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Mahatma Gandhi death anniversary: 5 things you want to know about Bapu's assassination

After the first World War he became a prominent spokesperson of the All India Muslim Conference and his influence on the community was remarkable.

nabanita chakorborty

30 Jan 2019 08:44 IST

Updated On 30 Jan 2019 10:03 IST

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Starting from the Salt Satyagraha March to the Khilafat movement, Mahatma Gandhi, popularly known as Bapu, was instrumental in the freedom movement of India. The Salt Satyagraha March, popularly known as 'Dandi March', was a landmark event in India's freedom struggle. As many as 80 Satyagrahis led by Gandhi marched 241 miles from Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad to the coastal village of Dandi and made salt from sea water, thus breaking the Salt Law imposed by the British. Under the Khilafat movement, Gandhi organised a worldwide protest to fight against the collapsing status of the Caliph. After the first World War he became a prominent spokesperson of the All India Muslim Conference and his influence on the community was remarkable.

Other major freedom movements initiated by Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, include the World War I, Champaran, Kheda, Non-cooperation Movement and Quit India movement among others. His contribution to the Indian freedom movement cannot be measured in words.

Read | Gandhi death anniversary: Books on Mahatma up for sale at half price

On Gandhi’s death anniversary, January 30, here we bring 5 lesser known facts you may want to know about his assassination:

1.

Before January 30, 1948, there were five failed attempts to assassinate Gandhi - in June 1934, in July and September 1944, September 1946 and January 20, 1948. Nathuram Godse was involved in three of those attempts.

2.

Gandhi had a premonition about his impending death and talked about it dozens of times before that fateful day. On the decisive morning, Gandhi handed over the final draft of his future plan for the Indian National Congress.

3.

Despite several warnings to Mahatma Gandhi from the government, he told the authorities that he does not want security. Hence, his assassination could have been averted.

4.

The first attempt on Gandhi's life in 1934 was the Hindutva's response to the dominant political articulations of nationhood, caste and economic and other democratic rights which challenged the idea of a hegemonic and authoritarian Hindu Rashtra.

5.

There are several reports linking the BJP and the RSS with the assassination of Gandhi. In a related note, KB Hedgewar, the founder of the Sangh, was one of the secretaries of the Hindu Mahasabha. In a bid to commemorate the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, India observes January 30 as Martyr's Day.

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