Nathuram Godse: N.Godse (1910-1949)

Nathuram Godse was born at Baramati, Pune District, British India. His father was Vinayak Vaman Rao Godse, his mother was Lakshmi (Godavari before marriage). His father was a fifteen-rupee-a-month employee of the post office. He would drop out of high school and become an activist for the party Hindu Mahasabha

Motive

The immediate motive for the assassination is usually ascribed to Gandhi's January 13, 1948 decision to fast to the death unless the Indian central government reversed a decision to withhold the transfer of 55 crore (550 million) rupees to the government of Pakistan. The transfer had been specified in the partition agreement, but the Indian government had refused to complete it, complaining of continued Pakistani rebel occupation of disputed parts of Kashmir.

The Indian government immediately reversed its decision to withhold the funds, which infuriated Godse and his fellow Hindu nationals.

The decision to assassinate Gandhi was taken by Godse alone. The Mahasabha resolutely denied all complicity, and Godse took full responsibility.

Attack

Godse assassinated Gandhi on January 30, 1948, approaching him during the evening prayer, bowing, and shot him three times at close range. Godse was convicted of murdering Gandhi, for which he was executed by hanging.

• Godse's deposition in court Archived 2008-05-13 at the Wayback Machine
• A pro-Godse site Archived 2008-05-13 at the Wayback Machine with interviews and links
• Time Magazine's Feb 2000 interview of Gopal Godse Archived 2011-02-20 at the Wayback Machine
• Rediff's Jan 1998 interview of Gopal Godse
• Article discussing pro-Godse play
• Eyewitness to Gandhi assassination Archived 2008-02-03 at the Wayback Machine
• Eyewitness gives VIDEO account of Gandhi Assassination