One had expected much better from Dabholkar who has adapted the original Pradeep Dalvi play in Marathi Mee Nathuram Godse Boltoy (I am Nathuram Godse speaking). I had seen it more than 25 years ago in Mumbai. Even then people had clapped, I immediately wrote a report for the Times of India where I was working, it was, however, suppressed. The Marathi version was directed by Vinay Apte, who was associated with the Sangh Parivar, and the actor Sharad Ponkshe, playing Godse, remains to this day a great admirer of Godse in real life.

Dabholkar is much better educated than Dalvi, has a much better social exposure with his experience in advertising and other fields; he is financially better off. I have enjoyed some of his humour. Unfortunately, he leaves a a much worse taste in the mouth, with this play, than the earlier one. He claims to be impartial but gave himself away during the bow to the audience after the performance when he announced that those who wanted to see the clothes and other belongings of Godse could see them in Godse’s house in Pune. This clearly shows his bias in favour of Godse. He retains some of the wildest distortions of the original with clearly fake characters and scenes regarding the trial.

As Y.D. Phadke[1], the eminent scholar and political science professor, wrote in response to the Marathi play that characters of inspector Shaikh and sub inspector Sawant simply did not exist in real life, in the trial. There is so much nonsensical fiction thrown into the play, Devdas Gandhi , son of the Mahatma, is shown to be a lawyer who wants to take up the case of Godse, his meetings with Godse are shown. In fact, no such meetings took place and Devdas was not a lawyer. More ludicrous is the scene of a burqa clad Zubeida, showing her great afffection, respect for Godse, and she is the sister of the fictitious inspector Shaikh who also becomes an admirer of Godse! Too many falsehoods to be mentioned here.

A note. Since the issue dealt here is sensitive, comments if any may be moderate in tone. (This was for Meta Facebook where the post appears) Extremists, please look elsewhere if you want to write on this.

The volume, Beyond Doubt, A Dossier on Gandhi’s Assassination, edited and introduced by Teesta Setalvad brings to light the report of the Kapur Commission which was appointed by the Government of India in 1965 to examine the depth and scope of the conspiracy that lay behind the killing of Gandhi.

This three-volume report has been absent from the public domain though it contains invaluable evidence—intelligence reports, oral and documentary evidence—of the extent of complicity behind the hate-driven conspiracy that resulted in the Mahatma’s killing.

On November 12, 1964, at a programme organized in Pune, Dr G.V. Ketkar, the grandson of Bal Gangadhar Tilak, disclosed that six months before the actual criminal act, Nathuram Godse had disclosed his intentions to kill Gandhi. This information was passed on by him via others to the Chief Minister of the then Bombay state, B.G. Kher. Not only was Ketkar arrested but a furore ensued in the Maharashtra State Assembly and the Indian Parliament at the time. In 1965, the Government of India set up a Commission of Inquiry into the Conspiracy to Murder Mahatma Gandhi, headed by Justice Jeevan Lal Kapur, a former judge of the Supreme Court. The commission examined evidence not produced during the trial. Justice Kapur concluded that the facts showed that a clear conspiracy existed on the part of Hindu supremacist groups.

(The author, a senior journalist with The Times of India wrote this on meta/Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/share/p/gnM6x6wsr1ykaXp7/?mibextid=WC7FNe; this version has been edited slightly–Editors)

[1] Communalism Combat, in October 2000 published, in translation, extracts from noted historian, YD Phadke’s book in Marathi, Nathuramayan. This was titled, The murderer as martyr https://sabrang.com/cc/comold/oct00/cover1.htm. It is also available on https://sabrangindia.in/murderer-martyr/#:~:text=In%20independent%20India%2C%20politics%20has,his%20statement%20to%20the%20court. This article by eminent historian YD Phadke had exposed Pradeep Dalvi’s claim about his play, Mee Nathuram Godse Boltoye, being based on historical facts as completely bogus. Nathuramayan is a compilation of a series of incisive articles by the (The article in Marathi was first published in the Marathi eveninger, Apla Mahanagar and translated for us into English by Mukta Rajadhyaksha). 

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Terming it as ‘Balidan Diwas’ (Day of Sacrifice), the Hindu Sena recently commemorated the death anniversary of the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi.

In the videos of the celebration, people can be seen bursting firecrackers and raising slogans in support of Godse such as “Nathuram Godse Zindabad”, along with slogans of Jai Sri Ram and Bharat Mata Ki Jai.

The organisation has routinely celebrated the birthday of Godse, from 2015 to 2022 to 2024.

The current national president of the organisation is Vishnu Gupta, who according to Economic Times, has been arrested earlier for having filed a fake complaint over beef being served at the Kerala House, a state government canteen in New Delhi.

Hate Detectors, which is an X social media account that posts incidents of atrocities in India, shared a video of the celebrations, which was also retweeted by Gupta.

This is from #Ahmedabad, #Gujarat.

On May 19, Hindu Sena members celebrate birth anniversary of #MahatmaGandhi’s assassin #NathuramGodse. pic.twitter.com/fKYZ2aIwux

— Hate Detector (@HateDetectors) May 21, 2024

Interestingly, the organisation has also in  2019 paid tribute to Empress Queen Victoria of England.They expressed their admiration towards her for taking power from ‘Islamic invaders’, and for giving India its “first independence from Muslims.”

