by Gandhi’s Tomb or Raj Ghat-Facts and visit
The News on 30th January, 1948, shocked India and the world that, “Mahatma Gandhi was shot dead”. The biggest loss to nation just after a few months of India’s Independence, the news of Gandhi’s assassination was hard to believe. His body was cremated a day after his death following the Hindu rituals at Raj Ghat on the bank of Yamuna river in Delhi. And later on, a mausoleum came to exist soon at the Raj Ghat (Ghaat). The mausoleum or Gandhi’s Tomb is also known as Gandhi Samadhi or Raj Ghat.
Gandhi, the symbol of peace and non-violence, a great politician who fought for India’s independence from British colonial power, he was no more now. His body, wrapped in white cotton sheet was carried through the streets of Delhi, and people kept on joining the last journey of the Mahatma. It turned into a procession joined by grieving people in thousands, which has happened for the first time in the history of Independent India.
Finally, the body was brought at Raj Ghat (now known as Gandhi’s Tomb) from his Delhi’s residence Birla House, to place on the pyre. The pyre of heaped dried wood was well organized to place the body on. Ghee was poured on the wood and Devdas Gandhi, the eldest son of Mahatma Gandhi, touched the flame to pyre wood in the presence of thousands of people gathered there. The body of Mahatma Gandhi was burnt into ashes leaving the smoke of grief and mourning among people.
The sacred ashes were collected in a pot. The part of the ashes was scattered to different parts of India and in the Indian Ocean. The last remaining part of the ashes were scattered, later on, across the “Sangam” by Tushar Gandhi, after 49 years of Gandhi’s death. Tushar Gandhi is the great grandson of Gandhiji.
The ashes were scattered by Tushar at the Sangam of two sacred rivers; the Ganges and Yamuna. The point of confluence of these two rivers is called ‘Sangam’ is located at the city of Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh, India. The Sangam is believed to be a sacred place by Hindus.
- You may also like to read about a famous temple in Delhi-Laxminarayan Temple.
How Mahatma Gandhi Died:
Mahatma Gandhi was killed by Nathuram Vinayak Godse, a Brahmin fanatic. (Mostly the Brahmins are peace loving and socially privileged class of India). What a powerful British colonial state dared not to do to Mahatma Gandhi, was done by an Indian. Nathuram Godse assassinated Gandhi with bullets fired from a pistol at a point blank range. Godse shot three bullets at Mahatma Gandhi’s chest resulting to his death. This unfortunate event of Mahatma’s murder, as perceived by many social scientists and scholars, was the “first terrorist attack in India”.
After a long judicial trial, as it was found, assassination of Gandhi was a cold blooded murder by Nathuram Godse and his other associates. Nathuram Godse with Narayan Apte was convicted of murder. Both of them were hanged to death on November 15, 1949, at Ambala Jail, for such a cruel act against humanity.
Relevance of Gandhi’s Tomb Today:
On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti (Gandhiji born on 2 October, 1869) the President, the Vice President, and the Prime Minister of India pay tributes to Gandhi, visiting his tomb at Raj Ghaat. Apart from this on the occasions of Indian Independence Day and Indian Republic Day, the heads of state pay tributes to Gandhiji. The visiting foreign dignitaries to India also love to visit and pay their respects.
Today, Mahatma Gandhi’s Tomb is a revered place and visited by Indian people and tourists from all over the world. The main tomb has been built in black granite stone with an eternally lit fire lamp. The lamp is symbolic to emit light of peace and love into the darkness of violence and hate. The main tomb has been centered with a lovely squire walled garden.
Mahatma Gandhi was a man who believed in simple life with minimum consumerism and high thought. Simply, the tomb of Mahatma Gandhi reflects this very idea. The mausoleum is as simple as his life, and as green as his thoughts. Gandhi is an institution and an idea, which will remain forever. Gandhiji is known as Mahatma (the Great Spirit), Baapu (the father) and a saint like leader for all.
- Also read about the facts and history of Qutub Minar of Delhi, a 13th century world heritage site in India.
Let me mention two quotes from Mahatma Gandhi,
“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
and
“Be the change you want to see in the world”.
As a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, Einstein notes,
“Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth”.
Every year, the Birthday of Mahatma Gandhi is celebrated as the International Day of Non-Violence by United Nations, on 2 October. This is wonderful and a great tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. It reflects a dedicated approach to uphold the policy of peace, non-violence, justice to all, and co-existence to make more beautiful world for all by UNO.
