From Pope To King George, Mahatma Gandhi's Assassination Sent Shock Waves Across The World

It was roughly quarter past 5 pm, when three gunshots did not only break the poetic silence at Birla House in New Delhi, but also silenced the strongest voice of India's independence movement - Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, for the Indians the beloved Bapu.

Yes, Mahatma was no more and the nation and world were left in shock. It was a normal day like any other for Mahatma, but like all great men he too perhaps had an idea about what the destiny had in store for him. Manuben, the niece of Mahatma had told that when Mahatma's meeting with Sardar Patel got extended and he got late for the evening prayer, she told him that two Kathiawar leaders have come to meet him.

Mahatma replied, "Tell them that, if I remain alive, they can talk to me after the prayer on my walk".

And moments later, it was all over.

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Gandhi was assassinated this on January 30, 1948 by Nathu Ram Godse. But imagining the stature of Mahatma Gandhi and the contribution he made in India¡¯s struggle for freedom, it is not that hard to imagine that the whole nation was left broken and aghast by this sudden development.

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The partition of the nation had already left it reeling, the assassination of Mahatma further discouraged the nation struggling to be on its feet independently.

This is how leaders, both Indians and from abroad had reacted to the assassination of Mahatma.

1. Jawaharlal Nehru

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Great men and eminent men have monuments in bronze and marble set up for them, but this man of divine fire managed in his life-time to become enmeshed in millions and millions of hearts, so that all of us became somewhat of the stuff that he was made of, though to an infinitely lesser degree. He spread out over India not in places only, or in select places, or in assemblies, but in every hamlet and hurt of the lowly and those who suffer. He lives in the hearts of millions of and he will live for immortal ages.

2. Sardar Patel

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For even though his mortal frame will turn into ashes tomorrow, at 4.00 pm, Gandhiji's imperishable teachings will abide with us. I even feel that Gandhiji's immortal spirit is still hovering over us and will continue to watch over the nation's destiny in future also. The mad youth who killed him was wrong if he thought thereby he was destroying his noble mission. Perhaps God wanted Gandhiji's mission to fulfill and prosper through his death.

3. Dr S Radhakrishnan

I am shocked beyond words at this fatal attack on Gandhiji. The incredible, the inconceivable, has happened. That this purest, most elevating, most inspiring man of our age should have suffered by a madman's anger shows that we have not improved since the days of Socrates, who had to drink hemlock, of Jesus, who was put on the cross.

4. The British King, George VI

The Queen and I are deeply shocked by the death of Mr Gandhi. Will you please convey to the people of India our sincere sympathy in the irreparable loss which they, and indeed mankind, have suffered.

5. Lord Mountbatten

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Gandhiji's death is truly a loss to mankind which sorely needs the living light of those ideals of love and tolerance for which he strove and died. In her hour of deep sorrow, India is proud to have given to the world a man of his imperishable renown and is confident that his example will be a source of inspiration and strength in the fulfilment of her destiny..

6. Elbert Einstein

Reuters

Everyone concerned in the better future of mankind must be deeply moved by the tragic death of Mahatma Gandhi. He died as the victim of his own principles, the principle of nonviolence. He died because, in time of disorder and general irritation in his country, he refused armed protection for himself. It was his unshakable belief that the use of force is an evil in itself, that therefore it must be avoided by those who are striving for supreme justice to his belief. With his belief in his heart and mind, he has led a great nation on to its liberation. He has demonstrated that a powerful human following can be assembled no only through the cunning game of the usual political manoeuvres and trickeries but through the cogent example of the morally superior conduct of life.

7. US President Truman

Gandhi was great Indian nationalist, but at the same time, he was a leader of international stature. His teachings and actions have left a deep impression on millions of people. As a teacher and leader, his influence made itself felt not only in India, but everywhere in the world and his death brings great sorrow to all peace-loving people.

8. Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan

He was the only ray of light to help us through these darkest days.

9. Dr Martin Luther King Jr

Like most people, I had heard of Gandhi, but I had never studied him seriously. As I read I became deeply fascinated by his campaigns of nonviolent resistance.... The whole concept of Satyagraha was profoundly significant to me.

Gandhi was probably the first person in history to lift the love ethic of Jesus above mere interaction between individuals to a powerful and effective social force on a large scale. The intellectual and moral satisfaction that I failed to gain from the utilitarianism of Bentham and Mill, the revolutionary methods of Marx and Lenin, the social contract theory of Hobbes, the 'back to nature' optimism of Rousseau, and the superman philosophy of Nietzsche, I found in the non-violent resistance philosophy of Gandhi.¡±

10. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee

The light that illuminated our motherland and indeed the world amidst darkness and sorrow has suddenly gone out. The passing away of Mahatma Gandhi is the most stunning blow to that could fall on India. That he who made India free and self-reliant, a friend and enemy of none, loved and respected by millions, should fall at the hands of an assassin, one of his own community and countrymen, is a matter of deepest shame and tragedy. He is of those whose influence never dies and indeed shines more and more with the passage of time.

The shot of the assessing not only vitally pierced through his mortal body but has grievously struck the very heart of Humanism and India, which could survive only if people resolutely decide to make the pursuit of such methods impossible.

11. Muhammad Ali Jinah

AFP

I associate myself with the tributes that have been paid to this great man. He died in the discharge of the duty in which he believed. His tragic death, however much we may deplore it and however much we may condemn the murderer, was a noble death, for he died in the discharge of his duty.

12. Pope Pius XII, Vatican City

The great man was the spiritual leader of millions of Indians and had always struggled for peace.

13. George Bernard Shaw

It shows how dangerous it is to be too good.

(All quotes were taken from http://www.mkgandhi.org/tributes)