BJP and its affiliates on Godse

While Prime Minister Modi has often praised Mahatma Gandhi as father of the nation, do his party officials reflect the name? As recently as March 2024, a former Calcutta High Court judge who has now joined the BJP, Abhijit Gangopadhyay spoke in favour of Godse saying that he must understand why Godse killed Gandhi and that “cannot choose between Gandhi and Godse.”

Nathuram Godse was the person who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi. He was sentenced to death for the assassination by a court in Delhi in 1948 and finally hanged a year later in 1949. While the BJP has earlier distanced themselves from the Hindu Sena’s celebrations, several instances have risen where their approach has been put into question. For instance, MP Pragya Thakur has called Godse a ‘deshbhakt’, (patriot), even though she later apologised for her words. The Hindu Mahasabha, of which Godse was a member, has made repeated attempts to rehabilitate the image of Godse and characterise him as a patriot.

In 2017, the Hindu Mahasabha sought to make a temple for him and even laid the foundation stone for the temple in the Gwalior office of the organisation. The opposition in Madhya Pradesh had even alleged that the step was supported by the government led by the BJP in secret. Furthermore, there were even reports of the UP government asking the district magistrate’s response for a proposal to change Meerut’s name to Pandit Nathuram Godse Nagar. This took place after activists from the Hindu Mahasabha wrote to the district administration. The District Magistrate however had ruled out the possibility.

Related:

How BJP is accused of violating 48 Hours-Silence Period even on Poll Day?

Spewing hate, slurring Muslims: an unchecked decade-long diatribe by Bharatiya Janata Party?

Real History: Gandhi’s Murder, Godse & the RSS

Have planted Godse on every street: Hindutva activist’s online threats 

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Barely two days after its inauguration, the Gwalior-based Godse Gyanshala, a library dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Godse, has been shut down. According to the Indian Express, the library was shut down a day after the District Magistrate imposed Section 144 to ensure law and order in the city. The crisis was threatening to erupt after the right-wing group Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha’s (ABHM) act of opening a library to propagate the ideology of the man who killed Gandhi, fuelled massive public outrage.

After the ABHM’s library dedicated to Godse was shut down by district authorities on Tuesday, January 12, all its material was also seized over law and order concerns. This action came a day after the District Magistrate imposed Section 144 in the area to ensure law and order. Gwalior Superintendent Amit Sanghi told the Indian Express, “A meeting was held with members of the Hindu Mahasabha and the Gyanshala was shut down. All the literature, posters, banners and other materials were seized”. The library was also planning to hold lectures on Godse’s journey and Mahatma Gandhi’s “failure” to stop the Partition stated the IE news report.

However, the Hindu Mahasabha vice-president Jaiveer Bharadwaj is pleased with the publicity his project has gotten so far. “We wanted our message to reach out to the people at large and this was done. We did not want any law and order situation, so the library was shut down,” he told IE. Just like the publicity they garnered in 2017, the Hindu Mahasabha installed a Godse statue or which the right-wing reportedly hailed as a ‘temple’, where they planned to hold prayer meetings. It was also removed by the local authorities and a case was registered against the members of the Mahasabha. This time, however, no case has been registered so far, reported IE.

According to Congress spokesperson K K Mishra, “If the BJP government does not agree with someone, they call him a traitor and enemy of the nation. But in this case, the father of the nation has been insulted and yet there is not even an FIR.” SP Sanghi stated that the statue was removed in 2017, as an offence was registered because it violated provisions of the MP Freedom to Religion Act. He said that this time before they could install a statue, the library was shut down, adding “there is no dispute about Mahatma Gandhi being the father of our nation and anything offending will attract police action.”

Akhil Bhartiya Hindu Mahasabha is keen that youth be ‘inspired’ by Nathuram Godse’s brand of ‘true nationalism’. It has for long been working on an image makeover for Godse, the idea is to show that he was a “true nationalist’ especially in its home turf Madhya Pradesh. This library, named the ‘Godse Gyan Shala’ (literally translates as Godse Knowledge Centre), was set up on Vishwa Hindi Diwas, at the Mahasabha’s office at Daulat Ganj. According to news reports the library was stocked with literature on how Godse ‘plotted the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, his articles and his speeches’. Nathuram Godse, a proponent of Hindu nationalism in his life, shot Gandhi thrice in the chest on January 30, 1948. Each year, on this date an online feud ensues between Gandhi-supporters and Nathuram-supporters.

Related:

After Godse ‘temple’ fiasco, a library dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin

Patriotism, Religion and RSS Ideology

I’m also a Muslim, a Christian, a Buddhist, and a Jew: Gandhi’s memo to Mohan 

Godse trends on Gandhi Jayanti! Twitter becomes a platform for Us vs Them narrative

Andhra Pradesh BJP man hails Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Godse as a “patriot”

Banned organisations in India

No discussion on who killed Mahatma Gandhi is complete without addressing idea 

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Nagothu Ramesh Naidu, a State secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Andhra Pradesh unit, who’s online activities like most party workers are focussed on retweeting posts by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and wishing party leaders on their birthdays. Of course sharing online posts of his own public appearances etc are a regular feature. So far it is on predictable lines, while the leaders he hopes to reach are seen responding, leave alone following him back, many may have taken notice of the former sarpanch’s latest online faux pas.

