To Mee Navhech

Transcription

All faces are unfamiliar. Actually the word unfamiliar is itself wrong. In the word unfamiliar by default you will find the word familiar. All your faces are new to me. But though new you are not strangers. From amongst you all those who are young.. ..they must have not even been born then. In official history you must have seen my name mentioned.. ..as a mere irascible Hindu man. Leave alone the ones who are middle aged from amongst you. At that time right from the killing of the Brahmins.. ..to the parents who were trying to save themselves.. They must be asking this. Who is this Nathuram? And why are our houses burnt down because of him? But yes. The elderly ones...I mean those who are very aged...they surely remember me. The news that they must have read in the newspapers.. The news heard on the radio.. Some of them must have also read Nana Apte and my newspaper. They must have heard my speech in the gatherings. Maybe they must have even come personally to meet me. But that meeting and this recognition.. After 30th January 1948 they must have continuously.. ..refused to know me. Will they be alive even today? Who would bring such old people here? Such aged people? They must be equal to my age. Do you know what my age is? 93 years! You don't agree? You will say I am lying. I do look young. But the secret of my looking young is my death. It happened before time. Don't you feel that death is the boon of being immortal? No, but... bring the picture of someone dead.. ..who is very close to you. The picture of a girl who died twenty to twenty-five years ago. Can you see wrinkles on her face? The teeth must be still intact. Jet black hair must be flying nicely. And now your hair. No don't run a hand on your head.. ..maybe your hand may not feel anything. So he is young because he is dead. Old age is suffered by a person who is alive. Tatyarao Savarkar gave me the blessing of being immortal. Tatyarao Savarakar! The one who was as intense as the sun. As fast as the wind. Even the stones would feel jealous such was his heartlessness. And his intelligencer was such that even Brihaspati.. ..would wish to become his disciple. All this together that took a human form means.. ..Tatyarao Savarkar. I still remember that day. I was arrested. I was being interrogated. And even though there was not any connection.. ..but just to trouble someone that Bheeshmacharya was arrested. No sooner I saw Tatyarao, I got up. I greeted him. Tatyarao said, "May you have a long life." I said, "Tatyarao, please forgive me.. ..but I don't think I will be able to carry out this order given by you.. Tatyarao said, "Nathuram, you are mad." I did not say, live up to hundred years. I said, be immortal. And Nathuram, you have become immortal. The moment you pressed the trigger and Gandhi fell dead.. ..that moment the name Nathuram Godse became immortal. Whether you finished the rule of Gandhi or not.. ..that maybe a point to argue upon but you finished Gandhi and you remained alive. The opponents of Gandhi, the true Hindu Rashtravadi.. ..will surely reside you in their hearts. But Gandhi's followers will also make you immortal.. ..in Gandhi's autobiography. The way none of Gandhi's biographies start.. ..without mentioning about his parents in the same way.. ..none of his biographies can be complete without mentioning your name. They were Tatyarao's words.. They could never be proved wrong. Every word that Tatyarao uttered was like Veda. And every written world too was like Veda. How could it be proved wrong then? So this was how I was an old man of 93 years. I was hanged when I was 39 years old. Death before time. No doubt it was untimely but it was invited...it was accepted. But immortal...like that Ashwathama. There is a deep wound on the head of Ashwathama.. ..so he moving around begging for oil. There is a very deep wound in my heart and my mind. How many times that wound has been attacked. The nation was divided. From amongst the refugees the mothers and sisters were dishonored. Due to Gandhi's obstinacy the donation of fifty-five lakhs.. ..given to Pakistan, and.. And separated from the whole of India and given to Pakistan my...my river Sindhu. That Ashwathama still wants oil. But I only want the touch of your holy water. My ashes are waiting for that touch. For the past fifty years.. I have written in my will. Never mind if you hand over my ashes for generations together.. ..but you should not immerse them till the entire river Sindhu.. ..does not come back to the whole of India. After reading my will Tatyarao said.. Nathuram, you are great! You are the Dadhichi of this modern India. These ashes of yours will turn into weapons.. I said, "Tatyarao, please forgive me." Why do you compare me with such a great man? Even though the Bhavani sword was made of metal.. ..every piece of metal cannot become the Bhavani sword. But Tatyarao was never lacking in answers. There were never questions in front of him.. ..he only had answers. Tatyarao said, "Nathuram, just because Maharaj touched it.." "..that sword became the Bhavani sword." More than the blade of the sword the fist is more important. If there is an obstinacy behind the way you hold the fist.. ..only then the sword becomes sharp. You are not leaving back your ashes but you are leaving back.. ..your conduct, your thoughts. Those will become the weapons. The way my life was blessed in that my only personal contribution was.. ..I went very bravely to Tatyarao. And no sooner he touched me I was blessed. I take the blame of all the mistakes, and all the bad qualities.. ..of my life. But I give the credit to Tatyarao for all the good deeds.. ..that were done by me. He is not responsible for anything bad that happened. If the gold ornaments are given to the smugglers.. ..instead of decorating them on god then that is not the fault.. ..of the gold smith. Isn't it? So this is how I am a 93 year old man. Nathuram Vinayak Godse. At the end of the first decade in the last century I was born. On 19th May 1910. My father, Vinayakrao used to work in a post office. Mother's name was Laxmi. You must have seen many forms of Lord Vishnu. But Laxmi who had taken the form only to endure suffering.. ..and exile was seen nowhere else besides in the Godse family. She breathed her last like Dashrath yearning for her son. The same pain, the same yearning.. ..and the same love for her son. The only thing was Ram had not left for exile. He had made arrangements to go to heaven. Laxman was rotting in jail. No doubt Urmila was besides him but this Laxmi.. ..never killed her Son Shravan. Vinayakrao used to get 15 rupees a month. In ten rupees he had to run the house.. ..and had to send five rupees to his father. Vinayak and Laxmi had three children. Not even one lived. Many vow's were taken so a the child should live. And the son who was born was Nathuram. He survived. They were destined to have a son.. ..that is why.. Because Gandhi was going to get killed. If you say the life after that passed smoothly. In my childhood I never stole anything so there was.. ..no question of apologizing to father. I never took an oath of celibacy. I was observing celibacy. I roamed around a lot amongst the refugees. I even