeal.
Savarkar admired Tilak's leadership and his efforts to galvanize the masses.
- Tilak, while he did incorporate Hindu symbols and sentiments in his politics (like the Ganapati festival), had a broader vision of Indian nationalism that included all communities. He advocated for a broad-based nationalism and emphasized the importance of uniting Indians across religious and cultural lines to fight against colonial rule.
Savarkar promoted a form of Hindu nationalism called
Hindutva, which prioritized Hindu identity and culture. He believed that India
should be a nation primarily for Hindus and viewed national identity through a
religious lens.
- While both leaders were committed to the cause of Indian
independence, they differed in their approaches. Tilak was more inclined
towards constitutional methods and mass mobilization, emphasizing the need for
political rights and reforms.
In contrast, Savarkar advocated for a more militant approach
and believed in direct action against colonial rule.
-Tilak emphasized and believed in engaging with the British
through reforms and political negotiations, alongside grassroots activism.
Savarkar believed that armed struggle was essential for
achieving independence.
-Tilak viewed British rule as oppressive but believed in
negotiating for rights and reforms. He was more optimistic about the
possibility of constitutional progress.
Savarkar held a more radical view, seeing the British as an
invader and believing that violent resistance was necessary to expel them from
India.
-Tilak envisioned a united India where people of all
backgrounds could coexist and contribute to nation-building.
Savarkar envisioned a Hindu Rashtra (Hindu nation) and emphasized the importance of Hindu unity, often sidelining non-Hindu communities in his vision of India.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bal_Gangadhar_Tilak
)
(https://poe.com/chat/3kgy0cc8u5cehs51fty
)
Being a politician, activist and writer, Savarkar donned
many hats in his lifetime. He developed the Hindu nationalist political
ideology of Hindutva and became the leading figure in Hindu Mahasabha. Later,
his followers added the prefix 'Veer' (meaning brave) to his name. The
glorification of the life of Savarkar has been quite controversial.
London Years
As mentioned before, on the recommendation of Lokmanya Tilak
Vinayak Savarkar was able to obtain the Shivaji Scholarship in 1906 for
his law studies in London. He took admission in Gray's Inn in London to study
law.
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar studied law at Gray's Inn in London
and passed his bar exam., but was denied admission to the bar due to his
political activities. In July 1909, benchers at Gray’s Inn College
postponed the admission of Savarkar to the bar, considering his active
participation in seditious activities, back in India.
It is claimed by Savarkar supporters that British
authorities denied Savarkar the barrister degree and law practice, because
Savarkar refused to take the oath of allegiance/loyalty to the British Empire.
As per Historical documents this claim was found to be incorrect. The fact is that Savarkar was denied admission to the bar at Gray’s Inn because of his involvement in political activities.
In London, Savarkar got involved with organizations such as
India House and the Free India Society.
India House, London
India House was a large Victorian mansion at 65, Cromwell Avenue in Highgate, North London, used as student residence from 1905 to 1910. The hostel had a lecture hall, library and reading room. With the patronage of lawyer Shyamji Krishna Varma, it was opened to promote nationalist views among Indian students in Britain. The building rapidly became a hub for political activism.
In 1904, Krishna Varma founded The
Indian Sociologist (TIS), a penny monthly. TIS advocated - Indian
self-rule, - the Raj was colonial exploitation, - the Indians had a
right to oppose it (by violence if necessary as a last resort). It advocated
confrontation and demands rather than petition and accommodation.
The views expressed in TIS drew criticisms from The Times. Fearing crackdown on his work and arrest, Krishna Varma moved to Paris in 1907 to continue his work. Later, he moved to Geneva where he passed away on 30 March 1930.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shyamji_Krishna_Varma )
Savarkar in India House
After Krishna Varma's departure, the organization found a
new leader in Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. Over time, Savarkar became a central
figure in the organisation. He devoted his efforts to writing nationalist
material, organising public meetings and demonstrations. He was an admirer of
the Italian nationalist philosopher Giuseppe Mazzini and was impressed
and influenced by the Italian wars of Independence.
Giuseppe Mazzini (22 June 1805 – 10 March 1872) was an Italian politician, journalist, and activist for the unification of Italy and spearhead of the Italian revolutionary movement. His efforts helped bring about the independent and unified Italy in place of the several separate states, many dominated by foreign powers, that existed until the 19th century. An Italian nationalist in the historical radical tradition and a proponent of a republicanism of socio-democratic inspiration, Mazzini helped define the modern European movement for popular democracy in a republican state.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giuseppe_Mazzini )
Savarkar translated Giuseppe Mazzini's autobiography into Marathi and extolled the virtues of secret societies. He believed in an armed revolution in India and was prepared to seek assistance from Germany toward this end. He also published books advocating complete Indian independence by revolutionary means. One of the books he published called The Indian War of Independence about the Indian Rebellion of 1857 was banned by the British colonial authorities.
In December 1906 Savarkar established a
branch of Abhinav Bharat Society in the country. Abhinav
Bharat Society had two goals:
- to create through propaganda in Europe and North America
an Indian public opinion in favour of nationalist revolution, and
- to raise funds, knowledge and supplies to carry out such a
revolution. It emphasized actions of self-sacrifice by its members for
the Indian cause.
Under Savarkar's influence, the
organization rapidly developed into a radical meeting ground. It
recruited young Indian activists i.e. young Indian men and women who arrived in
London for higher studies. These members regularly attended the Sunday evening
gatherings at India House where Savarkar delivered lectures on subjects like
the revolution’s guiding philosophy and assassination tactics.
Several Indian leaders had visited the hostel when they
visited London during that time. MK Gandhi also stayed at the India House
during his London visit in 1906, where he met Savarkar for the first time.
During the stay, Savarkar had offered him prawns he had cooked, and staunch
vegetarian Gandhi was horrified by it. To it, Savarkar had responded, “If you
cannot eat with us, how on earth are you going to work with us? Moreover, this
is just boiled fish, whereas we want people who are ready to eat the British
alive!”
During his stay, Gandhi debated Savarkar
and other nationalists in London on the futility of fighting the colonial state
through acts of terrorism and guerilla warfare.
Savarkar believed in an armed revolution
against the British and had started working towards the same from India House.
Apart from revolutionary meetings, explosive workshops were also held in the
hostel. India House was soon transformed into the headquarters of the Indian
revolutionary movement in Britain.
The outbuilding of India House was
converted to a "war workshop" where chemistry students attempted to
produce explosives and manufacture bombs, while the printing press turned out
"seditious" literature, including bomb-making manuals and pamphlets
promoting violence towards Europeans in India.
In the house was an arsenal of small arms that were
intermittently dispatched to India through different avenues. Savarkar was at
the heart of these, spending a great deal of time in the explosives workshop
and emerging on some evenings, according to a fellow revolutionary, "with
telltale yellow stains of picric acid on his hands".
The residents of India House and members of Abhinav Bharat practiced shooting at a range in Tottenham Court Road in central London, and rehearsed assassinations they planned to carry out.
[Popplewell, Richard J (1995), Intelligence and Imperial
Defence: British Intelligence and the Defence of the Indian Empire 1904–1924,
London: Frank Cass, ISBN 0-714-4580-X.]
[Hopkirk, Peter (2001) , On Secret Services East of Constantinople, Oxford: Oxford Paperbacks, ISBN 0-19-280230-5 ]
The activities of India House came to the
notice of British authorities and by 1909, India House was under surveillance
from Scotland Yard and Indian intelligence. Vinayak Savarkar's speeches called
for revolution, widespread violence, and murder of all Englishmen in
India.
In India, the surveillance on
Ganesh Savarkar, the elder brother of Vinayak Savarkar increased and he
was constantly being watched. He learned bomb-making, distributed
manuals and continued his revolutionary movement all the while giving a slip to
the secret police.
In June 1909, Ganesh Savarkar was arrested. He was tried and and exiled to the penal colony in the Andamans (sentenced to transportation for life under section 121 and two years rigorous imprisonment under section 124A of the IPC) for publication of seditionist literature.