The ABVP activist had hailed Nathuram Godse, the man who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi, as a “patriot”. He did so on november 15, the day Gandhi’s assassin was executed. Nathuram Godse, a strong proponent of Hindu nationalism had shot Gandhi point blank,thrice in the chest on January 30, 1948, sending shockwaves across the world. The court sentenced Godse and Narayan Apte to death by hanging on November 8, 1949, and they were executed in Ambala jail on November 15, 1949. Rameshnaidu Nagothu was commemorating this execution and respectfully posted this: “Today, on his death anniversary, I salute #Nathuram_Godse with utmost gratitude. The true and one of the greatest patriot ever born in bharatbhoomi!”

However, it sparked outrage quickly and he deleted the tweet. Of course other social media users had preempted this and taken screen shots of the tweet. The man himself did not apologise, but told Times Now that the tweet praising Godse, was “posted by someone else who was handling his Twitter account”. It is not known if he has blamed someone else for handling his social media before. 

In fact, on October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi that is marked worldwide, he had called the Father of the nation a “great hero of the war of independence and the peacemaker who established the ‘Indain’ brotherhood.” The fact that he could not even spell Indian properly was mostly ignored as a typo. 

He has even praised other national leaders, including Congressmen such as Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shartri on their birth anniversaries, with tweets such as this:

“Discipline and united action are the real source of strength for the nation.” – Shastri Ji His call “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan ” made India a self reliant & strong nation. Tributes to one of the best Prime Ministers of India Shastri Ji. Naman.”

“Discipline and united action are the real source of strength for the nation.” – Shastri Ji

His call “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan ” made India a self reliant & strong nation.

Tributes to one of the best Prime Ministers of India Shastri Ji.
Naman.???#LalBahadurShastriJayanti pic.twitter.com/RhUowyhdkS

— Rameshnaidu Nagothu (@RNagothu) October 2, 2020

“Jayanti of the first Prime Minister of India Shri Jawaharlal Nehru

 “Happy Children’s Day”

భారత తోలి ప్రధాని శ్రీ జవహర్లాల్ నెహ్రు జయంతి ?
“బాలల దినోత్సవ శుభాకాంక్షలు ” pic.twitter.com/R6kvZgYHKY

— Rameshnaidu Nagothu (@RNagothu) November 14, 2020

He seems to have lost track of his own praise of the Congress leaders who are often vilified decades after their deaths. ‘Blame it on Nehru’ is a popular online tag used by right wing groups including BJP politicians. Every year, when India, and the world remembers the secular teachings of Mahatma Gandhi on October 2, 2020, there is always a group trending the hashtags praising Nathuram Godse, his assassin. #नाथूराम_गोडसे_जिंदाबाद trended on the birth anniversary of India’s ‘Bapu.’  Right wing netizens choose the birth anniversary of Gandhi to remember his murderer and spend days indulging in a meaningless feud between Gandhi-supporters and Nathuram-supporters. 

This time too Nagothu’s tweet prompted social media users to ask if hailing Godse was BJP’s official stand. Meanwhile, the Hindu Mahasabha observed the 71st death anniversary  of Godse and co-conspirator Narayan Apte as ‘sacrifice day’, reported Times Now adding that the right-wing outfit said that if Godse’s bust, confiscated three years ago from its office, is not returned, the group will install a new one, “Our members performed aarti and paid tributes to Godse and Apte at Daulatganj,” the national vice president Dr Jaiveer Bhardwaj was quoted in the report. The local authorities had confiscated Godse’s bust in November 2017, thereby foiling the right-wing outfit’s attempt to turn its office into his ‘temple’, added the report.

Related:

Godse trends on Gandhi Jayanti! Twitter becomes a platform for Us vs Them narrative
Banned organisations in India
No discussion on who killed Mahatma Gandhi is complete without addressing idea 
Prashant Patel Umrao still spinning fake news on Twitter

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Every year, India remembers the secular teachings Mahatma Gandhi on October 2, 2020. It is therefore a mystery as to why the hashtag of #नाथूराम_गोडसे_जिंदाबाद has started trending on the birth anniversary of India’s ‘Bapu.’

#नाथूराम_गोडसे_जिंदाबाद #gandhijayanthi2020 pic.twitter.com/jnruDDYYjr

— Harsh Soni (@harshsoni73) October 2, 2020

Nathuram Godse, a strong proponent of Hindu nationalism in his life, shot Gandhi thrice in the chest on January 30, 1948. It is shocking that netizens would choose the birth anniversary of Gandhi to remember his murderer.

Yet, people indulged in a meaningless day-long feud between Gandhi-supporters and Nathuram-supporters.