helped them with food and clothing. I gave them clothes to wear. But just because they were moving around half nude.. ..I never went around half nude ever. I never weaved thread and I never even cleaned the toilet. I never observed silence till I was hung to death. Actually there was only one common point or similarity between Gandhi and me. I murdered him and because of his death I died. But there was a vast difference. He was ready to live for his principles.. ..and I was ready to die for my principles. Definitely you have no reason to have any interest in my this life, isn't it? Before climbing the mountain who is that Hirkani? The one who bravely stopped the truck filled with imported coats.. ..that Babu Gin lived that was only witnessed by death. In this sense Nathuram Godse's real life starts from.. ..30th January 1948. After Gandhi's death. Actually Nathuram lived for only 655 days. From 30th January 1948 to 15th November 1949. And this life started when the ministers decided to give.. ..fifty-five crores to Pakistan. Pandit! Pandit! Pandit! Pandit, you changed the article? Yes because I felt the earlier written article was fake. Fake article...and Pandit, will you write that? I used to write. - What? I used to write that don't celebrate tomorrow Sankrant.. ..by distributing sweets. - Yes. If you wish to distribute something then.. ..distribute bullets... distribute ammunitions. Don't talk sweetly and don't behave in a nice manner. If you wish to say something then chant slogans of battle. Move ahead and attack your enemy. What was fake in what you were writing? You did not ask me the title of the changed article? What? It is useless talking without acting. - Great! I have written.. - Yes. For tomorrows Sankrant we will celebrate Dassera. We will remove the weapons from the Shami tree.. ..and we will cross the border. Pandit! Pandit, we will be arrested. I don't think so. This Agrani is the mouth piece of the Hindus. When the government is not ready to give the slightest importance.. ..to the Hindus what will they give to their newspaper? They are having a wrong impression of our control. The killing of the Hindus is being over looked because.. ..they have realized that we will keep quiet and endure everything. There is a sentence by Shakespeare. - Yes. If the wounds would have tongues they would have.. ..expressed their pain. - Beautiful! But our wounds don't have tongues they only have tears. Our anger does not have fury there is only forgiveness. Others should do atrocities and we should only endure them. It is not considered important at all. It is considered as the law of nature. The government will surely take my statements seriously only after the case. Case? Which case? Of Gandhi's assassination. There is only one way to stop Gandhi now. To assassinate him. But don't you think that this step is hasty and without thinking? No. Take the gun and shoot. No murder is as easy as that. It is not accidental. Maybe it can be a murder but not assassination. And Gandhi's assassination not at all. You...do you think that is so certain? Yes! Unavoidable. And I also feel that the more the delay the more dangerous it will be. But don't you think that we are tampering with History's.. ..most important section? Even if my opinion about section may vary.. ..but I am definitely not touching the pages of History. But if you don't turn that page today.. If you don't turn over that page today.. ..then Nana, the rest of the pages of this nation's History.. ..will remain blank. - But, Pandit.. You can turn over the pages of time.. You can turn the pages of time but you cannot tear and throw them away. No one can refute Gandhi's place in the nation's History. No one can deny it. Nathuram Godse too is not.. ..interested in doing this. His page will remain the same. Absolutely as it is. Later again when the storm of racism arises.. ..the pages will be ruffled again.. ..and that page will once again be opened in front of us. Nana, I don't deny Gandhi's principle of non-violence. The people in this world need non-violence instead of violence. But Gandhi's non-violence denies self protection.. ..and self-interest. Self-protection does not mean violence. If fighting for self-protection is defined as violence.. ..by non-violence then is it not a kind of self-violence? I agree to what you say, Pandit. But don't you think that your decision is very courageous? Is it a crime to be courageous? Even then.. - Someone has to do this. And if everyone keeps waiting for someone to do this.. ..then this will never happen. And if this does not happen then what is going to happen.. ..is not right. What if we make our demonstrations moiré intense? Since how long are we doing these demonstrations? What? - Tell me. Since how long are we doing these demonstrations? We were doing demonstrations even during.. ..the nation was being divided. The decision of dividing the nation was unnecessary. How much was the Muslim population? Their obstinacy of having a complete separate nation.. ..for themselves was wrong. If that would not have been so then Maulana Azad.. ..would not have stayed in India. But by giving permission to Jinnha's insane obstinacy.. ..and so as not to hurt anyone's feelings.. ..and not wanting violence Gandhi gave permission.. ..for this partition. Nana, a person is never greater than the nation. And if a person like Gandhi starts thinking himself.. ..to be greater than the nation, then.. Then service to the nation, this.. What meaning does this have then? Jinnah wanted to become the Prime Minister. We never had any objection to a Muslim Prime Minister. But you should never demand for a sword in democracy. Jinnah lifted the sword and Gandhi pierced that same sword.. ..in the heart of Mother India and wounded her. The entire river Sindhu was separated from India. A part of the nation was separated. Gandhi was equally responsible for this.. ..as was Jinnah. He was a stranger but this one was from our own country. How many demonstrations had we done then? Then too we were doing demonstrations.. ..in front of Birla Bhavan. Silent demonstrations. We stopped his car when Gandhi left to meet Jinnah. We told him, 'don't discuss with Jinnha. Don't divide the nation. But the father of our nation without listening to us.. ..ran to help them to create Pakistan. Pandit! Pandit, the government gave permission.. ..to give fifty-five crores. Then isn't the government equally to be blamed? Yes, they are! Yes, they are! Their only mistake was they surrendered in front of.. ..Gandhi's threat of indefinite hunger strike. Whenever Gandhi challenged his own self.. ..that many times the government bowed in front of him. The decisions were always taken against the welfare of the nation. This body is going to be responsible for the.. ..ruination of the nation. Today the Muslims demanded a part of the nation and left. Tomorrow the Hindus and then the Sikhs may do the same. But they will divide the part of the Hindus into still more four parts.. ..as per their castes. Again there sub castes among them. What is then the meaning of the nation as one? Why did we together fight with the British then? Why didn't Bhagat Singh only demand for Punjab? With the Azad Hind Sena why didn't