(https://www.opindia.com/2023/06/ganesh-babarao-savarkar-great-freedom-fighter-anniversary/
)
[Yadav, B.D (1992), M.P.T. Acharya, Reminiscences of an Indian Revolutionary, New Delhi: Anmol Publications Pvt ltd, ISBN 81-7041-470-9. ]
Assassination of Sir William H. Curzon Wyllie
The culmination of these events was the assassination of Sir
William H. Curzon Wyllie, the political aide-de-camp to the Secretary of State
for India, by Madanlal Dhingra on the evening of 1 July 1909, at a
meeting of Indian students in the Imperial Institute in London. Dhingra was
arrested on the spot by the police.
Madanlal Dhingra had come to Britain
in 1906 to study mechanical engineering. In London he came under the
influence of Savarkar in India House. It was alleged that Savarkar inspired
Dhingra in revolution through violence and the cult of assassination.
He joined and had a membership in, a secretive society, the Abhinav Bharat Mandal founded by Savarkar and his brother, Ganesh. Dhingra was also known to frequent a shooting range on Tottenham Court Road. Dhingra was tried on 23 July 1909 and was sentenced to death He was hanged on 17 August 1909. Mahatma Gandhi commented on Dhingra's actions:
The murder was committed in a state of intoxication. It is not merely wine or bhang that makes one drunk; a mad idea also can do so. That was the case with Mr. Dhingra. In my view, It is those who incited him to this that deserve to be punished.
[The Indian Opinion Archived 1 January 2007 at the Wayback Machine, 14 August 1909]
The investigations by Scotland Yard and
the Indian Political Intelligence Office that followed the assassination were
expanded to look for broader conspiracies originating from India House. A
crackdown on India House activities by the Metropolitan Police prompted a
number of its members to leave Britain for France, Germany and the United
States.
A number of sources suggested the assassination was in fact Savarkar's idea, and that he planned further action in Britain as well as India. It is also alleged Savarkar had supplied the gun to Dhingra. However, Metropolitan police were unable to bring a prosecution against Savarkar for lack of proof. Savarkar had also moved to Paris in 1909 following the crackdown on India House. But he returned to London in 1910, ignoring the advice of his friends asking him not to do so.
[“ Madan Lal Dhingra”. The Open University. Retrieved 19
March 2016.]
[Vinayak Chaturvedi (2022). Hindutva and Violence: V. D.
Savarkar and Politics of History. SUNY Press. pp. 80–81. ISBN 9781438488776. ]
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curzon_Wyllie
)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madan_Lal_Dhingra
)
Assassination of A. M. T. Jackson
Arthur Mason Tippetts Jackson (1866 – 21 December 1909) was
a British officer in Indian Civil Services. He was the Magistrate of Nashik
when he was murdered by Anant Kanhare.
The reason for the killing was thought to be that Jackson was aware of activities carried by Abhinav Bharat Society which were seditious (as defined by the British Indian government). He was instrumental in the arrest and prosecution of Ganesh Savarkar. The trial in the case led to the arrest and deportation of Vinayak Savarkar.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._M._T._Jackson )
From Kanhere’s accomplices, whom the police arrested, were discovered Savarkar’s letters. The Browning pistol used in the assassination was linked to Savarkar, who was accused of sending 20 such weapons to India from England.
The British government had evidence
that Savarkar had smuggled 20 Browning handguns into India. During
the trial of Nashik Conspiracy case 1910, the government's advocate
alleged that Savarkar was a moving part and inspiration behind assassination of
Jackson.
On 13 March 1910, Savarkar was arrested
upon his return to London from Paris and charged with multiple offences,
including procurement and distribution of arms, waging war against the state,
and delivering seditious speeches, At the time of his arrest, he was carrying
several revolutionary texts, including copies of his own banned book. He was
extradited to India.
While he was held at Brixton Prison during the deportation hearing, an attempt was made in May 1910 by the remnant of India House to storm his prison van and free him. This plot was coordinated with help from Irish republicans led by Maud Gonne. However, the plan failed when the ambush stormed an empty decoy van while Savarkar was transported along a different route.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_House
)
Transportation to India
Although his alleged crimes were committed both in
Britain, as well as India, the British authorities decided to try him in India.
He was accordingly put on the commercial ship Morea with a police escort
for his transport to India.
When the ship docked in the French
Mediterranean port of Marseille, Savarkar escaped by jumping from the ship's
window, swam to the French shore, and asked for political asylum. The request
for asylum was denied by French authorities.
Trial and sentence
Arriving in Bombay, Savarkar was taken to the Yervada Central Jail in Pune. The trial before the special tribunal was started on 10 September 1910. One of the charges on Savarkar was the abetment to murder of Nashik Collector A. M. T. Jackson. The second was waging a conspiracy under Indian penal code 121-A against the King Emperor.
Following the two trials, Vinayak
Savarkar, then aged 28, was convicted and sentenced to 50-years imprisonment.
In addition, his property was forfeited. Savarkar applied to the Bombay
Government for certain concessions in connection with his sentences. However,
by Government letter No. 2022, dated 4 April 1911, his application was rejected
and he was informed that the question of remitting the second sentence of
transportation for life would be considered in due course on the expiry of the
first sentence of transportation for life.
He was transported on 4 July 1911 to the
infamous Cellular in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Savarkar as a Prisoner in Andaman
Cellular Jail
The construction of the prison started in 1896 and was
completed in 1906. The building had seven wings, at the center of which a tower
served as the intersection and was used by guards to keep watch on the inmates;
this format was based on Jeremy Bentham's idea of the Panopticon. The wings
radiated from the tower in straight lines, much like the spokes of a bicycle
wheel.
The name, "cellular jail", was
derived from the solitary cells which prevented any prisoner from communicating
with any other. Also, the spokes were so designed such that the face of a cell
in a spoke saw the back of cells in another spoke. This way, communication
between prisoners was impossible. They were all in solitary confinement.
Solitary confinement was implemented as
the British government of India wanted to ensure that political prisoners and
revolutionaries be isolated from one another. Conditions faced by prisoners in
the Cellular Jail were frequently abysmal. Most prisoners of the Cellular Jail
were independence activists. Some inmates were, Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi, Yogendra
Shukla, Batukeshwar Dutt, Vinayak Savarkar, Ganesh Savarkar, Sachindra Nath
Sanyal, Hare Krishna Konar, Bhai Parmanand, Sohan Singh, Subodh Roy and Trailokyanath
Chakravarty. Many moplahs arrested in the 1921 Malabar rebellion were
also lodged in Cellular Jail.
Moplahs are Malabar Muslims or Muslim Mappilas.
They are members of the Muslim community found predominantly in
Kerala and the Lakshadweep islands in Southern India.
After finishing the breakfast, every
prisoner had to commence the work allotted to him which kept him engaged
practically the whole of the day with a short break at midday for lunch.
The principal work allotted to prisoners were
- To
pound the coir and extract fibers out of it, to prepare ropes out of those
fibers.
- To
grind dry coconut and also mustard in the machine and bring out oil.
- To
make bulbs for hooks from the shells.
Coir-pounding and oil-grinding were the
most difficult jobs. For coir pounding, each prisoner was given the dry husk of
twenty coconuts and was expected to prepare daily a roll of fibers
weighing one ser (Ser was unit of weight before KG was introduced. 1 Ser is
appx 0.933 KG). Prisoners who were allotted oil grinding work were yoked like
animals to the handle that turned the wheel of the oil mill.
In response to poor conditions in the
Cellular Jail, including the quality of prison food, numerous prisoners went on
hunger strikes. Those who did were often force-fed by the prison authorities. A
number of prisoners died due to force feeding. Among them were Mahavir Singh
(an associate of Bhagat Singh), Mohan Kishore Namadas and Mohit Moitra.
Savarkar, however, didn’t take part in
any hunger strike. Some of the notable prisoners and their fate were:
- Prisoner
31552, Ullaskar Dutt was tortured, declared insane due to malarial
infection, transferred to the island's lunatic ward at Haddo, and held
there for 14 years.
- Prisoner
31555, Indu Bhushan Roy (hanged himself with a strand of torn kurta,
"exhausted by the unrelenting oil mill")
- Prisoner
38511, Baba Bhan Singh was beaten to death.
- Prisoner
41054, Ram Raksha starved himself in protest.
- Prisoner
Naringun Singh hanged himself in his cell due to torture by the prison
authorities.