#सुदर्शन_की_हार_हिंदुओ_की_हार#नाथूराम_गोडसे_जिंदाबाद pic.twitter.com/3WkSh2n795

— कोठारी_विनोद_राम_शरद_कोठारी? (@VinodKothari16) October 2, 2020

As long as Mahatma Gandhi remains on this earth, Godse will remain on this earth as terrorist. #नाथूराम_गोडसे_जिंदाबाद

— Rana Choudhury (@rana1303) October 2, 2020

#नाथूराम_गोडसे_जिंदाबाद Godsey is God for Hindu rastras nathRAM was real RAMA of India Gandhi killed Godsey good work For india

— Gaurav Kumar singh (@GauravK21603324) October 2, 2020

Most of these people seemed have a few similar traits such as extreme love for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a sectarian attitude and a great many vile words for those who conveyed contrary views on their posts. Moreover, many of the people sharing the hashtag are being followed by Modi.

These are the people followed by our Hon. Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi on @Twitter who are trending #नाथूराम_गोडसे_जिंदाबाद !

Shame on you @BJP4India IT Cell !@rohanrgupta @Pawankhera @SupriyaShrinate @NayakRagini @drshamamohd @srivatsayb @GauravPandhi pic.twitter.com/PWjkzuWMOs

— Sumedh Gaikwad (@sumedhbgaikwad) October 2, 2020

Some people even went so far as to present Gandhi in completely different colours.

#नाथूराम_गोडसे_जिंदाबाद

See the full image ? pic.twitter.com/8Q83JgKbLb

— Aryan Chourasia (@AryanChourasi99) October 2, 2020

On the other side, people have thrown up their hands in exasperation at this display of insensitivity.

#नाथूराम_गोडसे_जिंदाबाद why is the nation stunned that this is trending?Hindutva wants us to believe Bhagat Singh(Communist),Vallabhai Patel(who wanted to eradicate RSS) and Bose(no ideology with hindutva) as their icons. But Godse,Savarkar,Golwalker and Upadhyay are their icons.

— Onaandi Pulavan (@ka_kaushik) October 2, 2020

महात्मा गांधी को नमन कर गोडडे ने उनके सीने में गोलियां दाग दी थीं। आज भी गौडसे भक्त #नाथूराम_गोडसे_जिंदाबाद कर रहे हैं महात्मा गाँधी को नमन कर। https://t.co/PKq46WSuds

— #सत्यसारथी – नरेंद्र (@SATYASAARTHI) October 2, 2020

To those who are trending: #नाथूराम_गोडसे_जिंदाबाद pic.twitter.com/DTNTtBmElo

— Subramanyam Swami (@SaysSwami) October 2, 2020

To the masses, Gandhi’s image has reminded people of the principles of secularism and non-violence. That people chose his birth date to celebrate a man who seemed to have complete opposite views, acts as a telling tale of India’s current socio-political condition.

It is of course the right of every citizen to believe in whatever principles they choose. However, to celebrate a murderer on the day of his victim’s birthday violates the spirit of Indian Constitution and comes across as completely insensitive considering ongoing issues.

Related:

Mahatma Gandhi: Words that still resonate
Why are rapists and ‘upper-caste’ supremacists getting bolder in UP?
No discussion on who killed Mahatma Gandhi is complete without addressing idea of a Hindu Rashtra
Mahatma Gandhi, Race and Caste

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The said tweet was posted by an account called Nita AmbaniFan.

NathuramGodse, Gandhi’s murderer, became a topic of discussion during these recent LokSabha campaigns. While actor Kamal Hasan said that he was independent India’s “first terrorist”, Malegaon balst accused SadhviPragya Thakur said that he was a “patriot”. Pragya Thakur was severely criticised for her comments. Since 2014 when this regime first rode to power, talk of Gode temples springing up have regularly done the rounds.
 

The tweet created outrage among twitter users, with one user asking the telecom provider to change its name to “Official NathuramGodse.”
 
AisiTaisi Democracy tweeted,
 

 

After facing a lot of flak, MTNL deleted the tweet and shared an official statement saying, “At the outset, MTNL regrets the inconvenience caused by the two objectionable tweets circulated on social media and Twitter.com and purportedly made @MTNLOfficial.We strongly condemns the above tweets and committed to investigate the matter. Press release enclosed.”

Taimur is the child of actors KareenaKapoor and Saif Ali Khan. His name, which also resembles that of a 14^th century Mongol invader has, has since the beginning generated a lot of interest among Hindutva supporters and media personnels.
 

 

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Pragya Thakur, Malegaon blast accused out on bail on health ground, is at the centre of the present turmoil around Nathuram Godse. The story begins with her filing nomination papers from the Bhopal Lok Sabha constituency. The criticism came up that how can a terror accused be a candidate for elections. Narendra Modi; jumped into the controversy stating that calling her a terrorist is an insult to the five-thousand-year-old glorious civilization and that no Hindu has ever indulged in an act of terror. As per him and his party, the earlier coining of the term Hindu terror, Saffron terror, in the wake of series of blasts which took place between 2006-2008; was to defame Hindus.
 