Subhash Chandra Bose.. ..only fight for Bengal? Pandit! Pandit, even if you write like this.. ..all the people will awaken. The government will have to heed to them. I had written like this during the partition of the nation. I had written the same when the Hindus were massacred. What was the use? At that time too we were doing demonstrations. Our demonstrations were going on and Gandhi's.. ..indefinite hunger strike was going on. Ultimately the Hindus gave up. I still remember. One poor Hindu came forward and told Bapu.. Bapu, I do not want to be sinned for your murder.. ..so I am surrendering these weapons at your feet. But I am the only Hindu staying in the Muslim locality. That night before leaving Hyderabad I went to the house.. ..of that Hindu. There was a commotion in his house. The Muslims had killed his eight year old son. But he could only wail. He threw his dead child's body at me and said.. Go, take him to your Gandhi. Take his blood with you.. ..and tell him, as you are on a hunger strike.. ..don't drink sweet lime juice but drink hi blood. I could not say anything. Because Gandhi was also the father of my nation. I too had accepted him as the father of the nation. For a minute I felt like barging into that locality.. ..and dragging out each Muslim and.. But then I thought.. Why should I protect when I want to kill them? If I kill them now I will also be equally like them. Pandit! He sat in the car and left long back. And it was no use telling him. At the most he would have prayed. For the murderers as well as the one who is murdered. For both! Pandit, even then I feel that before taking this decision.. ..we should once take Tatyarao's advice.. - No, Nana. Tatyarao should not even know about this. I am going to do this even if he says no. And if he says yes, I even don't want him saying that. I do not want Tatyarao's involvement nor his.. ..association in this in any way. The one who has decided to do Sati is not afraid of fire. But we should not be held responsible.. ..for ruining Tatyarao's efforts. Nana, once Tatyarao had said.. If Gandhi is a political saint then he should keep.. ..Ramdas Swami as his idol. Whenever there was a need Ramdas always stood behind Shivba. But he never interfered during establishing Swaraj. Pandit, if you are firm on your decision then I will promise you. I want two promises from you. I promise you. You did not ask me which ones? A shadow should never ask the body.. Where are you going? A shadow should always follow. When I was walking you were with me. Now you are walking. Nana, this is the first promise that I want from you. Henceforth I will walk alone. Henceforth and for the first time I am going to walk alone. You...Pandit, you are trapping me in my words. You have promised me, isn't it? Look, I will openly assassinate him. Because the feeling behind it is only my duty. I will not run away. I will surrender only then I will be hanged. Pandit! - One assassination, one time hanging. One is equal to one. I do not want to two people getting hanged for one assassination. And that is why till the assassination is not completed.. ..I do not want your company, your support and your involvement. Pandit, you are telling me to estrange myself.. ..from such an old relationship? Nana, we will not get separated. While hanging on the noose my motherland, my parents.. ..will be in front of my eyes. In the same way you too will be there. You have given me your word, isn't it? Which is the second promise? I have written two articles today. On one article I have written the date. On the other I did not write because only god knows about that. The next day after Gandhi's assassination.. ..you must print this article in Agrani. This is the second promise. I promise you! I give you the second promise as well. I gave you the first promise by mistake. And the second...because it was necessary.. Nana! Gandhi is not the father of the nation of India.. ..but he is the father of the nation of Pakistan. And his assassination is an inevitable duty. I am sure of that now. But Bapuji has no time at all. He will be late for the prayers. I am aware of that but as the work was important I came here. In fact that important work is related to Bapuji's prayer meeting only. He does not like getting late for the prayers. Besides he is very punctual. I know him. I have spent some days with him. Brother Madhadev, who is it? Someone has come to meet you. - Yes. I told him that you would be late. Who is it? IPC Arjun Das, Bapuji. I think we have met before. No, don't tell me. I will remember. When Jawahar had come to Hyderabad.. ..you were with him. Right? Correct! Your memory is very good. What? - No. At that time you were not well. Arjun Das, the body weakens and not the brain. Your mind becomes sharper due to fasting. How have you come here today? Have you come for the prayer meeting? Yes. Actually I have come to request you.. ..to keep me with you for the prayer meeting. Anyone can attend my evening prayers. So many people come from so far. How can I say no to you then? Then me and my subordinates.. But not with this uniform and this pistol dangling at your waist. But, Bapuji.. - Why do you want these pistols? For your protection. That means if someone attacks me you will kill him.. ..with this pistol. At the time of the prayers? But Bapuji, what if someone attacks you? - Will do! It will do if I am killed but I cannot tolerate.. ..someone else being killed for me. But Bapuji, Panditji has purposely sent me here. I am his bodyguard. Then what are you doing here? Go and guard his body. Bapuji, please do not take this lightly. Bapuji, we want you. We still need you. If I am needed why will anyone kill me then? Some crazy man? Panditji, told me.. Panditji, explained to you so many times. Vallabhbhai Patel too explained to you. But you are not ready to listen. And today...today this file came from the CBI department. Panditji told me, go and show this file to Bapuji.. ..so that he will agree that he needs police protection. I don't need any kind of protection. But Bapuji, just go through this file once. So that you will understand. Okay I have only five minutes with me. People have gathered outside for the prayers. Bapuji, how do I explain to you? There must be a killer sitting outside amongst those.. ..who have gathered there. Bapuji, a person who comes for the prayers.. ..should at least be a devotee that is what you want, isn't it? But if a theif, dacoit.. - Arjun Das! Every person coming for the prayers is only a devotee. The people who blasted a bomb here on 20th January.. ..were not devotees. They were assassinators, isn't it? The CBI has compelled them to speak. That Madanlal and his accomplice Shankar Kistaya. They are the workers of the Hindu Mahasabha. Bapuji, that bomb blast was not an accident.. ..it was pre planned. It was an effort to kill you. Now...I do not discriminate between the Hindu Mahasabha.. ..and the Muslim League. But they discriminate. Bapuji...Bapuji, how do I explain to you? A bullet does not know the difference between.. ..an enemy and a friend. But the person who presses the trigger do know. Bapuji, the refugees are very angry. They are holding you responsible for the killing.. ..and the