Exorcising the Godse ghost: Who killed Mahatma Gandhi?

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Exorcising the Godse ghost: Who killed Mahatma Gandhi?
Deccan Chronicle
August 8, 2011

 

By T.S.Sreenivasa Raghavan DC Kochi

 

Former SC Justice K.T. Thomas

 

It's been 63 years since Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse.
But, who're behind the brutal assassination? Was it the handiwork of Godse &
company or the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)? The controversial question
crops up at regular intervals in various parts of the country kicking up
fresh debates on the subject. As for Congress leaders, it's almost an
obsession to blame it on the RSS. However, when a decisive answer comes from
a non-controversial and apolitical person who besides being a Christian also
happens to be a retired Supreme Court justice, it should prompt one to sit
up and think. Yes, we're, of course, talking about K.T.Thomas who recently
stirred a hornet's nest when, presiding over an RSS function in the city, he
unequivocally absolved RSS from Ganndhi assassination. The controversy, of
course, was ignored by the national media. However, Thomas' clean to chit to
RSS, as expected, has left the Congress leaders in Kerala fuming. Congress
state president Ramesh Chennithala and MLA P.C.Vishnunath lambasted him for
'distorting history.' However, for the RSS leaders, Thomas' remarks proved
like manna from the heaven considering his stature. Even as the controversy
rages, the questions still remain: who actually killed Gandhi? Was it the
RSS? Those who've read history will know Godse severed his links with RSS
calling it an organization run by eunuchs. This being so, is right to point
fingers at RSS, because Godse was its member once? Thomas put it better:
"it's like blaming the whole Sikh community, because, one of its misguided
members assassinated Indira Gandhi." Is Thomas right in his views? Is RSS
speaking the truth when it says it'd nothing to do with the Gandhi
assassination? Or is it that the Congress leaders have a point? It's said
history is just a bucket of ashes. But, certainly, the life and times of the
Mahatma continues to defy this dictum, because, in the political parleys
truth comes up with many faces; some shocking, others intriguing while a few
really could irritate. So, in all likelihood, we'll continue to ask again
and again: who killed Gandhi? Congress cares for the minority: Justice K T
Thomas Former Supreme Court justice K.T.Thomas who came in for severe
criticism for his remarks absolving RSS from Mahatma Gandhi assassination
said he still stuck to his gun. "Godse was part of RSS. But, he'd left the
organization before he killed Gandhi since he found it too soft. So, you
can't blame it on RSS", Thomas told Deccan Chronicle. Thomas said judiciary
in the country, so far, couldn't find any evidence against RSS. The case was
first heard at Red Fort by Justice Atmacharan who didn't find any RSS link.
Nor the bench headed by Justice Khosle. "Later, Nehru even ordered a probe
which drew a blank. After this, in 1966 Indira Gandhi ordered judicial probe
headed by Justice JL Kapoor who also couldn't find any RSS connection",
Thomas revealed. When the whole judicial and democratic means had been
expended, the country should put an end to the debate, he said. "It's unjust
and unfair to drag the RSS name again and again", he said. He said, the
biography written by Robert Payne, author of The Life and Death of Mahatma
Gandhi also couldn't find any RSS link. "My comment on the subject should be
treated as a judicial analysis", he observed. Stating that Congress leaders
like Chennithala wouldn't know much about history, he said RSS was still
being blamed for minority votes. "I don't know whether Chennithala had read
Robert's work", he teased. He further said when Gandhi was assassinated, the
then RSS president Golvarkar was in Madras. "The outfit went into an
immediate mourning. Ideologically, we may differ. But, you can't question
their patriotism", he said. He recalled visiting the cell in Andamans in
1997 where Veer Savarkar was lodged for 27 years. "I could see many poems
he'd written on the wall using stone, because, authorities never gave him
anything to write", he recalled. He reminded that, the freedom people enjoy
today was the result of the sacrifices made by persons like Veer Savarkar.
Can't blame RSS: Gandhi family Even as Thomas' remark on the Gandhi
assassination continues to make waves, great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi,
Sreekrishna Kulkarni asserted it was not right to link the RSS name. "In 63
years' time, the Government has instituted many judicial commissions and
committees to investigate the assassination. None could establish the RSS
connection", Sreekrishna told Deccan Chronicle. He said India is a democracy
with a vibrant and independent judiciary. "The children of Gandhiji have
never tried to obstruct or influence the impartial investigation of this
case", he reminded. Sreekrishna said it was time people learnt to respect
the judicial findings in the matter and rested the issue. As for RSS, he
said it has contributed immensely to the nation's development. "It's
incorrect to drag the RSS name repeatedly for petty political reasons", he
appealed. Sreekrishna also revealed that after Bapu's assassination, his
grandfather Ramdas Gandhi had written to Nehru requesting him not to hang
Godse. But Godse was hanged", he said. RSS will circulate the speech
Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS) is not taking kindly the criticism
leveled by Congress state president Ramesh Chennithala and MLA
P.C.Vishnunath against the observation made by former Supreme Court justice
K.T. Thomas. RSS state general secretary P. Gopalan Kutty master said the
Congress leaders would be sued soon on defamatory grounds for dragging the
RSS name into the Mahatma Gandhi assassination episode. "We'll do that in a
day or two", Kutty said. He said, the country had several commissions and
committees on the issue. "But, none could prove RSS involvement. Justice
K.T.Thomas only spoke the truth", Kutty asserted. Thomas' speech would be
printed into pamphlets and would be distributed across Kerala, he informed.
Thomas being respected by all sections of society, Kutty feels that many in
the state would want to read the pamphlet. "If Congress leaders can prove
that the RSS was involved in killing the Mahatma, let them remain deluded.
We're ready to take it up as a challenge", he asserted.