Why I Killed Gandhi

This is the kind of book/review/subject that warrants a 100, no a 1000 disclaimers, but I am going to offer none. Mostly because I don't even know where to begin with the disclaimers on this one. What do I even say? Especially when I am so conflicted on how I feel about the assassination, which is at the core of this book.So here's what I'll do - I'll just share my own thoughts on the book & leave it to you guys to decide whether or not to read this one. However, just to be clear, at-least on that front, my recommendation is clear: read this book.Not because it's pro or against anyone or any ideology. And certainly not because I condone Godse's act (because I don't, that's the root cause of my internal conflict).Read this book because it will give you insight into the mind of the man who killed Gandhi, his thought process & his reasons. Especially read it, because it highlights a side of Indian history that has been intentionally erased from textbooks, all to promote the brand & idea of Gandhi.Which truth be told, is not all propaganda. Because Gandhi did do some truly great work, if nothing else, then he must be applauded for sustaining a mass movement for freedom and standing up for a lot of noble values.But then again to highlight only one side of the man & his movement while disregarding the other, is to settle for a half truth instead of the complete history, which is not that straightforward, but complicated, messy and downright unpleasant.And that's why I say read this book, use your judgement & make up your own mind on how you feel about the book, the man (both the men in-fact) & the assassination. But do read it.Full review / unfiltered thoughts on the blog: shanaya tales dot com.

"I have no doubt that honest writers of history will weigh my act and find the true value thereof some day in the future," wrote Gandhi's murderer.May this honest and humble review be evidence that there was truth in the assassin's wordsI'd like to note, before I begin, that my One Star rating is based on the context and value of the message, and not on the messenger. In other words, not on whoever decided to publish the assassin's attempts at justifying the unjustifiable.The value that I, personally, derived from this exposition, is the great importance that Psychological and Spiritual Development/Maturity play in this Cosmic Dream we call Life.Two things immediately came to mind as I began reading this little book:1) The spearheading work of the late David Hawkins; very aptly explained in his best seller, Power v.s. Force. In fact, he gives Gandhi as an example of someone who exemplifies genuine "Power," in contrast to what his murderer clearly engaged in, "Force." How Gandhi managed to free his country, WITHOUT HOLDING A SINGLE WEAPON; WITHOUT FIRING A SINGLE BULLET, from its oppressors--the British.2) The words I once read, I think from Marriane Williamson's book, A Return to Love, in which she points out that no one remembers the name of a single Roman soldier who beat and led Jesus of Nazareth to his violent death. Yet, the name of the very person who must have seemed so weak, so fragile, the loser...in his being led to his physical death, still continues to touch and change the lives of MILLIONS from all over the globe. "Who had the Power?" Marriane asks.The same is the case here. I had never, ever, even heard the name of the person who murdered Gandhi. But I was definitely curious to know how his hate, anger, rage, the basest of our human impurities, could reach the point of making oneself judge and jury as to the continuance or end of another human being's life.This letter, from Gandhi's assassin exemplifies, with impressive clarity, what happens when the human mind becomes so conditioned and identified to an ideology, that fanaticism, projection (disowning, deflecting responsibility), even the twisted notion that murder is "moral," is the result.Let me paint a picture of what I, personally, got from Gandhi's murderer's explanation. I'll put the crux of it, very simply, via the use of analogy.Imagine that you are a psychologically mature, spiritually evolved, loving father. You embody what is pointed to via ALL the great religions. In other words, your religion is NOT just a concept to you, not just mind stuff. You actually LIVE what all religions point to. Which is that Ultimately, there is no such thing as actual separation between one and another. That we are all human brothers and sisters sharing this beautiful planet. Interconnected in this wondrous, Divine Dream (Lilla, Maya, etc).You have a son, lets call him JAI. You love him dearly, and all is well. But one day, you see a child in your village, about JAI's age or younger, who is homeless, lonely, and suffering. He instantly reminds you of your JAI. He is cold, hungry, and scared. Being a genuinely loving person, your heart sinks, and you don't even have to think about it. You are guided by your heart and NOT the conditioned mind. You take the child into your home.The problem is that your actual son, JAI, is highly immature, selfish, narcissistic, egocentric. Basically, a spoiled brat. He immediately resists and resents your loving act. He begs you to kick the poor child out, to send him back where he came from. That if you insist on INTEGRATING him into the family, that you must put him in the garage and give him leftovers, and treat him as the bastard child that he is. "He isn't of our kind! He is less than us! You have to love your own! Not those who are different than us. Family, not strangers!" JAI tells you.Any kind gesture that you express to the orphan child, JAI interprets it as imballance. You are taking your attention away from him to give it to the bastard child. His fears and insecurities only amplify when he sees that you've bought the child new clothes, enrolled him into school, and are basically treating him just as you do JAI.Eventually JAI becomes so insecure, so infused in his own mental nightmares, that he decides that the best course of action is to murder you.That is, in a nutshell, what happened here. Gandhi's murderer was a religious fanatic who hated the Muslims. And because Gandhi, like Mother Terresa and all the great, awakened beings, saw the HUMAN BEING before the mental conditioning/religious/divisive programming, he was tolerant of them. He didn't want to do to them, what the British had done his own people.Before wrapping this up, let me point out the other flaws that stood out for me in the murderer's thinking:1. Violence & Mythological Figures -- the murderer references highly loved and respected Indian lore. Stories like The Ramayana, The Mahabharata, and The Bhagavad Gita. He uses them to JUSTIFY his violent aggression. The age-old flaw of interpreting stories as literally rather than through their intended METAPHORICAL pointing/symbolism. These were his own words, "I could never conceive that an armed resistance to an aggression is unjust."He--because of his low level of development--missed the ENTIRE point of said GREAT WORKS! They were ALL about Liberation! Not from an enemy OUT THERE, but from the REAL ONE IN HERE! All of the characters in those EPIC stories represent SUBJECTIVE aspects of the human PSYCHE. Aspects of our own mind/personality/subjectivity. The villains are our own psychological imaturities! Hate, anger, egocentrism, fanaticism, conceptual identifications, divisions, etc! All labelled and reflected as ego, the devil, the demon, the agents, the sentinel, the witch, etc.,etc., etc...At one point, the murderer explains how he feared that Gandhi was gaining too much power, too much influence, and that his perceptions and decisions would become absolute. In other words, that Gandhi's way would eventually overshadow what the assassin's ego had become fixated on, to the extreme. And get this, for this is what so many people who say that they feel "conflicted" as to the murderer's culpability, grossly fail to acknowledge. He claimed that Gandhi was gaining the Power to say what the future of India should be. That he was becoming both judge and jury of India's future. Was the murderer NOT DOING THE VERY SAME thing in DECIDING the duration of another human beings life? Did not God decide when and how to give birth to Gandhi? Did the murderer (as a person/human expression) have anything to do with Gandhi's apparition on this planet? Then why should HE play judge and jury as to when to END it?This is what he says in the matter, in his own words:"There was no legal machinery by which such an offender (Gandhi) could be brought to book and for this reason I fired those fatal shots."Gandhi's murderer was so ignorant, so debased in his Spiritual and even human development, that he actually referred to Gandhi's expressions of compassion and civility (for which be became famous) as: "CHILDISH INSANITIES and OBSTINANCES."How does a person who decides to KILL another human being. A human being who is loved by MILLIONS, the world over, refer to that Loved being as insane?I am not nearly as Saintly as Gandhi, so I can't lie to you and say that a smile did not form on my face when I learned that this murderer had, himself, been put to death. The energy with which he released the projectile that took Gandhi's life, boomeranged to take his own. And just as in the Great Epics that he, himself referenced, he ironically turned out to play the vital role of villain. Gandhi's Power could only be exalted by such a role twist, in this Epic, Cosmic play.In the final analysis, reading this forced me to notice the enemy of anger and rage arising within me. Inspired by one who would murder another simply because he disagrees with that other's pure expressions of UNCONDITIONAL (NO BOUNDARY, NO US AGAINST THEM) LOVE, and slay the TRUE, REAL enemy, right where it actually arises, within my own inner world.From this Higher perspective, I can fully appreciate how this Cosmic Play, played itself with DIVINE PERFECTION.