atrocities done on them. The Hindu Mahasabha says that you were responsible for the partition. In all this some people are also planning your murder. Bapuji, for you to move around freely in the prayer meeting.. ..amongst the people and moving around without protection.. ..is very risky. Bapuji, either you give permission for protection.. ..or you stop this evening prayer for some time. I should stop the prayer meeting? Arjun Das I am quiet because you are saying this.. ..out of your love for me. But till date I have never stopped my evening prayer meeting. While I was imprisoned during the British rule.. ..even then I did not stop my evening prayer. When I was under house arrest I used to do my evening prayers daily. The incident on the day my Kasturba passed away. I got up no sooner it was prayer time. Ba stopped me so I stopped. But no sooner she passed away I first did my prayers.. ..then I mourned. Arjun Das, a person should fix a rule only if he can abide by it. And today...today I should stop my evening prayer.. ..just for the sake of my life? No. That is not possible. But Bapuji, we all need your life. Bapuji... ..Bapuji, not for yourself but for all of us atleast, today.. That day you waited for some time for Kasturba. Today...today for all of us you should wait for a few days.. If you wish you can have your prayers here. You, brother Mahadev, Pandit, Aba.. All of us together will pray here. And what about the people who have gathered outside? There must be one assassinator amongst them. But for that one assassinator and this one Gandhi.. ..should I disappoint all the others and send them back? No. That is not possible. But, Bapuji.. - Yes, that Jawahar is childish and you.. ..too, Arjun Das. You have faith on this pistol which is dangling at your waist. My assassinator too has faith on the weapon.. ..that is in his hand. I do not wish to take part in the battle of these pistols. My unarmed faith I feel is more important.. ..than your weapons. Even though the weapon is small it proves fatal. This is a misunderstanding you people with weapons have. Where was Jawahar then to protect me? I was alone in South Africa. I was beaten up. I was unarmed. I only had my belief in me and I won. But Bapuji, I am not talking about sticks. I am talking about bullets. I am talking about non-violence. That non-violence which is a very effective weapon. Bapuji, it is a question of just a few days. Arjun Das, this is a question of principles. I am not immortal. I will die some day. If my death can stop the violence going on outside. If it can stop the riots. If by my blood they can quench their thirst.. ..then I am ready to give my blood to them. Bapuji.. - I have never differentiated between.. ..Ram and Rahim and Krishna and Karim. As I am not very happy about I being a Hindu.. ..in the same way I don't regret that I am not a Muslim. I am myself and I am honest to my principles. Today if my assassinator is standing outside to assassinate me.. ..I am ready to confront him with both my arms open. Bapuji! - He will only finish Gandhi and not his principles. Yes, we are getting late for the prayers. Come on. Let's go. Let's go. Arjun Das! Are you coming for the prayers? - Yes. But not with the pistol at your waist. Keep the pistol there near my spinning wheel. Let's go. 'In the evening a little before five I was standing..' '..near the gate of Birla Bhavan for five minutes.' 'The guards standing there were minutely observing the people..' '..who were going in for the prayers.' 'I was most scared of them.' 'That is why as four to five people were walking in..' '..as they should feel that I am one of them..' '..being careful about this I went in.' It was ten minutes after five.' 'I saw Gandhi and his close associates walking from the room..' '..to the prayer hall.' 'From where he would walk up the stairs there amongst the people..' '..I was standing.' 'Gandhi climbed the steps and came five to six steps ahead.' 'Even thought there were people around Gandhi..' '..I had seen that I get some space from amongst them.' 'I wanted three more seconds.' 'Taking two steps ahead and stand in front of Gandhi..' 'To remove the weapon..' 'And to salute Gandhi for whatever he did to serve the nation.' 'From amongst the two one girl was close to Gandhi.' 'I was scared that she may get wounded.' 'Thinking of a solution to that I moved ahead.' 'I said, Namaste, and saluted Gandhi.' 'I took one step ahead and..' 'Gandhi, who was already distressed..' '..fell down lifeless making an indistinct sound.' Oh, my god! The assassinator has been identified. If he is a Hindu, the Hindus will be killed. And if he is a Muslim then the Muslims will be killed. Sawant! Yes, sir. Send the vigilance staff immediately. Seal all the localities. I don't want any nonsense in my meet. - Yes, sir. Hello. Parliament Street Police station. Superintendent Shaikh speaking. Yes, sir! Sure, sir! Thank you, sir. Sawant! Sawant! Yes, sir! They are bringing Gandhi's assassinator here. We have to investigate him. We only have to take the FIR. - Yes, sir. Get the diary. - Yes, sir. IPC 302 and all other relative charges. Conspiracy, etc.. Yes, sir. Sawant! You did not ask me the name of the assassinator. Sir, I do not like to interrupt while instructions are being given. The assassinator is from Pune. A very diligent worker of Hindu Mahasabha. Nathuram Godse! Oh! - Sawant, you should be ashamed. Why, sir? A Hindu man has assassinated Gandhi. Forgive me, sir. But if Nathuram Godse is a Hindu.. ..then as a Hindu myself I am not at all ashamed of it. Do you know him? I know him but I have never met him. - Oh! In Sabarmati I have heard his speeches.. ..I have also read his articles. I have even met him once or twice. When? - Eight days back when I was on duty at Birla Bhavan.. ..at that time one group was demonstrating against Gandhi. Nathuram was their leader. That man seems to be balanced. No shouting and no wailing. He was talking in the same way later as he was.. ..speaking on the stage. Sir, usually you don't come across this. So you appreciate him? Definitely as a person. And as an assassinator? Forgive me, sir, but I was trying to avoid the topic.. ..but I will have to speak and that too right now. Sir, take some other police officer in my place.. ..for investigating this crime. Sawant! - And sir, if you really wish that I investigate.. ..then during the course of investigation.. ..please do not refer to your religion or my religion. I referred to Nathuram's religion. But Narthuram is from my religion. Sir, he is a Hindu. Sir, as I do not detest you being a Muslim.. ..in the same way I do not feel ashamed that he is a Hindu. Look, Mr. Sawant.. - But, sir, these are my personal opinions. Nathuram is a balanced person. His role is whether right or wrong.. ..this is my means they are Sawant's personal opinions. And Nathuram Godse will be standing in front of.. ..inspector Sawant as a criminal of section IPC 302. Sir, this uniform has no opinions. I hope I am clear. - Absolutely! Answer the phone. - Yes, sir. Hello. Parliament Street Police station. Inspector Sawant speaking. Oh, yes, sir! Just a minute, sir. Sir, Devidas Gandhi on the line. - Oh! Son of.. Gandhi's son? - Yes, sir. What does