Longlive Bapu!

Don't get surprised if you find news regarding Nathuram Godse being praised today. Don't get stunned if you find #Nathuramgodsejindabad (Livelong Nathuram Godse) trending on twitter today. History has undergone major metamorphosis since independence. Independent India has always been split into two ideologies, one trying to justify the assassin of Gandhi ji while other condemning the same.

 There could not be a more convenient time than the death anniversary itself of the father of the nation to bust the myths which are reasoned to give grounds for his assassination. It becomes utmost pertinent to clear the cobwebs which cover some of the deeply entrenched unsubstantiated facts.

 In his book 'Why I assassinated Gandhi' Nathuram Godse has cited three reasons which forced him to extinguish the flame of the once-in-an-era-soul, once used to free India from the shackles of slavery.

The three reasons are mentioned below and along with that I have tried to bust the myths associated with them.

1. Gandhiji supported the idea of a separate state for Muslims. In a sense, he was responsible for the creation of Pakistan.

Every year Gandhi jayanti and death anniversary of Gandhiji experience the same allegations imposed on him. Time and again different historians have tried their best to make the things pretty clearer by putting forth evidences to clarify that probably Gandhiji was the only leader during that time who stayed from any discussion related to partition.

 Infact he was the greatest critic of partition and had said that if partition were to result it would result on his dead body. Gandhiji even favoured Mohammed Ali Jinnah to be the prime minister of undivided India only to nip the partition in the bud. The right wing extremists sometimes in criticising Mahatma Gandhi go so far that they have to be reminded that it was the fusion of pro-muslim and pro-hindu supporters which resulted in the split of India.

 On the day of independence, Gandhiji was in Calcutta to restore peace which was disturbed, thanks to the bloodshed attempted by communal minds. Till the last moment Gandhiji tried his best to avoid the demand of division. Having being pressurized from all the corners and witnessing the widespread violence and rampant massacre, Gandhi gave in to the vicious demand of division.

 It should be noted here that the seeds of the division were sown by the fanatics. Nathuram Godse was a staunch supporter of Hindu rashtra and at times had tried to get Gandhiji assassinated by his associates only to get success on 30th January, 1948. 

2. In spite of the Pakistani aggression in Kashmir, Gandhiji fasted to compel the government of India to release an amount of Rs.55 crores due to Pakistan.

At the time of independence undivided India had only one national bank wherein some 400 crores of rupees was deposited. It was decided that Pakistan dominion would be given 75 crores of rupees and 20 crores was handed to it on 15th August, 1947. Remaining balance of 55 crores was due to it. Meanwhile Pakistani assailants tried to invade Kashmir by making several attempts to infiltrate into valley. 

Following which Indian government halted the process of restoring the due amount. At the same time, far in Delhi, riots had erupted between hindu and muslim. When Gandhiji knew about riot he sat on a fast unto death. This fast was misrepresented by some reputed historians as an attempt to compel Indian government to release the due amount. 

This misrepresentation was busted by Rajendra Prasad himself when he said that Gandhiji had not taken the fast to pressurize Indian government. Gandhiji, too, clarified that his fast was only a step to force communal minds to give up violence and not to compel Indian government.

3. The belligerence of Muslims was a result of Gandhiji's policy of appeasement.

Gandhiji was a proud hindu but at the same time he used to pay heed to the havoc wreaked upon minorities of the country. He always stood for the right causes that's why he voiced the substantial demands of people, irrespective of their religion.

Gandhiji had read several religious books, ranging from Gita to Koran but above all followed the religion of humanity. Levelling false charges on Gandhiji about his cold-approach towards aggression shown by Muslims is a baseless claim. 

Parties created on communal lines, such as, Hindu Mahasabha and Muslim League, were responsible to make the situation worse to worst. Gandhiji, unequivocally, from time to time had raised the issues pertaining to the commoners. Upon his return to India in 1915, Gandhiji took a complete tour across India in order to understand the problems Indians had been going through.

 His movements in several parts of India, such as, in Champaran (1917), Kheda (1918), and Ahemdabad (1918) to push the tyrant British government on backfoot shatter the prevailing misconception of his as being an exclusive sympathiser of Muslims.

Recent years have seen an increase in the attacks on Gandhiji and several imposters who claim themselves to be saints have openly either abused or sinned Gandhiji by describing him as divider-in-chief. One so-called 'saint' today happened to demand Subhash Chandra Bose to be declared the first prime minister of the illusioned 'Hindu rashtra'. It's time for him to brush up his knowledge as he might have forgotten that it was Subhash Chandra Bose who had called Gandhiji 'father of the nation' for the very first time. 

By following the path of  non-violence and satyagraha as propounded and propagated by Gandhiji till his last breath and by shunning away the policy of polarisation and appeasement, our leaders can give a befitting tribute to the immortal soul who always kept nation above his self.