The next link in the whole controversy comes with big film star, now turned politician, Kamal Haasan stating that Nathuram Godse was the first terrorist of Independent India. When he was attacked for stating this, slippers were thrown at him in a public meeting. He further confirmed that every religion has its own terrorists. Pragya Thakur, the new recruit of BJP, went to pour her heart out stating that Nathuram Godse was a ‘deshbhakt,’ a nationalist, is a nationalist and will remain a nationalist. Her statement threw the BJP in a tizzy and she was asked to apologize. She was not the only one coming forward to uphold Godse and express their real and deeper ideological stand. Anantkumar Hegde, the current Union Minister, who has been asking for a change in the Constitution, stated that there is no need to be apologetic about Godse any longer. While another Karnataka BJP leader Nalin Kumar Kateel also came in Godse’s defence. To cap it all BJP Madhya Pradesh media in charge Anil Saumitra said that Mahatma Gandhi was the father of Pakistan. Saumitra has been suspended while others have been asked to apologize and notices have issued against them by BJP.
 
Narendra Modi surpassed hypocrisy when he said that while Thakur has apologized, he will never be able to forgive her! While some reprimand has been administered against her, she continues to be a BJP candidate for Bhopal constituency. Is BJP really serious about acting against those upholding Godse? It is not the first time Godse is being upheld. Many times in the past, those belonging to BJP-RSS-Hindu nationalists have expressed their praise for Godse. One recalls the RSS Sarsanghchalak Rajendra Singh, alias Rajju Bhaiyya, stating that Godse’s intentions were right, he believed in Akhand Bharat (expanded India incorporating Afghanistan Myanmar, Srilanka etc.) Then we have Sakshi Maharaj, the present BJP MP, who has been given a ticket to fight the election again, who had also called Godse a Nationalist. Despite such ideas, he is part of BJP. During the last few years, the glorification of Godse, a temple for him in Meerut, demand for land for his memorial and busts are gaining strength in the country.
 
When he is called a nationalist, in a way what is hidden from the word is its essential prefix, Hindu, to the word nationalist. Godse was a Hindu nationalist for sure. It is only by Hindu nationalists, RSS and its affiliates, that Godse is upheld and praised. BJP is in a dilemma. They do hold on to Hindu nationalism, they have deeper sympathy for what Godse did but still, they cannot support it openly. The dilemma is that BJP does pursue the path of Hindu nationalism, in contrast to Indian nationalism as propounded in our constitution.
 
Why can it not openly support Godse and his assassination of Gandhi? One recalls that after Gandhi’s murder, sweets were distributed in RSS shakhas. One recalls that RSS chief, even at that time, expressed his sorrow and stopped RSS work and declared thirteen days mourning. One recalls that RSS was banned by Sardar Patel for spreading hatred in society. Still, the point remains that all those upholding Godse cannot yet openly say so.
 
That is not yet ‘politically correct’ for BJP. This is what the BJP line is. Support Godse’s nationalism internally but do not say so openly. The reason is, Gandhi cannot be criticized and bypassed in the country. His contribution in the making of modern India, his central mission of cultivating fraternity, cutting across religious lines, region and language are too profound to be ignored. The path delineated by him, the one of non-violence has captured the imagination not only of the country but of the whole world. His campaign against untouchability had a deep impact. His contribution in this direction was in the line of what Ambedkar wanted. He being a ‘one-man army’ in sectarian violence have been a landmark in the story of India and the World.
 
So BJP, while pursuing Hindu nationalism, has to show respect for the Mahatma. Very conveniently it has made him a symbol of ‘Swachta Abhiyan’ (cleanliness campaign), bypassing Gandhi’s central mission of Hindu-Muslim unity and his path of Indian nationalism. What we are witnessing, on one hand, is the contradictions of BJP on the electoral arena and its long-term goals.

In the electoral arena, it is BJP’s compulsion to uphold Gandhi to ensure success, while all its major leaders and workers are trained in the values of Hindu nationalism, in their shakhas and training camps. In its training module, Savarkar, the progenitor of Hindutva nationalism, has a pride of place, while Gandhi is presented as an appeaser of Muslims and the one who was responsible for the partition of the country. Godse was an ardent follower of Savarkar. Savarkar was also a murder accused along with Godse but escaped the punishment in the absence of any corroborative evidence.
 
The Savarkar-Godse duo is seen with pride by most of the followers of Hindutva ideology. That’s what explains the spontaneous outbursts of the likes of Sakshi Maharaj, Anantkrishna Hegde and Pragya Thakur. BJP is compelled to make the show of speaking against them, bowing to electoral and global compulsions, while letting them thrive in the party in various capacities.
 

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Even though it has been seven decades since the death of Mahatma Gandhi’s killer, Nathuram Godse, his name and identity are still at the centre of the Indian political discourse. While, on the one hand, actor-turned-politician Kamal Hasaan referred to Godse as independent India’s first ever terrorist, on the other hand, BJP candidate and terror blast-accused Pragya Thakur has recently gone on record and called Godse a true patriot. This has been on the receiving end of criticism by many, including the BJP itself, which distanced itself from Thakur’s statement. In this episode of ‘Satta Se Sawal’, Nikhil Wagle explains why Godse still occupies a pivotal position in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s ideology and the politics behind the sudden mentions of his name.

Courtesy: News Click

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Speaking at an election rally of his party’s candidate, S. Mohanraj, from the Aravakurichi assembly constituency, actor-politician Hassan said, “I am not saying this because many Muslims are here. I’m saying this in front of Gandhi’s statue. The first terrorist post India’s independence is a Hindu. His name is Nathuram Godse.”