he want? He wishes to speak to you. Sir! - Hello. Superintendent Shaikh speaking, sir. Sir, kindly accept my condolences. No, I am not just using words but the entire nation has suffered a loss. What? Why? I mean, why? No, no. I have no objection, sir. But what can we achieve by that? Instead you will be more troubled. No, no, no. Sir, I do not wish to stop you. Right, sir. Thank you. Oh, no! He wants to meet Nathuram. What for? - I don't know. I really don't know. But if I would have refused him he would have taken.. ..permission from the Home department. But sir, Nathuram is our responsibility. In his grief, he may.. - No, no! I don't think anything such will happen. You get the diary. - Yes, sir. Sir, Nathuram Godse is coming. Two wireless are with them. He is coming, sir. But I don't understand why is he handcuffed? So that he does not run away that is why. He is coming, sir. Inspector Kapoor, sir. Body receipt, sir. Nathuram Godse, sir! Hello. My name is Nathuram Vinayak Godse. Hello. This is Superintendent Shaikh. My name is inspector Sawant. We have met before.. - During the demonstration.. ..outside Birla Bhavan. I immediately recognized you. But I purposely did not show it. It is better now that I do not recognize people. Please sit. Take a seat. Sir! - Remove the handcuffs. Yes, sir. Thank you. Shall we start? For what? - I was told that you are going to investigate me. Sometime back that officer used a good word. Body receipt. Nathuram Godse's noting... officially.. Once it is officially noted down as body my responsibility is over. Yours will start. Come, quickly free me from this responsibility. Sir, you or.. - He will only have to do it. He is a senior inspector. Mr. Nathuram Godse. I arrest you for assassinating Mahatma Gandhi. Henceforth every word that you utter here.. ..will be used as evidence against you in court. I am making you aware of that. Right now? - What? Will it not do later? - What? No, I mean, should I speak right now? Will it not do if I speak later? The thing is I am feeling a little exhausted.. ..as the stress on my mind has reduced. Stress? - Yes. I was under immense mental stress. I should press the trigger, I should assassinate Gandhi.. ..and people should arrest me. This was my simple and easy imagination. But there would be such a great distance between.. ..assassination and arrest I really never knew that. No one was ready to come forward. All Gandhi's supporters due to fear of their life.. ..went ten steps behind. A round circle of people and only the two of us in the centre. Myself and Gandhi who was lying down all alone. At that moment I felt pity for him and I also felt like laughing. I remembered a juggler's game. One's game was over and the others had started to end. So you admit? - What? You assassinated Gandhi. Very proudly I would like to tell you that I assassinated Gandhi. You.. - Sir, there is a wound on your head? Yes. Later some people beat me. I think someone beat me with a stick from behind. Gandhi was lying in a pool of blood. A drop of blood that was flowing from my head.. ..fell into that blood. I felt nice. I felt that whatever sacrifice he did for the nation.. Whatever good he did for that I paid my respect to him. Shall I call the doctor? - No. First aid was given to me. I was thinking of sleeping for a while. The thing is I am very tired, that is why.. Tomorrow morning? - No. no, Mr. Godse! No, what you say is also right. The Home Minister might want to give a statement tomorrow.. ..in the parliament. For that he might want your report. The Prime Minister too must be waiting. Okay. Write down. My name is Nathuram.. - Wait, wait, wiat! Send, the clerk! - Yes, sir. Shall I send tea? Can I get coffee? Yes, why not? - Send a cup of coffee. - Sir. Why? You don't like tea? No. I never liked tea. Sir! Yes. Shall we start? My name is Nathuram Vinayak Godse. In my complete senses and my will, on this day.. Please write today's date. I write as under.. Today evening at 5:25 at Birla Bhavan.. ..I fired three rounds from my pistol and assassinated.. ..Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Can you give me a pen? - What? No. I had a pen but it fell down in the tussle there. No, no, Mr. Godse.. - No, I swear I really had a pen.. ..and it fell down somewhere on the tussle. It was a good Parker pen. I...I don't understand.. - For such a mere pen.. You give me the pen, I will sign and return it to you. Look here, we are not talking about a pen here. Mr. Shaikh, give me a pen I will sign and return it to you. You will be free and I also will be free. Oh, no! Only this much? What, only this much? - Your statement? The assassination took only two to three seconds. Compared to that the statement is a bit too long. Godse, in this way you will not be set free. Mr. Shaikh, I do not want to be free. If I wanted to be free then I could have done that easily.. ..at that time. No one has arrested me. I have surrendered myself. But the statement of the murder of a person like Gandhi.. I have not murdered Gandhi. Oh, come on! Just now you confessed in front of so many people.. ..that you fired bullets and murdered Gandhi in broad daylight. I have not murdered him. Oh, come on! Look at him! Look at him! In front of me, in front of inspector Sawant.. ..and also in front of this clerk you just confessed.. ..that you murdered Gandhi. Mr. Shaikh, I have not given a statement that I have murdered him. If you want listen to the statement again. I have assassinated Gandhi. Oh, no! On, come on! Come on! What is the difference between the two? Both mean the same. Both don't mean the same. The result may be the same. To murder is a crime but assassination is a duty. You will say that Shivaji killed Afzalkahn. But no, Mr. Shaikh. Shivaji assassinated Afzalkhan. I do not wish to discuss Marathi grammar with you. Even I do not wish to do that. The only thing is don't use wrong words. Okay! All right! All right! Okay! Okay! Come on! You...you assassinated Gandhi. Thank you. - What for? For agreeing that assassinating Gandhi was a duty. No, no, no! I have not agreed to anything. And look, I am taking your statement, Godse. You are not taking mine. Sir, assassinating Gandhi is a duty.. - Oh, shut up! You don't take those bloody notes. Come on. I will call you again. Just leave. Pick up those papers. Are you giving me the pen? I...I will surely give you the pen, Godse. But only after your statement is completed. Who else was with you? There were many people. They had come for the prayers. I am not asking about the people who had gathered.. ..there for the prayers. Who was there with you? - For what? For killing, murdering, assassinating.. ..whatsoever to do that. Why? Why do I need people? To press the trigger you just need one man and that too just one finger. Oh, come on! But in the conspiracy.. That is enough, Mr. Shaikh. You are insulting my intelligence. Can't I alone plan and carry out one assassination? Where did you get the pistol from? I purchased it. From whom? - From a refugee. What is his name? Will you be able to recognize him? No! Once you met someone you never forget him for life. Am I right? This one! You accurately recognized Sawant. Yes, I recognized Sawant. In future I will be