Mahatma Gandhi – ‘Bapu’ – Part 2

Satyagraha movement was extended to forest laws, non-payment of taxes and boycott of foreign cloth, etc. It was felt that Swadeshi movement (producing their own cloth) would deal an economic blow on the British. The Government countered by issuing extraordinary powers to concerned authorities to arrest and prosecute the Satyagrahis. Gandhiji was at the same time sympathetic towards and concerned about the textile workers in England whose lives would be affected due to the boycott of foreign cloth in India. He visited textile mills in Lancashire during his visit to London in 1931.
The famous Gandhi-Irwin pact was signed in March 1931 and the Government agreed to release the prisoners on the condition that civil disobedience movement was suspended. Also under this Pact, Gandhiji was invited to London to participate in the Round Table Conference.
He was the sole representative of the Indian National Congress but the Conference was a disappointment to Gandhi and the Indians. Lord Willingdon who succeeded Lord Irwin tried to curb Nationalist movement with an iron hand. He arrested Gandhiji and tried to isolate him from his followers but failed.
In 1939 World War II broke out. India was included in the war by the British without consultation with the people’s representatives. This angered the Congress leaders and Gandhiji declared that India would not support while her own freedom was being denied to her. It was at this time that Quit India movement aiming at British exit from India began. The most dynamic movement in the history of India’s struggle for freedom, it resulted in mass arrests. Police firing injured and killed thousands of Satyagrahis. Support to war was refused unless India was granted freedom and Gandhiji condemned the disorder that was deliberately brought about by the Government. He asked the people to exercise Ahimsa and ‘do or die’ in the cause of Indian independence. Gandhiji and the entire CWC were arrested on 9th August 1942. Gandhiji was kept in Aga Khan Palace, Pune for two years. It was at this time that Gandhiji’s long time Secretary, the fifty-year old Mahadev Desai died. Kasturba, Gandhiji’s life partner who shared all the trials and tribulations of public and private life with him, also died on 22nd February 1944, after 18 months of imprisonment. The two deaths were irreparable loss to Gandhiji. Soon after, Gandhiji was released as he suffered from malaria attack and the Government did not desire his death in prison which would enrage Indians.
At the end of World War II there was clear indication from the British that India would be given freedom. Gandhiji called off the movement and freedom fighters who had been imprisoned were released. The transfer of power from the British to the Indian people came about on 15th August 1947.
The year 1947 saw thousands of people displaced from their homes as India was divided and a separate country, Pakistan, was formed. The Hindus in the Pakistan area moved to India and vice versa. There were riots all over the country and the forlorn Gandhiji went on fast to bring about unity amidst people.

30th January 1948 – Delhi – the last day of the Mahatma
Gandhiji had said to Manu, “If someone fires bullets at me and I die without a groan and with God’s name on my lips, then you should tell the world that here was a real Mahatma.”
On 30th January 1948 at Birla House, Delhi, from 2.15 p.m. Gandhiji gave interviews to several representatives from various parts of the country and outside. At 4 p.m. Gandhiji had a meeting with Sardar Patel. Abha served him his meal. Asking for his charkha (spinning wheel) he plied it for a while.
Gandhiji was then ready to go for his evening prayer meet where he was to address the gathering. The usually punctual Gandhiji was slightly late for the prayer meet. The congregation wondered about the delay. Gandhiji put on his chappals and stepped out. He walked leaning on his ‘walking sticks’ (Abha and Manu, his grand nieces). Manu carried his spittoon, spectacle case, rosary and her notebook.
Being late, instead of the usual path, Gandhiji took a short cut across the lawn to reach the place of prayer meet. Even as he walked towards it he joked about the raw carrot that Abha had served him a little while ago. To Abha and Manu who pointed to his neglect of his watch he remarked that he was late to the prayer meet due to their fault and said that he hated to be late for prayers even by a minute. By then they had reached the foot of the staircase leading to the prayer place. Everyone became quiet as Gandhiji preferred silence before entering the place of prayer.
Hundreds of people had congregated and there were plainclothes policemen, too. People made way for him. Nathuram Godse elbowed his way through the crowd and stood in front of Gandhiji. The tiny pistol was hidden in his joined palms. He bowed low and said, “Namaste! Gandhiji!” Gandhiji acknowledged his greeting with joined palms. As it was already late for the prayer meet Manu chided Godse for bothering Gandhiji. However, Godse, set on the task that he had come for, pushed Manu aside with his left hand. Her protests were to no avail; the articles in her hand fell down and when the rosary dropped down she bent to pick it up. Just at that moment Godse fired three shots into Gandhiji’s abdomen and chest. At the third shot, Gandhiji who still stood with palms joined together gasped ‘hey Ram! hey Ram!’ and sank to the ground. The white shawl was drenched with blood oozing out of Gandhiji’s body. His head rested on the lap of Manu and Abha. And, in a moment Gandhiji was dead. It was 5.17 p.m.
In his address to the bereaving Nation, Jawaharlal Nehru 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. Perhaps I am wrong to say that; nevertheless, we will not see him again, as we have seen him for these many years, we will not run to him for advice or seek solace from him, and that is a terrible blow, not only for me, but for millions and millions in this country.”
Gandhiji’s death shook the entire world. The UN General assembly mourned the death of the Mahatma.
Mahatma Gandhi who released Bharata Mata (Mother India) from the shackles of the British Empire with the weapon of Ahimsa, empowered by Ramanaama that was part of his being, was cremated at Raj Ghat where a memorial has been set up. Most of his ashes were immersed at Sangam, Allahabad.