Immediately clarifying that he didn’t intend to make communal remarks by linking the barbaric act of terrorism with religion, Hassan said, “..terrorism is wrong. No religion would accept violence, be it Hinduism or Islam. No religion professes violence and true Muslims present in this gathering would accept this. These Muslims will vouch that terrorism is not their way. They will swear on the holy book they believe in (Quran), that love is their way.”

Hassan further said that he aspired for an equal India where all the faiths could peacefully live together. “Good Indians desire equality and want the three colours in the tricolour to remain intact. I am a good Indian, will proudly proclaim that,” said Hassan.

Even in November 2017, Hassan had taken potshots and drew condemnation from the BJP and other Hindu outfits, after he spoke of hindu terror. Hassan had said, “Hindus cannot challenge others to show extremists among them since extremism has spread to that extent even among the Hindus.” Adding further, he said, “In the past, Hindu right-wing groups would not indulge in violence. They would hold a dialogue with opponents. But now they resort to violence.”

BJP condemned Hassan’s statement and said he is “lighting fire.”

Tamil Nadu BJP chief Tamilisai Soundararajan tweeted, “Actor Kamalahasan recalling Gandhi’s assassination now and calling it Hindu terrorism is condemnable.Standing amidst minorities in TN by-election campaign he is lighting a dangerous fire to gain votes by minority appeasement.kamal didn’t opine on recent Srilanka bomb blast why? (sic).” Adding further, she said, “But dares to take up decades old event which was well enquired & guilty punished ?He threatened to leave india when his film screening was prevented by religious groups!but now he calls himself true indian! True political acting started now having lost the chances in screenplay. (sic).”

Even Vivek Oberoi, who will play the role of Narendra Modi in his biopic, tweeted, “Dear Kamal sir, you are a great artist. Just like art has no religion, terror has no religion either! You can say Ghodse was a terrorist, why would you specify ‘Hindu’ ? Is it because you were in a Muslim dominated area looking for votes?”

Aravakurichi is one of the four Assembly constituencies where bypolls are scheduled on May 19.

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The post “First terrorist post India’s independence is a Hindu. His name is Nathuram Godse”: MNM Chief Kamal Hassan appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Even as the ‘Brotherhood in Saffron’ pretends to appropriate the Mahatma’s legacy, assassin Nathuram Godse’s admirers in Maharashtra – the birthplace of the hate-Gandhi ideology, and Gujarat – the birthplace of the Mahatma – continue their campaign to vilify him and glorify the villain

(The article reproduced below was first published as a pamphlet in Gujarati, in response to two controversial plays, ‘Mee Nathuram Godse Boltoye’ and ‘Gandhi virudh Gandhi’. The pamphlet has since been translated into seven Indian languages. The English version has only recently been put out on the website, mkgandhi–sarvodaya.org). 

The killer of Gandhiji and his apologists sought to justify the assassination on the fol lowing arguments: 

• Gandhiji supported the idea of a separate state for Muslims. In a sense he was responsible for the creation of Pakistan. 
• In spite of the Pakistani aggression in Kashmir, Gandhiji fasted to compel the government of India to release an amount of Rs. 55 crore due to Pakistan. 
• The belligerence of Muslims was a result of Gandhiji’s policy of appeasement.
• Scrutinised in the light of recorded history these prove to be clever distortions to misguide the gullible. Gandhiji in those days was very active in the rough and tumble of politics. The proposal for partition of the country and violent reaction against it generated tensions which ultimately resulted in sectarian killings on a scale unprecedented in human history. 

For the ethnic Muslims, Gandhiji was a Hindu leader who opposed creation of Pakistan on sectarian grounds. Ethnic Hindus looked upon him as an impediment to their plan to avenge the atrocities on Hindus. Godse was a child of this extremist thinking. 

The assassination of Gandhiji was a culmination of decades of systematic brainwashing. Gandhiji had become a thorn in the flesh of the hardcore Hindus and in course of time this resentment turned into a phobia. Beginning with the year 1934 and over a period of 14 years, on as many as six occasions, attempts were made to kill Gandhiji. The last one by Godse on January 30, 1948 was successful. The remaining five were made in 1934, in the months of July and September 1944, September 1946 and 20th January 1948. Godse was involved in two previous attempts. 
When the unsuccessful attempts of 1934, 1944 and 1946 were made, the proposal regarding partition and the matter regarding release of Rs. 55 crore to Pakistan were not in existence at all. The conspiracy to do away with Gandhiji was conceived much earlier than the successful accomplishment thereof. The grounds advanced for this heinous crime are clever rationalisation to hoodwink the gullible. The staging of the play entitled, ‘Mee Nathuram Godse Boltoye’ is clear proof of the fact that the mindset that led to Gandhiji’s assassination has not disappeared from our national life. 

A civil society is wedded to the democratic method of resolving differences through frank and open debate and evolving a working consensus. Gandhiji was always open to persuasion. Gandhiji had invited Godse for discussions but the latter did not avail of this opportunity given to him. This is indicative of the lack of faith in the democratic way of resolving differences on the part of Godse and his ilk. Such fascist mindset seek to do away with dissent by liquidating the opponents. 