able to recognize you as well. Because you have a face, Mr. Shaikh. Leaving your own home and enduring hunger and atrocities.. ..you have not crossed the border, Mr. Shaikh. Your mother and sisters were not dishonored in front of you. Helplessly you have not seen your own kin getting killed.. ..that is why you have a face, Mr. Shaikh. The refugees don't have a face. There is only pain there. And a question mark! Why? How can I recognize them? Okay! Do you know Savarkar? I am a Hindu. An Indian. This is not the answer to my question. As I am a Hindu I worship Savarkar. But Mr. Shaikh, I think it will be better if you wait for some time. In the Mumbai CBI department...Hindu branch.. There is a separate file having all my personal information. In that you will find all negligent information about me. By tomorrow morning you will get that file. On your newspaper called 'Agrani'.. ..we can see Savarkar's photo. I think this information will come in the file from Delhi. That means Savarkar was supporting you. Tilak's photo is still printed on Kesari. That means will you hold Tilak responsible.. ..for all the articles written in it by going to heaven? But Gandhi should be assassinated.. ..this was Savarkar's wish as well. No. I have no idea. That means we never had any discussion on that topic. I mean you can personally ask him that. He is a very honest and a clear speaking man. Oh, I see! That's a good idea! Sawant! - Yes, sir. Get me Mumbai police. - Sir. Tell them to get hold of Savarkar. To arrest him or catch him? I don't want your grammar here. No, no. To arrest is only physically.. ..but to catch him is physically as well as mentally. It is both. Savarkar won't easily get caught like this.. ..so I asked you. - You.. Hello. Parliament Street Police Station. Inspector Sawant speaking. Will you please arrest Savarkar? In connection with Gandhi's assassination. Yes...okay, fine. Sir, a wireless is always parked in front of Savarkar's residence. They will contact them. - Right. Hello! Yes! Yes! Okay! One...one minute. Sir, they are saying that Savarkar is asleep right now. They do not wish to wake him up. Oh! Come on! Come on! Give me the phone. Hello! Hello! Superintendent Shaikh speaking. Immediately arrest Savarkar. And this is urgent! Look, I will report to the Home Minister. You understand? We will ready the arrest documents. We will make the diary but we will not wake up Savarkar. I must say that the Mumbai Police have some humility. Godse, you are trying my patience. By physically torturing me you cannot compel me to speak. I have given you my statement about the assassination. I will only tell the court about my role behind doing that. Even after this if you are ready to stay awake all night.. ..I have no problems then. Oh! Damn it! Superintendent Shaikh! - You? Oh! Yes, sir. I am Superintendent Shaikh. He is inspector Sawant. - Sir! And he is.. - My name is Nathuram Godse. You are Devidas Gandhi, right? Gandhi's son? - Yes. We had met sometime back at a press conference. You had come there on behalf of Hindustan Times. I had come there as the editor of Agrani. At that time we met each other. I don't remember. But I do remember. I really am very sorry for the loss that I have done to your family. Please give my condolences to the rest of your family. And believe me. There was no personal motive.. ..behind this assassination. The intention was totally political and only political. Godse, you.. - Please, Mr. Devidas. I have assassinated your father. I have not disrespected or insulted him. I saluted him for his sacrifice for the nation.. ..as well as for serving the nation. I...I assassinated him. I did not humiliate him. I gave him the death that a soldier is capable of. You don't seem to be a maniac. Because I am not. Then to kill a lover of non-violence? Mr. Devidas, how will you define violence? For self-protection and self-welfare if you kill someone.. ..and if you call that violence what should the soldiers do.. ..on the battlefield then? Should we give roses in return to their bullets? If you can get into a rage then the stomach is quite near to the head. What can be strange if your hunger makes you go insane? Mr. Devidas, the hunger that the refugees were suffering.. ..made me lose my temper. And ultimately what does non-violence mean? When your enemy comes towards you.. ..don't use violence instead show them your cheek. Put your weapons down. Telling this is indirectly killing your own kin in one way, isn't it? But Nathuram, killing is anyways bad. Mr. Shaikh, there is a pistol dangling at your waist. In so many years of your service you must have surely used it sometime. Yes, I have used it. I have used it two to three times. And your experienced eyes must have gauged it. But Nathuram, they were bad people. That means you discriminate between good and bad killing. But why? Why did you kill my father? This is not the time to discuss this. Today your family needs you more. If you are there their sorrow will ebb. They will not hang me today itself. It will take a long time still. We can even meet later. We can discuss then. But please, not now. Badge, I am taking you to the court. I am aware of that. The magistrate will ask you. Did the police threaten you? Did they beat you? I will tell them the truth. I do not expect both truth and right from you. But the reason behind telling you this again is.. If you wish to change your statement.. ..this is the last chance then. Do you wish to change your statement? Do you wish to indicate that I should change it? I do not wish to indicate anything. That is not also a part of a police officer's duty. You do not wish to change your statement? - Yes. Badge, do you know that if your statement is not there.. ..no court in this world can hang Nathuram. - Yes. Since how many years do you know Nathuram? I have said everything in the statement. But.. Parliament Street Police Station. Inspector Sawant! Yes. I am taking Barve to the court. Yes, it is here in the diary. Yes. Okay, sir. Okay. I will go and get the papers. Tell me, Mr. Sawant! Where is Sawant? Pandit, I.. How are you? Pandit.. ..how is Tatyarao? No, I mean... can he endure this cold? I have told Appa Kasar, for him warm.. How is Gopal? Maganlala! Karkare! All have deserted me. You...you must be angry on me. Nathuram! Nathuram, you are different. Right from the beginning you were never like us. You were always aloof from your surrounding situations. Humiliation, pain, respect.. You never were aware of these things. I had even told Gopal once. Lord Krishna had written in the Bhagwat Geeta. It seems like these lines are written for Nathuram. Nathuram, you are made from a very different mud. No, not mud. Mud crumbles easily. You can give it any form. But you are born with a form. You are as hard as a rock. Before pressing the trigger both you and Gandhi.. ..must have looked at each other. At that time even Gandhi must have felt that.. ..I am being assassinated by the right person. Nathuram! Nathuram, I am not that kind of a person. Nathuram, I am an ordinary person. You can say very ordinary if you wish. You may not be aware how much physically and mentally I was tortured. No! No! Even you were beaten at Birla Bhavan. But that was