- Prisoner
12819, Mehtab, Prisoner 10817, Choitun, and Prisoner 61 Narain tried to
escape and almost succeeded but were caught. Narain was executed.
- Prisoner
147 Dhirendra Chowdhury was one of the few survivors of Kalapani.
As a result of campaign by Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore, Cellular Jail was shut down and political prisoners were repatriated to mainland from 1937 to 1938.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellular_Jail)
("Survivors of our hell". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 February 2019) (https://db.and.nic.in/cellularjail/Stories/index9.htm )
Photo – Cellular Jail, Andaman and Nicobar
Savarkar’s Apologies
The condition in the Cellular Jail in Andaman Islands was
undoubtedly horrific. For instance, Savarkar was yoked to the oil mill. His
revolutionary fervour soon fizzled out. It must, however, be pointed out that
he wasn’t the only person singled out for barbaric punishment.
1911- First Clemency Petition:
A month after arriving in the Cellular Jail, Savarkar submitted his first clemency petition on 30 August 1911. This petition was rejected on 3 September 1911.
[Palande, M.R., ed. (1958), Source Material for a History of the Freedom Movement of India (PDF), vol. 2, Page – 478, Maharashtra: Government of Maharashtra, archived (PDF) from the original on 14 October 2021, retrieved 25 January 2016], [Noorani, A.G. (8 April 2005), "Savarkar's Mercy Petition", Frontline]
1913- Second Clemency Petition:
Savarkar submitted his next clemency petition on 14 November
1913 and presented it personally to the Home Member of the Governor General's
council, Sir Reginald Craddock. He wrote-
“The Mighty alone can afford to be merciful and therefore
where else can the prodigal son return but to the parental doors of the
Government?”
Thus, he described himself as a "prodigal
son" longing to return to the "parental doors of the
government". He further wrote that his release from the jail will
recast the faith of many Indians in British rule. Also, he said -
"Moreover, my conversion to the constitutional
line would bring back all those misled young men in India and abroad who were
once looking up to me as their guide. I am ready to serve the government in any
capacity they like, for as my conversion is conscientious so I hope my future
conduct would be. By keeping me in jail, nothing can be got in comparison to
what would be otherwise."
Thus in one stroke, the Indian revolutionary movement was
disowned.
[Palande, M.R., ed. (1958), Source Material for a History of the Freedom Movement of India (PDF), vol. 2, Page – 480, Maharashtra: Government of Maharashtra, archived (PDF) from the original on 14 October 2021, retrieved 25 January 2016 ]
1917- Third Clemency Petition:
In 1917, Savarkar submitted another clemency petition, this
time for a general amnesty of all political prisoners. Savarkar was informed on
1 February 1918 that the clemency petition was placed before the British
colonial government.
1920- Fourth Clemency Petition:
In December 1919, there was a Royal proclamation by King
George V. Paragraph 6 of this proclamation included a declaration of Royal
clemency to political offenders. In view of Royal proclamation, Savarkar
submitted his fourth clemency petition to the British colonial government on 30
March 1920, in which he stated that-
“ ----- As to my revolutionary tendencies in the past- it
is not only now for the object of sharing the clemency but years before this, I
have informed and written to the Government in my petitions (1918, 1914) about
my firm intention to abide by the constitution and stand by it. ------ Recently
I have publicly avowed my faith in and readiness to stand by the side of
orderly and constitutional development."
This petition was rejected on 12 July 1920 by the British colonial government. After considering the petition, the British colonial government contemplated releasing Ganesh Savarkar but not Vinayak Savarkar. The rationale for doing so was stated as follows -
It may be observed that if Ganesh is released and Vinayak is retained in custody, the latter will become in some measure a hostage for the former, who will see that his own misconduct does not jeopardize his brother's chances of release at some future date.
[McKean, Lise (1996), Divine Enterprise: Gurus and the Hindu Nationalist Movement, University of Chicago Press, ISBN 978-0-226-56009-0, archived from the original on 15 February 2017, retrieved 13 February 2016]
Savarkar signed a statement endorsing his
trial, verdict, and British law, and renouncing violence, a bargain for
freedom.
Return to the Mainland
On 2 May 1921, the Savarkar brothers were transferred from Andaman to mainland India. Vinayak was sent to a jail in Ratnagiri. Ganesh was imprisoned in Sabarmati Jail for a year. After this, the British released him. Three years later, the government released Vinayak Savarkar on the following conditions:
- Savarkar
was to reside in Ratnagiri district and could not go beyond the district’s
limits without the government’s approval.
- He
was not to engage in political activities publicly or privately.
- These
restrictions were for five years, subject to renewal at the expiry of this
period.
Savarkar accepted these terms, shattering
the myth spun around his much-serenaded bravery. But there was also a
humiliating coda to these conditions, not known until Frontline magazine
published, in 1995, an additional undertaking Savarkar agreed to give the
government.
Savarkar declared he had a fair trial
and just punishment. He also wrote: “I heartily abhor methods of violence
resorted to in days gone by, and I feel myself duty bound to uphold Law and the
constitution…”
Differing Views on Clemency Petitions of Vinayak Savarkar
Like everything in his life, there are different views on his clemency petition. Those who strongly support his ideology that “Hindustan is for Hindus only” claim that –
- He was not the only one who submitted the application for clemency. There were scores of prisoners who submitted requests for mercy and some of them were successful too.
- The
mercy petitions were a strategic decision by Vinayak Savarkar so that he
can serve the people of India.
- Mercy petitions were submitted on the advice of Mahatma Gandhi.
On the other hand, those who support Secularism i.e. philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi say that –
- While
it is a fact that many prisoners of Cellular Jail submitted mercy
petitions, there were many who didn’t bow down to the British colonial
government and preferred to die. Examples of Chandrashekhar Azad, Ram
Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and
Shivaram Rajguru and even Mahatma Gandhi who didn’t ask for mercy are put
forward.
- It is claimed that Savarkar wrote his first petition, pledging loyalty to the British, less than two months after his transportation to the Andamans in August 1911. One must compare this to the sixty three-day hunger strike by the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) demanding better treatment for prisoners. Jatin Das gave up his life while on strike.
- They further claim that clemency petitions were acts of cowardice since he promised to serve the British empire in any capacity they like (in 1913 clemency petition). He further promised to dissociate from the freedom movement and abide by the constitution of the British Government.
- Savarkar critics question "whether the glorious epithet, ‘Veer (Brave)’, is suited to Savarkar?
- There
is no strategic value to these clemency applications as Savarkar’s later
conduct demonstrated that he opposed the freedom movement in all forms.
- The
claim that Mahatma Gandhi advised him to apply for clemency is false
propaganda. There is no documentary proof of that. Mahatma Gandhi arrived
in India from South Africa in early 1915. Savarkar began appealing for
pardon from 1911 when Gandhi was in South Africa, busy leading the
Satyagraha there. He had no time for the happenings in India nor did he
have the ability to communicate with Savarkar, who was in Cellular
jail.
Tushar Gandhi, great-grandson of the Mahatma, an activist, author and president of the Mahatma Gandhi Foundation has mentioned these views in an article - “Gandhi never asked Savarkar to pen mercy pleas; the Sangh is trying to falsify history” dated 18 October 2021.
(https://theleaflet.in/author/tushar-gandhi
)
Ratnagiri Years under Restricted Freedom
During his incarceration in Ratnagiri jail in 1922, Vinayak
wrote his "Essentials of Hindutva" that formulated his theory of
Hindutva. Ganesh Savarkar was unconditionally released from jail in 1922. On 6
January 1924, Vinayak was released but was restricted to Ratnagiri District.
Soon after his release, he started working on the consolidation of Hindu
society or Hindu Sangathan. The colonial authorities provided a bungalow for
him, and he was allowed visitors.
In 1925, there was a Hindu-Muslim riot
over Rangeela Rasool, a scurrilous booklet on Prophet Mohammad. The
communal conflagration soon spread to parts of Punjab. Savarkar wrote an
inflammatory article in the English newspaper, Mahratta, in March 1925.
The government communicated to Savarkar
that any such writing in the future could lead to a reconsideration of his
release. The warning made Savarkar swear that he would have no truck with the
idea of Swaraj.