The Hindu backlash was as much responsible for the creation of Pakistan as the sentiments of ethnic Muslims. The hard core Hindus looked down upon the Muslims as misguided malechcha (unclean) and came to believe that coexistence with them was not possible. Mutual distrust and recriminations led the extremists among both the groups to regard Hindus and Muslims as different nationalities and this strengthened the Muslim League’s demand for partition as the only possible solution to the communal problem. Vested interests on both the sides stirred up the separatist sentiment and sought to justify their hate–campaign by clever and selective distortion of history. It is indeed a matter for serious concern for the nation that this mentality has not disappeared even today. 

Poet Mohammed Iqbal who wrote the famous song ‘Sare jahan se achcha Hindostan hamara’ was the first to formulate the concept of a separate state for Muslims as early as 1930. Needless to state, this sentiment was, in a sense, strengthened by Hindu extremists. In 1937, at the open session of the Hindu Mahasabha held at Ahmedabad, Veer Savarkar, in his presidential address asserted: “India cannot be assumed today to be unitarian and homogenous nation, but on the contrary there are two nations in the main – the Hindus and the Muslims.” (Vide Writings of Swatantarya Veer Savarkar, Vol. 6 page 296, Maharashtra Prantiya Hindu Mahasabha, Pune). 

In 1945, he had stated: “I have no quarrel with Mr. Jinnah’s two–nation theory. We, the Hindus are a nation by ourselves, and it is a historical fact that the Hindus and the Muslims are two nations”. (Vide Indian Educational Register, 1943, vol. 2, page 10). It was this sentiment of separate and irreconcilable identities of the followers of these religions that led to the formation of Pakistan. 

In complete contrast to this mentality, throughout his life Gandhiji remained an uncompromising advocate of the oneness of God, respect for all religions, equality of all men and non–violence in thought, speech and action. His daily prayers comprised verses, devotional songs and readings from different scriptures. All people, irrespective of their allegiance to different religions, attended those meetings. Till his dying day, Gandhiji held the view that the nationality of fellow citizens was not in any way affected by the fact of their subscribing to religious belief other than yours. During his life, on more than one occasion he strove for unity and equality among Hindus themselves, as well as amity among Hindus and Muslims, even risking his life. The idea of partition was an anathema to him. He was given to saying that he would sooner die than subscribe to such a pernicious doctrine. His life was an open book and no substantiation is necessary on this score. 

Under Gandhiji’s leadership communal amity occupied the pride of place in the constructive programmes of the Congress. Muslim leaders and intellectuals of national stature, like Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Maulana Azad, Dr. Ansari Hakim Ajmal Khan, Badruddin Tayabji, even Jinnah himself, were in the Congress fold. It is natural that the Congress opposed the proposal for the division of the country. But as a result of the incitement on the part of the lumpen elements among the Hindus and Muslims a tidal wave of carnage and lawlessness engulfed the nation. 
Faced with the breakdown of law and order in Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, North–West Frontier Province and Bengal, Congress lost nerve. Jinnah adopted an inflexible attitude. Lord Mountbatten being motivated by the time–limit given to him by the British Cabinet used all his powers of persuasion and charm to steer all the leaders to a solution quick and yet acceptable to all; but the adamantine attitude of Jinnah made everything except partition unacceptable. 

Faced with such a scenario Congress found it difficult to keep up its morale. Gandhiji conveyed to Lord Mountbatten on April 5, 1947 that he would agree even if the Britishers made Jinnah the Prime Minister and left the country as it was. Instead, Lord Mountbatten succeeded in getting the Congress to agree to partition. 

Gandhiji was in the dark about it; he was shell–shocked when he learned about it. The only remedy available to him was fasting unto death to dissuade his followers from acquiescence to a ruinous course of action. After sustained soul searching he came to the conclusion that in the prevalent situation such a step on his part would further deteriorate the situation, demoralise the Congress and the whole country. 

The factors that weighed with him were the importunate demands of a rapidly changing national scenario and the non–existence of an alternate set of leaders of proven nationalist credentials. 

The most perplexing and yet pertinent question is that Jinnah was the most vocal protagonist of Pakistan and with the intentional or otherwise efforts of Mountbatten he succeeded in carving it out. Then, instead of making the two his targets, why did Godse select one for murder who vehemently opposed the idea of partition till the resolution by the Congress accepting the partition of the country was passed on June 3, 1947 and Pakistan became a fate accompli? Is it that, as Savarkar put it, he had no quarrel with Jinnah and his two–nation theory but he and his apologists had real quarrel with Gandhi and Gandhi alone? 

It is necessary to point out an aspect of Gandhiji’s personality that made him the source of unabated distrust and dislike in the eyes of hardcore Hindus. 

Though he was a devout Hindu, Gandhiji had most amicable and warm relations with many who did not belong to the Hindu fold. As a result of this exposure he had developed an eclectic religious sense based on oneness of God and equality of all religions.Caste divisions and untouchability prevalent among the Hindus distressed him immensely. He advocated and actively encouraged inter–caste marriages. Lastly, he blessed only those marriages wherein one of the partners belonged to the untouchable castes. 