due to emotional outrage. That was spontaneous. It was not uneducated and systematic. That constable Kale was telling me.. He once raised his hand on you. At that time you looked up him and...and he brought his hand down. Nathuram, I do not have the same sight as you have. I could not keep quiet in front of their beating. I got scared. I got scared of death. We very easily use sentences like, death at the doorstep.. But the experience is not that simple. Just the thought of death touched my heart and.. And then...then I was shattered. At that moment I felt a strong urge to live. Nathuram! Nathuram, I wish to live. I want to live. At any cost. No! You can blame me. I can commit a lot of sins but I cannot endure death every minute. I am making mistakes, I am committing sins.. ..because I am a very ordinary person. I am a very ordinary person. Nathuram! Nathuram, please forgive me. Nathuram.. Oh, sorry! Please forgive me. - Sawant, wait. The one who creates temptations is a greater criminal.. ..than the one who commits sin. No, I did not understand. You understood. After you have worn the uniform allotted to you by the law.. ..you should not break the law even for your own kin, Sawant. And if you don't want to abide by the law.. ..then remove this uniform and throw it away. Those who stand on two stones can never look at their own feet. You can see the valley in between and you even feel dizzy.. Nathuram! Nathuram, before I leave I just wish to hear.. ..that you have forgiven me, Nathuram. I just wish to hear that. Mr. Sawant, there is a request. - What is it? Can I speak a few words with Badge? That means you have not spoken still? There was no one here to ask permission. Nathuram, what is this? - Shall I speak? Yes, you speak. I will wait outside. No, sir, please wait here. A witness is not an obstacle for truth. Digamber! It is no use repenting. It is not use repenting because.. ..the deed is already done by you. If you feel that you have made a mistake then.. ..please remove that feeling from your mind. To make an effort to live. To make an effort to save your life.. ..is not any crime. That is your religion. No it is your prime duty. But you must take care that while saving your own life.. ..you are not taking someone else's life. I would have felt ashamed of you if you would have.. ..refused that you are a Hindu. But with your statement the noose around my neck.. .has become all the more stronger. Even then I will not get angry on you. Because I am ready to die. One to one is nature's law. Gandhi died so Nathuram must die. Only take care that your statement is true. Don't give a false statement even to save your life. Tatyarao is innocent. If through you someone is trying to trap Tatyarao falsely.. ..then even God will not pardon you. Tatyarao is a gem of a person. We are nothing but the socket of this gem.. We should only try to take it's form and not try to be a gem.. Take him away. Constable! Thank you, Mr. Sawant. You had called me only for this, isn't it? Who are we to be worried about the sun? When we think that the sun is under an eclipse.. ..that too is the flaw of our sight. We keep looking at the wrong place. Tomorrow when man goes on the moon he will realize.. The sun never is eclipsed. Yes, sir. Sir, I think by tomorrow afternoon two.. ..the result sheet will be completed. After that the police party can leave for that place.. No, sir. Yesterday only they were given instructions.. ..to pack their belongings. That is why it won't take too long, sir. Thank you, sir. Sawant! - Yes, sir. The instructions are to take them to Ambalya. The police party from there will come here tomorrow. But...why to Ambalya? Oh, damn it! Sawant, you should know it. The facility of hanging is only at Ambalya, that is why. Yes. Tell them to pack his sealed belongings. Give the charge no sooner the judgment is given. Sir, he does not have many things. He has only three things with him. The Bhagwat Geeta, the saffrom flag and the map of India. And he wants all of that with him till his last. How can you say that? He was saying that while getting hanged.. ..he wants all those things near him. How do you know? Sir, Nathurm was asking me the procedure of hanging. He was asking me whether they tie the legs. Can we hold something in our hand? I asked him. What do you want to hold in your hand? So he said that, "I have myself put the noose around my neck." "That is why while I am getting hand I wish that.." "..the Bhagwat Geeta, the saffron flag.." "..and the symbol of pride of India should be in my hand." He did not ask anything else? What? Does it hurt, etc.. No. He said that after the assassination of Gandhi.. ..he could have fired a bullet at himself. But he did not do that. Not because he had a desire to live. But to tell the world the intention behind this assassination. After Gandhi's assassination he had confirmed his death. Sawant, this is the seventh or eighth case of hanging.. ..during my entire tenure. I have seen fearless rogues shattering in the court.. ..upon hearing their punishment.. ..of hang unto death. Those goons who are considered heartless and evil.. ..have to be dragged out of their cell and taken for hanging. They cry seeing their death in front of them. They scream! But these two cultured people.. ..who have never gone against the law. How can they so calmly confront their own death? Sir, their culture is their greatest strength. Oh, god! Come on, Mr. Shaikh. Shall we start the game? No. No today. I am not in a mood of playing chess today. I had decided and come today. I said, today is the last day with Mr. Shaikh. Today I must defeat him. Nathuram, you can never defeat. Your king can never be defeated.. ..because you never bring your king on the board. Mr. Shaikh, I put myself on the board. - Yes. And you only check mate yourself. You don't give a chance to the opposite person. If you really want to check mate me then come let's go to Ambalya. Oh, no! - You...how did you come to know? The facility of hanging is there only, isn't it? It was my wish to take me to Yeravda. I could have met my parents for the last time. You...why don't you make such an appeal then? Sawant, I have no more right to express my wish now. Do you remember what you signed and gave the officer.. ..who brought me here? What? - Body receipt. Once Naturam Godse is mentioned as body.. ..in the official documents what is left of me then? Tomorrow you will not give Nathuram's charge to the.. ..Ambalya police. You will give them the charge of the body. And they too will take charge of the body. Now it is just a formality of this body to become a dead body. I wanted to meet my parents so that they could meet me.. ..for the last time. The last time I saw then was when I came to Delhi. To go to Ambalya means we will have to cross Panipat, isn't it? At least because of that I will be able to see that holy land. Otherwise where would I go there to see it? Nathuram, please! - What happened? You are talking about your death! You...seeing your calm and your aloofness.. ..I really get angry on you, Nathuram. I hate you, Nathuram! I hate you! What are you made of? Tell me, what are you made of? You are just like us of flesh and bones, isn't it? Or are you made of