During his internment, he met many
influential people. He later assassinated Gandhi. Savarkar became a
prolific writer during his years of restricted freedom in Ratnagiri. Savarkar
remained restricted to Ratnagiri district until 1937. At that time, he was
unconditionally released by the newly elected government of Bombay presidency.
After being released from his restriction
to Ratnagiri district in 1937, Savarkar started travelling widely, becoming a
forceful orator and writer, advocating Hindu political and social unity. In
1937 during the 19th session of the Hindu Mahasabha in Ahmedabad, he supported
two-nation theory by stating :-
“There are two antagonistic nations living side by side in India. India cannot be assumed today to be a unitarian and homogenous nation. On the contrary, there are two nations in the main: the Hindus and the Muslims, in India.”
Bombwall, K.R. (1967). The Foundations of Indian Federalism. Asia Publishing House. p. 228. (https://scroll.in/article/808709/the-hollow-myth-of-veer-savarkar )
Activities after Release
Leader of the Hindu Mahasabha
Savarkar became president of the Hindu Mahasabha, during the
Second World War and advanced the slogan "Hinduize all Politics and
Militarize Hindudom" and decided to support the British war effort in
India seeking military training for the Hindus. The Hindu Mahasabha under
Savarkar's leadership endorsed the idea of India as a Hindu Rashtra (Hindu
Nation).
- When
the Congress launched the Quit India movement in 1942, under
Savarkar, the Hindu Mahasabha criticized it and boycotted it officially.
It asked Hindus to stay active in the war effort and not disobey the
government.
Savarkar even went to the extent of writing a letter titled "Stick to your Posts", in which he instructed Hindu Sabhaites who happened to be "members of municipalities, local bodies, legislatures or those serving in the army ... to stick to their posts" across the country, and not to join the Quit India Movement at any cost.
(McKean, Lise (1996), Divine Enterprise: Gurus and the Hindu Nationalist Movement, University of Chicago Press, ISBN 978-0-226-56009-0,- Page 72. Archived from the original on 15 February 2017, retrieved 13 February 2016)
- He
urged the Hindus to enlist in the armed forces to learn the "arts of
war".
- Hindu
Mahasabha under Savarkar's leadership organized Hindu Militarization
Boards which recruited armed forces for helping the British in World
War 2.
- He
assailed the British proposals for transfer of power, attacking both the
Congress and the British for making concessions to Muslim
separatists.
Alliance with Muslim League and others
The Indian National Congress won a massive victory in the 1937 Indian Provincial Elections, decimating the Muslim League and the Hindu Mahasabha.
However, in 1939, the Congress ministries resigned in protest against Viceroy Lord Linlithgow's action of declaring India to be a belligerent in the Second World War without consulting the Indian people.
This led to the Hindu Mahasabha, under Savarkar's presidency, joining hands with the Muslim League and other parties to form governments in certain provinces. Such coalition governments were formed in Sindh, NWFP, and Bengal.
Ultimately India attained freedom on 15 August 1947. Post
independence, Savarkar worked for strengthening of Hindu Mahasabha and
continued to address the social and cultural aspects of Hindutva.
Arrest and Acquittal in Gandhi's Assassination
_______________________________________________________
Freedom at Midnight by Larry Collins and Dominique
Lapierre, 1976 Vikas Publishing House Pvt. Ltd.
(Pages 361 to 463) describe the events leading to the
assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, Main actors and conspiracy as well as role of
Savarkar.
______________________________________________________
Note from Author - I have taken liberty of covering
the events leading to assassination of Gandhi, actual assassination and
Savarkar’s role in detail as this event shook the nation completely. Readers
may find some parts as a bit of digression from the main topic.
Main Actors involved in Assassination
Nathuram Godse
Nathuram Vinayak Godse was born on 19 May 1910 as a son of a
Chitpawan brahmin postman (Vinayak Vamanrao Godse). Nathuram Godse had a humble
beginning. He was brought up in the strictest Hindu orthodox tradition.
Nathuram was, however, a failure in education. He failed in English in the
matriculation exam and didn’t get into university.
He tried many trades to earn a living but
could get some proficiency as a tailor. Passionate about politics, he first
followed Mahatma Gandhi but in 1937 he changed and became an earnest disciple
of Vinayak Savarkar who was a Chitpawan brahmin like him. He read and studied
constantly and became a total follower of Savarkar’s doctrine of Hindutva.
Godse was also a member of the political
party, the Hindu Mahasabha; and a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
(RSS), a right-wing Hindu paramilitary volunteer organization. Godse made two
unsuccessful attempts to assassinate Mahatma Gandhi in 1944 before he succeeded
the third time on 30 January 1948.
In May 1944, Godse attempted to assassinate Gandhi with a knife. He led a group of 15 to 20 young men who rushed at Gandhi during a prayer meeting at Panchgani. Godse and his group were prevented by the crowds from reaching Gandhi. He was released due to Gandhi's own policy of declining to press criminal charges.
In September 1944, Godse again led another group to block Gandhi's passage from Sevagram to Bombay. This time Godse was arrested with a dagger and he uttered threats to kill Gandhi. He was released again owing to Gandhi's policy of not pressing criminal charges.
After the assassination of Gandhi on 30
January 1948, Godse and 8 others were put on trial that lasted over a
year, Godse was sentenced to death on 8 November 1949. Nathuram Godse and
Narayan Apte were executed at the Ambala Central Jail on 15 November 1949.
RSS Connection Controversy
It was claimed that in 1946, Godse had left the RSS
and moved to the Hindu Mahasabha over the issue of the partition of India.
However, historical sources do not corroborate this claim. An investigation
published by The Caravan in January 2020 revealed that up until his final days,
Godse was listed as a member in records kept by the RSS of meetings that took
place long after he was supposed to have left the organisation.
His family has also said that he had
never left the RSS, highlighting that he held membership at the RSS as well as
the Hindu Mahasabha. Godse in his first deposition in Marathi after
assassination said that while he did join the Hindu Mahasabha, "I remained
active in Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh."
The RSS has consistently denied any
connection with Godse. It has maintained that Godse "left RSS in the
mid-1930s". However, Nathuram Godse's brother Gopal Godse stated that all
the Godse brothers were members of the RSS at the time of the assassination and
blamed the RSS for disowning them. The other members of the Godse family too
have denied that he ever left the RSS.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathuram_Godse )
Narayan Apte
Narayan Dattatraya Apte was born in 1913 in a Chitpawan
Brahmin educated middle class family. His father Dattatreya Apte was a Sanskrit
scholar and a historian. After graduating (B.Sc. degree) from Pune’s
prestigious Fergusson College in 1932, he was recruited by American Mission
High School, in Ahmednagar, to teach mathematics. Apte was married and had a
son.
Apte took to liking Savarkar and was in
close contact with him. With Savarkar’s blessings, in 1938, he established his
first rifle club in Ahmednagar; three other branches were opened in Pune,
Satara and Solapur. In 1939, he joined the Hindu Mahasabha.
In 1941, his school sent him to Pune for
an advanced teacher training programme. It was here he met Godse, their
friendship a consequence of the ideology they shared, blossomed. At this
juncture, Savarkar launched the Hindu Rashtra Dal which was intended to be a
radical wing of the Mahasabha.
Both Apte and Godse together took to
establishing the Hindu Rashtra Dal, a militant group teaching young men to
handle guns. Soon, though, Apte joined the Royal Air Force, but he resigned in
4 months, ostensibly because of the death of his elder brother who headed the
family.
In 1944, Godse and Apte started a
newspaper called "Agranee" encompassing the ideals of the Dal and the
Mahasabha. The newspaper seemed to be failing miserably, however, Savarkar
managed to keep it alive by constantly sending generous donations. The content
was highly rabid and infringed the Bombay Press Act. Just before the government
issued orders to close it down, they renamed the paper to the "Hindu
Rashtra".
Apte and Godse were completely opposite to each other, even
though both were votaries of Hindtuva and conspired to kill Gandhi.
Apte preferred trousers and sports shirts—and wore tweed
jackets in winter. He smoked, loved his whiskey and was known to be a
womaniser.
Godse’s everyday dress, by contrast, was the RSS uniform or
dhoti. He shunned the company of women.