Vested interests amongst high caste Hindus viewed this reformist and other religious programmes with bitter resentment. In course of time it developed into a phobia and thus he became an anathema to them. 

The matter regarding release of Rs. 55 crore to Pakistan towards the second instalment of arrears to be paid to it, under the terms of division of assets and liabilities, requires to be understood in the context of the events that took place in the aftermath of partition. Of the Rs. 75 crore to be paid, the first instalment of Rs. 20 crore was already released. The invasion of Kashmir by self–styled liberators with the covert support of the Pakistani army took place before the second instalment was paid.

While the government of India decided to withhold it, Lord Mountbatten was of the opinion that it amounted to a violation of the mutually agreed conditions and he brought it to the notice of Gandhiji. To Gandhiji’s ethical sense the policy of tit for tat was repugnant and he readily agreed with the Viceroy’s point of view. However, linking his stand in this matter with the fast he undertook, as we will see in the following lines, is an intentional mix-up and distortion of facts of contemporary history. 

The fast was undertaken with a view to restoring communal amity in Delhi. Gandhiji arrived from Calcutta in September 1947 to go to Punjab to restore peace there. On being briefed by Sardar Patel about the explosive situation in Delhi itself he changed his plans and decided to continue his stay in Delhi to restore peace with the firm determination to “Do or Die.” 

The influx of Hindus from Pakistan who were uprooted and who had suffered killings of relatives, abduction and rape of women and looting of their belongings had created an explosive situation. Local Hindus who were outraged by the treatment meted out to their Hindu brethren and the anger of local Muslims against reports of similar outrages on their co–religionists in India made Delhi a veritable witches’ cauldron. 

This resulted in killings, molestation, torching of houses and properties. This caused deep anguish to Gandhiji. What added poignancy to this was the realisation that it happened in India itself just after an unique incident in the history of mankind: doing away of the shackles of a colonial regime by non–violent means. 

It was with this background in his mind that he undertook a fast unto death to restore communal amity and sanity in Delhi. And, as if to allow the critics of Mahatma Gandhi a chance to mix–up and manoeuvre, the decision of the government of India to release Rs. 55 crore to Pakistan came during this period of his fast. 

The following facts dissolve the much–touted thesis that Gandhiji had fasted to bring moral pressure on government of India to relent: 

• Dr. Sushila Nair, as soon as she heard Gandhiji proclaim his decision, rushed to her brother Pyarelal and informed him in a huff that Gandhiji had decided to fast till the madness in Delhi ceased. Even in those moments of inadvertence, the mention of 55 crore of rupees was not made which clearly proves that it was not intended by Gandhiji. 
• Gandhiji’s own announcement about his resolve in the evening prayer meeting on 12th January did not contain any reference to it. Had it been a condition, he would have certainly mentioned it as that. 
• Similarly, there was no reference to it in his discourse on 13th January. 
• Gandhiji’s reply on 15th January to a specific question regarding the purpose of his fast did not mention it. 
• The press release of the government of India did not have any mention thereof. 
• The list of assurances given by the committee headed by Dr. Rajendra Prasad to persuade Gandhiji to give up his fast did not include it. 

We hope these facts would put the Rs. 55 crore concoction at rest. 

With regard to the last allegation regarding appeasement of Muslims, it should be conceded that a certain amount of antagonism between Hindus and Muslims existed in the nation. The colonial power cleverly exploited it during its reign and inevitably the division of the country came into being. Long before Gandhiji appeared on the national stage sagacious leaders like BG Tilak had started attempts to secure the participation of Muslims in the nationalist struggle.

Under what came to be known as the Lucknow Pact, Lokmanya Tilak, Annie Besant and Mohammed Ali Jinnah evolved a formula under which the Muslims would get representation greater than what would be justified on the basis of the percentage of Muslim population. The frank and bold statement of Tilak defending the Pact is an eloquent refutation of the charge that Gandhiji began the policy of appeasement of Muslims.

The author of the play, Mee Nathuram Godse Boltoye, Pradeep Dalvi, described the order of the Maharashtra government banning the staging of the play as an attack on freedom of expression. This is a travesty of truth and a perversion of the fundamental right guaranteed by the constitution. 

The constitution also provides for ban on the abuse of this freedom; vide its section 19(2). The implications of what Dalvi and his ilk profess requires to be carefully analysed. Under the guise of defending the freedom of expression, what they are seeking to do is to advocate the right to murder those who do not agree with them. They seek to spread hatred and violence. They want to propagate the pernicious doctrine that under certain circumstances the murder of the opponent becomes an act of religious sacrifice. 

It is revolting to find that the heinous murder of one who was a living embodiment of non–violence, peace and love and who was as defenceless as a naked, new born child should be made a scaffolding for a neo–fascist doctrine. 

Godse is no more but the mindset that gave birth to such distorted philosophy is unfortunately still with us. One can dismiss what he did as an act of a lunatic bigot. Assassination by itself is not as wicked as the attempts to rationalise, justify, masquerade it as a religious act. Permitting such plays to be staged amounts to permitting mis–education of our children. Only sane response to such insidious propaganda is unequivocal rejection thereof. 
 

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