On January 30, 1948, at 5:17 PM, Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated at Birla House, New Delhi, by Nathuram Godse. While the official narrative has long held that Godse, a Hindu nationalist, acted alone in this heinous act, numerous questions remain unanswered. Was this just a lone-wolf attack, or was it part of a larger conspiracy? Why were there so many security lapses despite previous attempts on Gandhi’s life? Was the assassination used as a political tool to reshape India’s power structure?
Gandhi was on a fast from January 13, 1948, pressuring the Indian government to release funds to Pakistan. Despite surviving an earlier assassination attempt just ten days prior, the security arrangements at Birla House remained minimal. On January 20, 1948, Godse and his associates had already attempted to kill Gandhi by throwing a bomb in the prayer hall. One of the conspirators, Madanlal Pahwa, was arrested, and he revealed the entire assassination plan to the police. Yet, shockingly, Godse and his key accomplices roamed freely for the next ten days.
The police, fully aware of the threat, had over 60 opportunities to arrest Godse between January 20 and January 30. Yet, he was neither apprehended nor closely monitored. Why was such negligence allowed? Was it incompetence, or was there a deliberate decision to let events unfold?
On the fateful day, Gandhi arrived ten minutes late for his prayer meeting, walking with Manuben on his right and Abhaben on his left. A man in khaki, Godse, stopped his path with folded hands. Manuben, thinking he wanted to touch Gandhi’s feet, she pushed the man aside saying, “Bapu is already ten minutes late, why do you embarrass him”.
Instead, Godse pushed her forcefully and drew a Beretta M1934, a 9mm Italian pistol with serial number 606824, firing at Gandhi at point-blank range. Reports vary on whether three or four bullets were fired, leading to suspicions of tampering with official accounts.
Eyewitnesses recall thick smoke and chaos. Strangely, amid the stunned crowd, one man remained completely unshaken—Herbert Reiner Jr., an American army officer working as a diplomat in India. He swiftly captured Godse, bringing him down and handing him over to the police. How did Reiner react so quickly while even Godse himself appeared momentarily stunned? Was Reiner merely an alert bystander, or did he possess foreknowledge of the attack?
Key Questions That Remain Unanswered
Why was Gandhi not taken to a hospital?
He was instead moved to a residential unit of Birla House, where he succumbed to his injuries at 5:40 PM. Could medical intervention have saved him?
Why was no postmortem conducted?
Inexplicably, under Jawaharlal Nehru’s direct orders, no autopsy was performed. What was being covered up?
Why did the police fail to act against Godse despite knowing his intentions?
Arresting Godse and his team after the January 20 attack could have prevented the assassination. Was their inaction deliberate?
How did Godse acquire the Italian Beretta pistol?
The firearm was previously in possession of a British officer in England. How did it make its way to Godse in India?
Why was an American army officer present at the exact location of the assassination?
Herbert Reiner Jr.’s immediate reaction raises questions. Was he merely a coincidental bystander, or did he play a larger role?
Why were BBC journalist Robert Stimson and American journalist Vincent Sheean present?
Was the presence of these foreign media figures coincidental, or were they sent to document a premeditated event?
How did global newspapers publish a uniform narrative within hours?
The next day, every major international newspaper prominently ran the headline: “A Hindu Killed Gandhi.” Was this a well-orchestrated media campaign?
Why was the trial of Nathuram Godse conducted in secrecy and rushed?
Within 22 months of the assassination, in November 1949, Godse was hanged. Why was Nehru in such a hurry to execute him before deeper investigations could be conducted?
Who Benefited from Gandhi’s Death?
Gandhi’s assassination radically altered the Indian political landscape. Before 1948, Nehru was not the undisputed leader of Congress. The assassination catapulted him to absolute power. Nehru consolidated control over Congress and the Indian government.
The Hindu Mahasabha, which was gaining popularity, was completely discredited and sidelined. The assassination was used as an emotional and political tool to strengthen the Congress party’s hold on India. Nehru’s family has ruled India for decades, securing dynastic control that continues to this day.
In 2015, an RTI application sought access to the charge sheet of Gandhi’s assassination trial. The response? The charge sheet is missing. This shocking revelation raises the possibility that crucial evidence has been erased.
Was Gandhi’s assassination merely the act of a lone extremist, or was it part of a larger, well-orchestrated conspiracy involving multiple actors? Was Nathuram Godse just a pawn used to remove Gandhi, ensuring a seismic shift in India’s political future?
(The story is based on a thread on X by The Chronology)