Apte took an active part in planning and actual assassination of Gandhi, even though it was Godse who had fired the pistol. On 30 January, Apte stood at Godse's side until shots were fired at Gandhi by Godse. Apte eluded arrest for two weeks before he was arrested in Mumbai. Apte was tried and found guilty of Gandhi's murder in 1949. Apte along with Godse was hanged on 15 November 1949.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narayan_Apte )
Vishnu Karkare
Vishnu Ramkrishnan Karkare had a chequered childhood and
adolescence. His parents, unable to support him and bring him up, took him to
an orphanage and, leaving him there, abandoned him. He ran away and earned his
livelihood by taking up odd jobs in hotels and restaurants. He joined a troupe
of travelling actors and finally started a restaurant of his own in
Ahmednagar.
He became an active member of the Hindu
Mahasabha and was elected secretary of the district branch. It was here that he
came to know Apte, and the two became close associates. With Apte's help,
Karkare successfully contested the election to the Ahmednagar Municipal
Committee.
In 1946 he went to Noakhali with a relief party to render assistance to the victims of Muslim mob violence. He stayed there for three months and witnessed the kidnapping and raping of Hindu women. He came back greatly embittered. At the time of assassination, Vishnu Karkare was owner of Deccan Guest House in Pune.
Gopal Godse
Younger brother of Nathuram, Gopal, was not quite so
passionate in his espousal of the Hindu cause in the beginning. After passing
his matriculation examination he, too, joined the tailoring concern in which
Nathuram worked.
He married and had two daughters. After
working for some time for the Hindu Mahasabha, he joined the Army as a member
of the civilian personnel and was appointed a storekeeper of the Motor
Transport Spares Sub-Depot at Kirkee, a military station near Poona.
He was greatly influenced by Savarkar's speeches
against the proposal to divide India and became converted to the creed of
violence. His brother, Nathuram, counselled discretion and said to him: 'You
are a married man with responsibilities and commitments. Think twice before
embarking on this dangerous course.' Gopal hesitated, thought over the matter,
but in the end decided to throw in his lot with Nathuram.
Shankar Kistayya
Shankar Kistayya was the son of a village carpenter. He had
no schooling of any kind and remained illiterate. After an unsteady period of
temporary jobs, he went to Pune.There he met
Badge, who dealt in daggers, knives and (surreptitiously) in firearms and
ammunition. Badge offered to take him as his domestic servant, and Kistayya
agreed to serve him at a salary of Rs. 30/- per month.
Kistayya proved a willing and energetic
worker and became Badge's trusted agent for carrying contraband arms and
weapons to his customers.
Dattatraya Parchure
Dr. Dattatraya Parchure was a Brahmin from Gwalior.
His father held a high post in the Education Department of the State and was a
greatly respected individual. Parchure qualified as a Bachelor of Medicine and
Surgery and joined the State Medical Service. He was dismissed in 1934 and
began practising privately. He took an active part in the activities of the
Hindu Mahasabha and was elected the Dictator of the local Hindu Rashtrya Sena.
In this capacity he became acquainted with Godse and Apte.
Digambar Badge
Digambar Ramchandra Badge, the approver in this case was
born as a Maratha from Challisgaon in East Khandesh. He had a brief
period of schooling, and long before the stage of matriculation could be
reached, he abandoned studies and went to Pune to earn his livelihood. He
experienced considerable difficulty in obtaining permanent employment and had
to be content with temporary jobs of various kinds.
He started doing the business of knives,
daggers and knuckle-dusters which flourished over time as these items were in
great demand by political agitators and members of anti-Muslim associations.
However, this was behind the façade of a bookstore.
Badge met members of the Hindu Mahasabha and began attending the annual sessions of this body wherever they were held. He met Nathuram Godse and Apte at the residence of Vinayak Savarkar, president of the Hindu Mahasabha. In 1947 he enlarged his business, adding contraband firearms and ammunition to his stock-in-trade.
Madan lal Pahwa
Madanlal Pahwa was a young, 20-year-old refugee from
Pakpattan (now in Pakistan). When large-scale rioting started in 1947, he was
evacuated to Ferozepur. He saw his father and aunt being massacred by a muslim
mob before he left Pakistan. He was already angry with muslim community at
large as many refugees were at that time.
By October 1947, Pahwa had found his way
to Mumbai. There, he began hawking books door-to-door. Dissatisfied, he thought
of setting up a fruit-stall. For tapping a source of supply, Pahwa journeyed to
Ahmednagar, where he met Vishnu Karkare, who was already a member of the squad
that was to eventually assassinate Gandhi.
Karkare promised to set up a coconut shop for Pahwa in Ahmednagar. The refugee’s anger was tapped to organise for terrorising muslims in the fruit trade and snatching away their business. On 5 January 1948, Pahwa disrupted a political meeting, prompting the police to ask Karkare and Pahwa to leave Ahmednagar within 24 hours.
The duo began making preparations to leave
for Pune. It was then that Karkare told Pahwa about a secret plan to kill the
Mahatma. The assassination squad, by then, was busy collecting weapons. Bid on
Gandhi’s life was planned for 20 January 1948.
From Pune, Pahwa went to Mumbai, where,
on 14 January, before they were to take a night train to Delhi, Pahwa saw
Karkare pack explosives in his holdall. Karkare fobbed off Pahwa’s questions
with vague replies.
Brief Account of Events Leading to the Assassination
At Independence, India’s cash reserves had totalled Rs. 400 crores. As per agreement, Pakistan was to receive Rs. 75 crores as its share. Where Rs. 20 crores advance was given immediately, the remaining amount of Rs. 55 crores were stopped by India on the pretext that the amount will be used to purchase weapons that will be used against India. This was a violation of international agreement. Both Patel and Nehru were united on this. Gandhi was worried about repercussions of this.
- In 1947 post-independence, India was sitting on the tip of a volcano which was ready to erupt any moment. Even though there was no major violent incidence, the hatred between Muslims and Hindus (especially refugees from Pakistan) was widespread. Hindus considered Muslims as Pakistanis and wanted to drive them out to Pakistan. Gandhi had sensed it and knew that external force was necessary to bring harmony amongst different communities.
- On
13 January 1948, Gandhi decided to undertake fast unto death until there
was a reunion of hearts of all the communities. He viewed India’s refusal
to pay Pakistan share as a dishonourable act and wanted India to abide by
the International Agreement by paying to Pakistan their share.
- On
the same day in Pune, Nathuram Godse and Narayan Apte learnt about
Gandhi's action in the office of Hindu Rashtra Newspaper. They considered
Gandhi as an impediment to the quest of Hindu Rashtra and Hindu unity and
decided to kill him.
- They were joined by Madanlal Pahwa, Punjabi refugee and Vishnu Karkare, the owner of Deccan Guest House and the decision was ratified by all. The four went to the home of Digambar Badge, the arms peddler and selected different weapons like hand grenades, detonators and explosives.
- However, the most sought after weapon Automatic Pistol was not there. They decided to meet in Hindu Mahasabha office in Dadar on the next day i.e. 14 Jan. 1948.
- On 14 January 1948, Gandhi has lost 1 Kg weight.
- Just before mid-day,
members of Nehru’s cabinet held their meeting around charpoi of Gandhi.
Nehru and Patel tried to justify the withholding of transfer of amount to
Pakistan. Gandhi didn’t budge. According to him, India must abide by the
International Agreement. When Patel pressed on, Gandhi with tearful eyes
commented –‘You is not the sardar I once knew.’
In the streets of Delhi, there was
resentment to Gandhi’s action, and he was seen as favouring Pakistan. In fact,
both Ethnic Hindus and Ethnic Muslims had started to view Gandhi’s actions as
against their community.
For the ethnic Muslims, Gandhiji was a Hindu leader who
opposed the creation of Pakistan on sectarian grounds. Ethnic Hindus looked
upon him as an impediment to their plan to avenge the atrocities on
Hindus.
- On 14 January 1948, in Bombay the 3 men Apte, Nathuram and Badge visited Savarkar Sadan with a bag containing arma to be used for assassination. Leaving Badge at reception, Apte and Nathuram went upstairs with the bag. Later Apte told Badge that Savarkar had decided that Gandhi was to be assassinated and the task had been entrusted to them. Then, they split up for the night.
Photo - Savarkar Sadan , Mumbai
The Indian Government ordered immediate payment of Rs. 55
Crores to Pakistan as their remaining share.
