'Those who prefer security to freedom have no right to live.' With these words, Gandhiji dismissed the DIG of police who met him after the bomb blast at his prayer meeting on January 20, 1948. The DIG had been trying to persuade him to allow greater police presence and the frisking of those who came to meet him. Without Gandhiji's knowledge, plainclothesmen had been posted — a pity they did not spot Nathuram Godse.
That fateful day began with a meeting with the wife of the US ambassador designate, R.K. Nehru. This was followed by a meeting with Life photographer Margaret Bourke who asked him, "You've always stated that you would like to live up to 125. What gives you the hope?" Gandhiji took her by surprise when he said he no longer entertained that hope. When asked why, he replied, "Because of the terrible happenings in the world. I don't want to live in darkness."
At 4 pm, Sardar Patel arrived. Gandhiji wanted to know if he and Nehru were having differences in running the government. The meeting went on beyond 5 pm — the scheduled time for the prayer meeting — and a nervous Abha and Manu gestured to Patel's daughter that time was up. Getting up, Gandhiji admonished his nieces for not alerting him earlier.
As soon as people saw him, a buzz went around. I was following closely to his left. We ascended the steps leading to the prayer platform. People stood with folded hands and Gandhiji reciprocated. They made way for him to get to the rostrum. Godse had obviously been waiting. Gandhiji had hardly walked five or six paces when he fired. The Mahatma died instantly. He fell back bleeding profusely and his glasses and footwear were thrown asunder.
{{/usCountry}}As soon as people saw him, a buzz went around. I was following closely to his left. We ascended the steps leading to the prayer platform. People stood with folded hands and Gandhiji reciprocated. They made way for him to get to the rostrum. Godse had obviously been waiting. Gandhiji had hardly walked five or six paces when he fired. The Mahatma died instantly. He fell back bleeding profusely and his glasses and footwear were thrown asunder.
{{/usCountry}}Within minutes, a crowd started collecting. The Mahatma's body was carried to his room and laid on the mat. He looked as if he was asleep. Outside there was scramble to possess something belonging to Gandhiji. Unable to get anything, people started collecting handfuls of earth from the place where he had fallen. Soon, a big pit formed, forcing authorities to cordon off the area.
It is widely believed that Gandhiji said 'Hey Ram' as he fell. But there was no possibility of him uttering a single syllable since he died instantly. He'd often said that he would like to die with Ram's name on his lips. This speculative comment by some shrewd reporter gained worldwide currency, the authenticity of which was never verified. It is indeed strange that the commission probing the assassination never asked any of us who were so close to him that day.
In his last few days, Gandhiji had repeatedly expressed the wish that God take him away since he didn't want to be a silent witness to the barbarities of the communal clashes. I thought God had answered his prayer. He died a glorious death while walking towards God. He died without a single moment's pain.
The writer served as Gandhiji's personal secretary during his last five years