Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, is internationally esteemed for his doctrine of nonviolent protest to achieve political and social progress.
On the same day, as he walked up the four steps leading to the prayer mandap, a young man, aged about 35, came in front of Gandhiji and offered pranam by bending his body. And just at that moment, the young man pulled out his revolver and rang out three shots from point-blank range just below the heart and stomach at 5-12 p.m. on January 30th and he died fifteen minutes later.
The struggle in South Africa has been more than seven years. It had its ups and downs, but under Gandhiji’s leadership, the small Indian minority kept up its resistance against heavy obstacles. Hundreds of Indians preferred to sacrifice their livelihood and liberty rather than submit their conscience and self-respect.
Gandhi ji was the dominant figure on the political stage, commanding an influence never before attained by any political leader in India or perhaps in any other country. Gandhiji’s opinion was very simple that it was not British guns but imperfections of Indians themselves that kept their country in bondage.
Mahatma Gandhi had critics in his own country. It was one of the greatest disappointments of Gandhi’s life that Indian freedom was realized without Indian unity.