- Thursday, 15 January 1948- Gandhi’s condition further deteriorated. In Bombay, Apte, considering that Badge’s expertise with arms will be indispensable to achieve the task, convinced him to join the team of conspirators. They decide to travel in 3 groups (Karkare and Madanlal by Frontier Mail, Badge and Gopal Godse by another train and Apte and Nathuram by flight) and meet in Hindu Mahasabha lodge.
- The mood of the nation changed drastically. Instead of resentment, everybody was talking about the great purpose for which Gandhi was fasting
- In all
towns across the country ‘Brotherhood’ , ‘Hindu Muslim unity’ and ‘Save
Gandhi’ committees were formed. In the capital, Hindus Muslims and
Sikhs formed the peace brigade and marched through the city with linked
arms clapping and chanting – ‘Gandhi’s life is more precious than ours’.
Nehru brought a delegation of leaders to his bedside. Gandhi
responded- ‘I am in no hurry’.
- 17 January 1948 – Gandhi dictated a 7 point charter of conditions for Hindu Muslim unity to end his fast. His health further deteriorated. His most devoted disciple, Jawaharlal Nehru sat by his pallet. Unable to bear the sight, he turned his face to the corner and wept. Mountbatten and his wife Edwina also visited him. Edwina was profoundly moved and was in tears.
On the way back Apte told Badge that
Savarkar blessed them "Yashasvi houn ya" ("यशस्वी होऊन या", be successful and return). Apte also
said that Savarkar predicted that Gandhi's 100 years were over and there was no
doubt that the task would be successfully finished.
- 18
January 1948 – Dr. Rajendra Prasad the president of the Congress Party (He
later became first president of India) visited Gandhi along with
delegation of different religion and groups including Hindu Mahasabha and
RSS with 7-point charter of demands of Gandhi to restore peace, harmony
and fraternity between the communities duly signed by them.
After obtaining confirmation from each
member, Gandhi agreed to break the fast. He accepted orange juice from Maulana
Azad and Jawaharlal Nehru. After everybody had left, Nehru whispered to Gandhi
a secret that he too was on fast since the last 2 days as a symbolic gesture of
sympathy towards his Guru.
19 January 1948 - The conspirators fixed 20 January as the
day of assassination. Madanlal was asked to shift to the Hindu Mahasabha
office. Later in the night, Karkare asked him whether he was “in a position to
kill Gandhi.” Madanlal refused, immediately grasping that it was one thing to
menace muslims, quite another to kill Gandhi. Such an act would ruin his life,
he concluded.
The plan was reworked. Since Madanlal
already knew too much, he was assigned the task of hiding and igniting the time
bomb near the prayer gathering. Its explosion will set a wave of panic and then
others with bombs and hand grenades will perform the assassination.
20 January 1948 - On the appointed time Madanlal ignited the
time bomb which exploded and caused panic. Others failed to perform their job
and chickened out. Madanlal was caught. While fleeing from the Birla House by
car, Nathuram stopped the car on the way and asked his brother Gopal
Godse to go to Pune and establish an alibi as he has family to care for. Others
i.e Apte, Karkare and Nathuram travelled to Bombay by train.
The investigation of murder attempt on Gandhi was riddled
with sloppiness, bureaucratic inefficiency, internal rivalry and red tapism
from the beginning. Even though Madanlal had confessed and given enough
indication of fellow conspirators, nobody was caught or detained. Police worked
under delusion that once unsuccessful, the conspirators will not take the risk
of another attempt.
They were very wrong in their assumption.
The three men (Nathuram Godse, Vishnu
Karkare and Narayan Apte) met in the dark corner of Thane (suburb of Bombay)
railway station and made a basic decision to assassinate Gandhi. They even
summoned Gopal Godse to the place to discuss the decision. Nathuram decided and
declared that he will take up the task. The three men (Nathuram Godse, Vishnu
Karkare and Narayan Apte) travelled to Delhi as per laid out plan. The first
task was to arrange a reliable pistol.
27 January 1948 - Both Nathuram and Apte travelled to
Gwalior to meet their fellow Hindu militant Dattaraya Parchure, a homeopath
doctor, as their last hope. Dattaraya Parchure made all out effort to satisfy
his friends and ultimately got a black Beretta automatic pistol with 20
rounds of ammunition.
28 January 1948 - Both Apte and Nathuram came back to
Delhi in the evening with the murder weapon.
29 January 1948 - Nathuram did target practice under
the watchful eyes of Apte and Karkare. They decided 30 January as the day of
assassination.
30 January 1948
For a person who will be taking up the assassination task,
Nathuram Godse was surprisingly calm. Both Apte and Karkare visited Birla
Temple to pray. Nathuram was not interested, and he strolled nearby. At 4.30
PM, Nathuram took leave from Apte and Karkare and took a tonga for Birla house
where Gandhi will be holding the prayer meeting. Apte and Karkare followed him
after 5 minutes in another tonga.
In Birla House, Gandhi was caught up in a
delicate problem. He was meeting Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel whose conflict with
Nehru had come to open. Patel had submitted resignation from Nehru’s cabinet.
Knowing very well that both Nehru and Patel are equally important and must work
together, Gandhi told Patel to have patience. He promised that he will sit with
Nehru and Patel and the three of them will sort out all the problems. In the
process he became late for the prayer meeting.
By this time, the killers were ready and
wandering in the garden. As Gandhi started walking towards the prayer ground,
he was angry for being late and admonished his aides Abha and Manu.
As Gandhi supported by Abha and Manu reached the
sandstone steps, Nathuram called him from behind Bapuji - Bapuji. As Gandhi and
others turned in the direction of voice. Nathuram went near Gandhi, bowed and
said - Namestay Gandhiji. At the same instant, he took out his pistol and in a
flash shot Gandhi thrice in the chest.
Gandhi fell down with the last words coming out from his mouth - HEY RAM.
All hell broke loose at that instant.
Nathuram was taken into custody with pistol in his hand. He didn’t resist
the arrest. Apte and Karkare immediately fled the scene.
Mahatma’s body was taken back to the Birla House and
placed on the straw pallet on which he slept. Mountbatten received the
news in Governrnent House (now President House) and immediately rushed to the
Birla House.
Mountbatten was shuddering. If the assassin comes
out to be a muslim then India will see a massacre never seen before. Only when
the identity of the assassin was ascertained, the All India Radio, broke the
news of the assassination with the specific mention that the killer was a Hindu.
When Mountbatten entered the room he
found Nehru squatting on the floor, his head against the wall with tears
inundating his face. Patel was sitting at a short distance completely
dazed and thunderstruck. Mountbatten went up to Nehru and Patel. With his
arm around each man he spoke:
Last time we talked, he told me that he was worried that
his two greatest friends, the people he loved most in the world, were drifting
apart. He wanted you both to work together. If his memory means anything to you
then you must embrace and forget your differences.
Photo - Nehru and Patel with Gandhi
Visibly moved by his words, the two grieving leaders fell
into an embrace. With the approval of Nehru and Patel, Mountbatten planned for
cremation to be organized by the Military. After setting the machinery in
motion, Mountbatten turned to Nehru to address the nation. “ I can’t, I
don't know what to say, I am too upset” was the response from Nehru.
Mountbatten said- “ Don’t worry, God will tell you what to say.
With eyes filled with tears, heartbroken Nehru stepped
before the microphone of All India Radio and spoke spontaneously -
“The light has gone out of our lives and there is
darkness everywhere. Our beloved leader, Bapu, as we called him, the father of
the nation, is no more.”
India became standstill. From cities
and villages, plains and mountains people wept. Only words that came out
were - “ The Mahatma is dead”. All nations in the world grieved. Next day at
11.00 AM, the funeral procession started. Nehru and patel with eyes swollen
from weeping covered Mahatma’s body with the national flag.
It was as if the whole India was on the street to be part of the funeral procession. After a 5 hour journey, the procession reached the bank of Yamuna (Rajghat). Here, last rites were conducted by Gandhi's second son Ramdas Gandhi in absence of his eldest son Harilal Gandhi as per Hindu traditions.
