Six decades later, our mind is haunted by one question — why did Nathuram Godse and his five friends assassinate Mahatma Gandhi. Vishnu Kadkade, Narayan Apte, Gopal Godse, Digambar Badge and Madanlal Pahwa were all deeply influenced by Veer Savarkar’s ideology.

They were against the formation of Pakistan, but did not realise that Gandhi himself was opposed to the division of India. In fact, Gandhi had made a valiant case for a united India to Sardar Patel. The Mahatma even tried to persuade Lord Mountbatten against partition of the country. However, neither Mountbatten and Jinnah nor Patel along with other Congress leaders could ever foresee that the violence in the division’s aftermath could be as pervasive as to claim 12 lakh innocent lives. All they could see was an end to the political bickering.

How could Hindu fanatics kill a man who was against the formation of Pakistan, and was a believer in Lord Rama and Gita, is a question that still bothers us after 60 years. Godse was not even a believer — he refused to enter Lakshminarayan temple in Delhi with the others just before carrying out the assassination.

The conspirators assassinated Gandhi because he fought for Pakistan’s legitimate share in undivided India’s treasury under the terms of the agreement, by which 80 per cent share of treasury was to be given to India and 20 per cent to Pakistan. As Pakistan faced bankruptcy, Mountbatten made a personal plea to Gandhi that India should not back out from the agreement. Gandhi announced a fast unto death, not just for Pakistan’s share, but also for an end to violence against Muslims living in India.

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