I grew up in India and was taught that Godse was a fanatic and a murderer - same was perhaps taught to every single Indian. After reading Godse's defense and his rationale, there is no doubt in my mind that his action that day was indeed heroic and for the betterment of the country. I don't come to this conclusion lightly. One only has to look at not just what happened then but what has been happening in India even after 75 years of independence. Gandhi's policies and actions were not consistent with his carefully portrayed image of "mahatma" and champion of non-violence and human rights. His appeasement policies to Muslim extremists, and inability and inaction caused deaths, rapes, forced conversions and displacement of millions of Hindus and India is still paying the price of such thinking. Godse was indeed a patriot and should be treated as such. Godse's statement of defense was banned from being published and circulated in India. Sad that India could neither handle truth nor free-speech when it comes to inconvenient facts.

It is very unfortunate that as citizens of India we do not get the opportunity to listen to the other side. Indian history was written by Congress and therefore there is no room given to anything that is against them. Current day politics is still on the same lines. Minority appeasement should stop for a just society to emerge.

Very honest account. It’s important for us to know all sides of the story to let go of the prejudices we may subconsciously hold. However, killing can never ever be justified and this needs to be emphasized in this era more than any other. I wish we all can think openly, live and let live.

A conservative analysis of a devoted patriot of the time. While (I and) most people would probably not agree with the analysis or actions taken, it is however worth reading to understand.

While reading the book I was getting goosebumps. good to know about the situation and circumstances after Independence which is missing from history textbook.RIP Nathuram Godse.

I never knew more about Nathuram godse. For me it looks like he was real patriotic person. Do not want to go more into politics though!

People should never forget him and Forgive him. This book cannot proof that the killer was right .He has taken so much from India. I feel surprised when people consider his act was a right deed.He has brought shame to India.

Book is written by nathuram godse’s real brother gopal godse. Book contains the original statement given by Nathuram Godse( Assassin of Mahatma Gandhi).in this book writer narrates his accounts of all the events and takes us through the day of assassination till the day Nathuram Godse was hanged.Writer also puts forward crucial accounts of public and political opinions and reactions which were stirred up by assassination itself and also by Nathuram Godse’s official statement to court. in this book whole story or planning of gandhiji’s assassination has been put forward.in this half life of nathuram godse has been described.This book reflects the gray period India went through. Gandhi was the reason for quite a few atrocious things that India went through.I would not dwell much upon this sensitive topic, but this book is definitely a mus read in order to know a clearer history of independence of India.

This is something every Indian should read. Ther is a lot of truth in the last published words of Godse. Ther is no doubt that the partition of India along with the heartbreak and suffering rests at the feet of Gandhi, Nehru and Jinnah

This book has only 20 pages out of which if you put aside the initial and last pages dedicated for references and description then for story 15 pages are left. And the book cost is 65 INR. Publisher and writer both are making fool of the people...Don't buy this book... From the point of the story, nothing is mentioned except that what aleardy every Indian knows... it is just a scrape...

Godse was a real patriot..who gave his life for motherland..he was right and I support him for killing Gandhi...Gandhi and nehru both were Muslim supporters not patriotic...they only wanted muslims to rise ...I would recommend this book to each n every hindu...