Photo - Funeral Procession of Mahatma Gandhi -2
The police and investigating agencies
woke up with a jolt and came into action. The arrest of the remaining members
of the conspiracy followed quickly. Apte and Karkare were hiding in a hotel in
Bombay. Police came to know of the liaison between Narayan Apte and the
daughter of the civil surgeon. They tapped the telephone of the girl.
Ultimately, it paid off. On 14 Feb. i.e. Valentine Day, Apte contacted his
mistress and asked her to come to the hotel. In response to a knock, Apte
eagerly opened the door to find three Bombay policeman rather than his
mistress.
Eight men, Narayan Apte, Nathuram Godse,
Gopal Godse, Vishnu Karkare, Madanlal Pahwa, Vinayak Savarkar, Dattaraya
Parchure and Shankar Kistayya (Digambar Badge’s servant) were sent to trial on
27 may 1948 for conspiracy to murder Mahatma Gandhi. Digambar Badge had become
the State Witness as approver. From the outset, Nathuram Godse had claimed the
sole responsibility of murder and denied others involvement.
Charges against Shankar Kistayya
Shankar Kistayya was a servant of Digambar Badge, who was
involved in the unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Mahatma Gandhi on January
20, 1948. Kistayya was tasked with firing shots and throwing a grenade at
Gandhi from the front. In his written statement, Kistayya stated that he
transported bombs and revolvers at the bidding of Badge.
However, he later retracted his statement and was acquitted
of all charges.
Group
photo of people accused in the murder of Mahatma Gandhi.
Standing (L to R): Shankar Kistayya, Gopal Godse, Madanlal Pahwa, Digambar Badge. Seated (L to R): Narayan Apte, Vinayak Savarkar, Nathuram Godse, Vishnu Karkare
On the testimony of Digambar Badge as state witness, seven
of the eight accused were convicted.
- Nathuram
Godse and Narayan Apte were condemned to death for the crime.
- Gopal
Godse, Vishnu Karkare, Madanlal Pahwa, Dattaraya Parchure and Shankar
Kistayya were sentenced to life imprisonment.
- Vinayak
Savarkar was acquitted for lack of evidence.
Later however, Dattaraya Parchure and
Shankar Kistayya succeeded in reversing their convictions in the Appeal Court.
The date of execution of Nathuram Gosde and Narayan Apte was set for 15 Nov.
1949.
Although pleas for clemency were made by
Gandhi's two sons (Manilal Gandhi and Ramdas Gandhi) and some some close
friends, they were turned down by India's prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru,
deputy prime minister Vallabhbhai Patel, and Governor-General Chakravarti
Rajagopalachari.
At dawn on 15 Nov. 1949, both Narayan Apte and
Nathuram Godse were hung by the neck until death in Ambala prison.
Apte was a great believer of palmistry and had studied
his own palm. He was convinced that a last minute reprieve would come and he
would be saved. When he was being taken for execution, the shocking realization
came that palmistry is not an exact science. He collapsed and he had to be
carried to the waiting rope.
Vishnu Karkare, Madanlal Pawha and Gopal Godse were released
from jail in 1964 after serving their sentences under the provision of Indian
laws and returned to their private life.
In an interview in 1993, Gopal Godse stated that Nathuram, himself, and Narayan Godse had all been long-time members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and had never left the organisation. The RSS had previously distanced itself from Gandhi's assassins. In a 2003 interview, Gopal Godse said that he did not regret his role in the assassination of Gandhi. He died in his home on 26 November 2005, as the last surviving member of the conspiracy.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gopal_Godse
)
Details of Savarkar Trial
Savarkar was arrested on 5 February 1948, from his house in
Shivaji Park, and kept under detention in the Arthur Road Prison, Bombay. He
was charged with murder, conspiracy to murder, and abetment to murder.
The mass of papers seized from his house had revealed nothing that could remotely be connected with Gandhi's murder. Due to lack of evidence, Savarkar was arrested under the Preventive Detention Act. A special court, headed by Justice Atma Charan, was constituted on 4 May 1948.
The trial of Savarkar revolved around testimony of Digambar
Badge. The charges were-
- that Savarkar conspired to kill Gandhi which was executed
by other accused.
- that Savarkar had full knowledge of the plan to kill
Gandhi and
- that he had blessed Nathuram Godse and Narayan Apte for the success in the act.
Badge's Testimony
The Badge’s testimony which implicated Savarkar revolved
around the events on two days - 14 January and 17 January 1948.
On 14 Jan 1948, in Bombay the 3 men Apte, Nathuram and
Badge visited Savarkar Sadan with a bag containing arms to be used for
assassination. Leaving Badge at reception, Apte and Nathuram went upstairs with
the bag. Later Apte told Badge that Savarkar had decided that Gandhi was
to be assassinated and the task had been entrusted to them.
On 17 January 1948, before leaving for Bombay airport,
Apte and Nathuram accompanied by Badge visited Savarkar Sadan. Nathuram
and Apte went upstairs whereas Badge waited on the ground floor.
Savarkar accompanied Apte and Nathuram back. He laid a
hand on Apte’s and Godse’s shoulders and said : Be successful and Come back.
On the way back Apte told Badge that
Savarkar blessed them "Yashasvi houn ya" ("यशस्वी होऊन या", be successful and return). Apte also
said that Savarkar predicted that Gandhi's 100 years were over and there was no
doubt that the task would be successfully finished.
Savarkar’s Defence
Savarkar, in his skilful defence, stated that he didn’t meet
Nathuram Godse and Narayan Apte on 14 or 17 January 1948 or any other day near
about. With regard to Badge’s testimony he pointed out that -
Date - 14 January 1948
- The
meeting of Godse and Apte with Savarkar on 14 January cannot be
established from Badge’s account, because he did not claim to witness the
meeting itself. Visiting Savarkar Sadan does not necessarily mean visiting
Savarkar. Apte and Godse had many friends in Savarkar Sadan who were
co-workers in Hindu Mahasabha and they might have gone to see their
friends.
- From
his own account, Badge was made to wait outside, while Apte and Godse went
in.
- With regards to Badge’s claim about Apte informing him that Savarkar had decided that Gandhi had to be assassinated, There is no evidence that Savarkar had ever told Apte to finish Gandhi. Even assuming that Badge is telling the truth, Apte might have invented this wicked lie to exploit Savarkar’s moral influence on the Hindu Sanghatanists for his own purposes. Prosecution itself had stated that Apte was used to resort to such unscrupulous tricks. For example, Apte is alleged to have given false names and false addresses to hotel keepers.. and collected arms and ammunition secretly..”
Savarkar used the same reasoning again to defend himself
from Badge’s claim of having been told by Apte (on 17 January 1948) that
Savarkar had predicted Gandhi’s time was up.
Date- 17 January 1948
From Badge's account, it is clear that Nathuram and Apte
went upstairs whereas he (Badge) waited on the ground floor. Thus he could
not have known for certain whether they (Nathuram and Apte) went to see
Savarkar or somebody else like on 14 January 1948.
- Taking
again for granted that Apte and Godse did see Savarkar, still it was
impossible for Badge to have any personal and direct knowledge of what the
discussion was about. It could have been anything not related to Gandhi or
the criminal conspiracy.
- With
regards to Badge’s testimony that he saw and heard Savarkar wishing Apte
and Godse, “Be successful and come back”. It is a false allegation.
“Even if it is assumed that Badge did hear the sentence- Be
successful and come back. This sentence might have referred to any
legitimate undertaking like Nizam Civil Resistance or Raising of funds for the
daily paper Agrani etc. Since Badge knew nothing about the
discussion upstairs, he could not know for certain the subject line of the
remark- “Be successful and come back”.
Apart from Badge, the prosecution produced two witnesses in
the court to prove the involvement of Savarkar:
1. An actress by the name of Shantabai Modak,
who had met Apte and Godse on the Poona Express and then offered them a lift to
Shivaji Park in the vehicle of her brother, who received her at Dadar Station
on 14 January 1948.
2. The taxi driver Aitappa Kotian, who drove Godse, Apte and Badge to the meeting on 17 January 1948.
Shantabai Modak testified that she saw Apte and Godse go
towards Savarkar Sadan on 14 January. In the same way, Aitappa Kotian also told
the court that he saw three gentlemen (Apte, Nathuram and Badge) going to
Savarkar Sadan
Both the witnesses couldn’t establish the complicity of
Savarkar in the crime.
