Gandhi assassinated | January 30, 1948 | HISTORY

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the political and spiritual leader of the Indian independence movement, is assassinated in New Delhi by a Hindu extremist on January 30, 1948. His death marks a profound turning point for the nation, underscoring the deep political and religious tensions that persisted after the 1947 independence from British colonial rule resulted in a partition between India and Pakistan.

Gandhi was shot at close range while walking to a prayer meeting in the garden of Birla House, a residence where he had been staying. The assassin, Nathuram Godse, a Hindu nationalist who opposed Gandhi’s views on religious tolerance and his approach to relations between India and Pakistan, fired three shots into Gandhi's chest. The leader fell to the ground, reportedly uttering his last words: “Hey Rama” (translation: “Oh God”). He was taken to his room and died shortly afterward. Godse and an accomplice were later tried and hanged.