Gandhi's Death

Gandhi woke up at 3:30 am Fri, January 30, 1948.killer was Nathuram Godse, a Hindu extremist
He had just finished a six day fast. He waswho believed it was wrong for Gandhi to
scheduled to lead an outdoor prayer meeting forassociate with Muslims.
peace. He said his morning prayers, and thenGandhi's last words were "He Ram, He Ram" ("Oh
spent the day writing letters and meeting with anGod, Oh God"). He died with the name of God on
official from India's new government. He washis lips.
escorted to the prayer meeting by his grandGandhi's life and death torched people all over the
nieces, Abha and Manu to a crowd of about fiveworld. His lessons of nonviolence, passive
hundred that had gathered.resistance, and civil disobedience would live on well
When he arrived people cleared a path for him,beyond his life. It would influence the American
many bowing down. He reached the stage andcivil rights movement and the leaders of it. Martin
offered a traditional Hindu greeting, putting hisLuther King Jr. used Gandhi's lessons to lead his
hands together and stretching them up high.own people to independence. The techniques of
With out warning a young man rushed from thenonviolence require devotion to the idea, which
crowd. Manu tried to hold him back, but hedoes not come easy. You must overcome
knocked her aside. He pulled out a pistol and firedyourself to spread peace to the world.
three shots. Within minutes Gandhi was dead. The