Justice Charan found Badge’s testimony convincing and
Badge to be a truthful witness. In addition, the circumstantial evidence was
impressive. The judge pointed out:
“Badge gave his version of the facts in a direct and straightforward manner. He did not evade cross-examination or attempt to evade or fence with any question. It would not have been possible for anyone to have given evidence so unfalteringly stretching over such a long period and with such particularity in regard to the facts which had never taken place. It is difficult to conceive of anyone memorising so long and so detailed a story if altogether without foundation.”
Nonetheless, some crucial parts of
Badge’s testimony regarding the meetings with Savarkar on 14 and 17 January
1948, were not corroborated by the evidence or any independent witness. The
remark (“Be successful and come back”) claimed to be made by Savarkar couldn’t
be linked to the mission to assassinate Gandhi.
The circumstances cumulatively considered and weighed, would unerringly point to collaboration for the crime. But in the absence of independent corroboration of some crucial parts of Badge’s testimony, the judge found it “unsafe” to convict Savarkar. Thus Savarkar was acquitted for the lack of evidence while Apte and Godse were awarded the death penalty.
Conduct of Savarkar during the Trial
The lawyer, P.L. Inamdar took an active part in the trial of
Gandhi’s assassination as he defended one of the co-conspirators Dattaraya
Parchure. Being a defence lawyer, he had closely interacted with all the
accused in Red Fort Jail as well as in the court. He wrote a memoir of his
interaction and observation in the form of a book - The Story of the Red
Fort Trial, 1948-49.
He wrote - “During the trial, Savarkar did not even turn his
head towards.. Nathuram.. much less speak with him”. While the other accused
freely talked to each other exchanging notes or banter, Savarkar sat there
sphinx-like in silence, completely ignoring his co-accused in the dock, in an
unerringly disciplined manner.”
“Nathuram… was deeply hurt by… Tatyarao’s [Savarkar’s]
calculated, demonstrative non-association with him either in court or in Red
Fort Jail,”. Nathuram yearned for a touch of Tatyarao’s hand, a word of
sympathy, or at least a look of compassion in the secluded confines of the
cells. Nathuram referred to his hurt feelings in this regard even during his
last meeting with P.L. Inamdar at the Simla High Court.”
Commenting on Savarkar’s conduct during the trials, A.G. Noorani, whose academic preoccupation is the study of the trials of Indian political figures, wrote in his authoritative book Savarkar and Hindutva: The Godse Connection, “The annals of great trials provide hardly a parallel in cowardice and deceit.
References:
1. The Story of the Red Fort Trial,
1948-49" by P. L. Inamdar
2. Savarkar and Hindutva: The Godse Connection by A.G.
Noorani
3. The Life and Death of Mahatma Gandhi by Robert Payne
Death
On 8 November 1963, Savarkar's wife, Yamunabai, died. On 1
February 1966, Savarkar renounced medicines, food, and water which was termed
as prayopavesha (fast until death). His condition became extremely
serious on 26 February 1966. He faced difficulty in breathing.
The efforts to revive him failed
and ultimately he was declared dead at 11:10 a.m. at his residence in
Bombay (now Mumbai). Prior to his death, Savarkar had asked his relatives to
perform only his funeral and do away with the rituals of the 10th and 13th day
of the Hindu faith.
Accordingly, his last rites were performed at an electric crematorium in Bombay's Sonapur locality by his son Vishwas the following day.
Later Revelations - Skelton Tumbled out of Cupboard
Kapur Commission (1969), established Savarkar’s Guilt
Gopal Godse, Madanlal Pahwa and Vishnu Karkare were released from jail in1964 after the expiry of their sentences. On 12 November 1964, a religious programme was organized in Pune, to celebrate their release.
Dr. G.
V. Ketkar, grandson of Bal Gangadhar Tilak, former editor of
Kesari and then editor of Tarun Bharat, presided over the
function. He boasted during the function that six months before the
assassination of Gandhi, Nathuram Godse had disclosed his ideas to kill Gandhi
and this was opposed by Ketkar.
Ketkar further said that he passed the
information to Balukaka Kanitkar who conveyed it to the then Chief Minister of
Bombay State, B. G. Kher. The Indian Express in its issue of 14 November
1964, commented adversely on Ketkar's conduct that Ketkar's fore-knowledge of
the assassination of Gandhi added to the mystery of the circumstances preceding
the assassination. Ketkar was arrested.
A public furor ensued both outside and
inside the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and both houses of the Indian
parliament. Gulzarilal Nanda, Union home minister, appointed Gopal Swarup
Pathak, M. P. and a senior advocate of the Supreme Court of India, in charge of
inquiry of conspiracy to murder Gandhi.
Since both Kanitkar and Kher were
deceased, the central government intended on conducting a thorough inquiry with
the help of old records in consultation with the government of Maharashtra,
But as Pathak was appointed a central
minister and then governor of Mysore state, the commission of inquiry was
reconstituted and Jivanlal Kapur a retired judge of the Supreme Court of India,
was appointed on 21 November 1966, as a one-man Commission to conduct inquiry
into the conspiracy to murder Gandhi. The inquiry was completed on 30 September
1969.
It examined 101 witnesses, 407 documents
were produced, by witnesses, and the governments of India and Maharashtra. G.
V. Ketkar was the first witness to be examined. J. D. Nagarwala and Morarji
Desai were the key witnesses who were examined for 15 and 7 days
respectively.
J. D. Nagarwala was the Deputy
Commissioner of Police who was appointed as investigating officer on the murder
case. Morarji Desai was the Chief Minister of the then Bombay State and he was
home minister of the state during 1947 - 52, when the assassination took place.
Two of Savarkar’s aides who hadn’t previously testified during his trials spoke up before the commission.
Their statements not only provided an independent corroboration of the two meetings (on 14 and 17 January 1948) with Savarkar which Badge had referred to in his testimony, but also revealed that before carrying out the assassination, Godse and Apte had met Savarkar once again on 23 or 24 January, after Madanlal Pahwa’s first attempt on Gandhi’s life had failed.
Savarkar’s bodyguard, Appa Ramchandra and
his secretary, Gajanan Vishnu Damle, also corroborated the fact that Apte and
Godse met Savarkar in the middle of January 1948.
Both their statements, as well as Badge’s testimony, indicated that Savarkar had lied before the court when he said, “Apte and Godse did not see me on 14th January, 17th January 1948 or any other day near about.”
Justice Kapur’s Conclusion in the Commission’s Report
“The statements of Savarkar’s bodyguard, Appa Ramchandra
and his secretary, Gajanan Vishnu Damle established the close working
relationship Godse and Apte had with Savarkar since 1946. In addition, the
statements also provided evidence which showed Savarkar’s involvement in the
assassination of Gandhi.”
After re-examining all the relevant
information – old and new – unearthed by Bombay’s deputy commissioner of
police, Jamshed Nagarvala, the Kapur commission concluded:
“All these facts taken together were destructive of any
theory other than the conspiracy to murder by Savarkar and his group.”
However, before the inquiry commission could start its work,
Vinayak Savarkar had passed away on 26 February 1966.
The Kapur commission was highly critical of roles played
by different police officers and investigating agencies. If they had
acted swiftly on the information on possible attempts on Gandhi’s life, then
his life could have been saved.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapur_Commission )
Recently, there has been a concerted attempt to glorify Vinayak Savarkar as saviour of Hinduism. There was also a demand to bestow Bharat Ratna to Savarkar.
(https://thewire.in/history/savarkar-gandhi-assassination)
(https://aeon.co/essays/how-savarkar-invented-hindu-supremacy-and-its-cult-of-violence
) (https://thewire.in/history/veer-savarkar-the-staunchest-advocate-of-loyalty-to-the-english-government#:~:text=Finally%2C%20after%20spending%20ten%20years,and%20his%20non%2Dparticipation%20in
)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinayak_Damodar_Savarkar
)
(https://scroll.in/article/808709/the-hollow-myth-of-veer-savarkar
)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathuram_Godse
)
(https://www.mkgandhi.org/assassin.php
)
(https://www.newsclick.in/How-Gandhi-Assassins-Betrayed-their-Lovers)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narayan_Apte
)
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