rock? Tomorrow... ..tomorrow is your judgment day. You will be hanged unto death. That judgment will be carried out. Then...then you will not be in this world, man! You won't be in this world! You won't be able to see the sun rise after that. These birds, these trees...you will not be able to see.. ..anything from this. Then how can you? How can you? Oh, no! I hate people like you. What have I done? - You are not doing anything. You don't say anything. You only get mixed with blood and bones just like some poison. I...I just can't take you out of my system. I just can't take you out of my system. Nathuram.. ..I have weaved the noose that will be around your neck. But today I feel that will.. ..I be able to unwind that weave? Nathuram, I never took any interest in politics. I very honestly did my duty. I do not know whether it is right or wrong that you assassinated Gandhi. But today...today I hate Gandhi! I hate Jinnah! I hate Pakistan! And I hate you! I hate you, Nathuram! I hate you! You are telling me... ..you...you are just a body now? Mr. Shaikh, never love anyone so much. Nathuram, you had asked me. There is a pistol dangling at your waist. You must have surely killed someone. Yes! I have killed! I have killed two people. And for that I have also won medals. But today...today I do not feel proud of those medals. We are cowards! We are cowards! We need this uniform as a shield to press the trigger. But you...without any shield you pressed the trigger, Nathuram? Mr. Shaikh, don't make me feel so great. I'm not so great. My greatness is only this that I did what was necessary at that particular time. Even though I knew the consequences. But even I had a shied on my body. The shield of the blood that my soldiers had shed in Kashmir. The blood that had been shed by my Hindu brothers.. ..during the partition. The shield of the dishonored virtue of my mothers and sisters. The shield of Savarkar's thoughts and values. I have not done anything. I have just repaid back. But at such a high price? This is nothing. I regret that Nathuram can die only once.. ..for his mother land. Shaikh, I will not lie to you. Even I fear death. I cannot over power death. Before hanging me on the noose when they will.. ..cover my face with a black cloth I will surely have tears in my eyes. With these eyes I will never be able to see my motherland again. I will never be able to smell the fragrance of the mud. My lips will never be able to taste the water of the river Sindhu again. Before hanging on the noose even I will realize this pain. I am an ordinary man just like you. I am not different. Nathuram.. ..you used to always ask me. Who keeps flowers on my seat in the court? And you would always avoid answering me. Yes. Because I used to feel embarrassed. So that the government should win the case.. ..the evidences that I was producing against that man.. A person from my own family should worship him? Zubeida...my daughter.. Daily she goes to the Masjid and prays for you. Even though she cannot walk. Even then she goes to the Masjid and offers a holy cloth there. What is wrong with her? She is pregnant. Tell her, don't take so much trouble. If she loves me so much.. If she loves this brother so much.. ..then care of the unborn child. You will surely get a son. Raise him up teaching him my values. Tomorrow when this nation will need another Nathuram.. ..you give birth to this Nathuram. Oh, Mr. Devidas! Please take a seat. This is a permission letter from the Home Minister. Actually that was not necessary.. No, but the thing is we need to keep it for record. No, as it is I got a call from Mantralaya.. ..that they have granted special permission for your meeting. Where is Nathuram? Can't I go and met him in his cell? No...I mean we do not have such orders. For security reasons.. And the thing is he will be hanged in eight days.. ..so we have to rehearse the hanging. Rehearsals...for hanging? Of course! No, this thing is we have to take the measurement.. ..of the criminal's neck. And then a dummy is made equal to the criminal's weight. And according to the regular hanging the rehearsal is done. Why a dummy equal to his weight? Well...no, I mean...the length of the rope, the weight.. Till all this is perfect we won't get a proper jerk, isn't it? To the neck.. No, I mean all this is done so that the criminal.. ..should not face any problem in the end. Does Nathuram know all this? His cell is just opposite to this. When he comes out for his bath he chats with the hanging staff. He is different. He, Nana Apte.. No, the other day a member of the staff was telling me.. What is it, Jailor sir? What were you telling him? What ill were you talking about me? No, no, Panditji, I was not talking ill about you. Really a member of the staff was telling me the other day.. Oh, that! Just today morning they took my weight. But something went wrong while making the dummy. Something like...it was not getting a proper jerk. They were really perspiring. I even asked him. Do you want me to stand in place of the dummy? But that was against their rules. How can you remain so aloof? Because I am. I am very aloof. Will you have coffee? I will just get it. The coffee will not arrive till you leave. Why do you say that? I thought he is a nice man. He is nice that is why the coffee won't arrive till you leave. As per the rules we cannot meet in private. Coffee is just an excuse to leave from here. Why have you come today? You found time after two years? No, I mean...it is not like that but.. I wanted your signatures on some documents. Documents? - Yes, I mean, I wanted your signature.. ..on the power of attorney. Power of attorney? - Why? I am a lawyer. No but a client should give his signature. And a client cannot even ask the reason before signing? I wish to accept your case. I fought my own case. That is over. No. You had missed out on some points. I wish to challenge your hanging. I wish to get hanged. Why? - Because I have assassinated. An assassinator has no right to live. I do not wish to give you my power of attorney. Why? I will tell you. I realized no sooner you showed me the power of attorney. But I avoided saying anything because you would be hurt. Your argument is as Gandhi was against violence.. ..his assassinator too should not be punished. But that is against the law. An advocate should first understand the law.. ..and then ask for a signature on the power of attorney. Feelings and personal enmity are not included in the law. That means...that means you mean to say that I have come here.. ..for personal reasons? That is what I want to say. Nathuram! - Mr. Devidas, of you wanted to accept.. ..the power of attorney why didn't you accept it of Tatyarao Savarkar? Why didn't you accept Nana Apte's power of attorney? Why didn't you stand up to save these innocent people? You are trying to save Nathuram. Because you are trying to prove your father's principle.. ..of if a person slaps you one cheek show him the other cheek as well. Nathuram! - Mr. Devidas, please forgive me. But going beyond being a human being.. ..only I can think of Gandhi's thoughts, you cannot do it. What? What have you thought? I have thought a lot. But Mr. Devidas, you were late by two years.. ..to ask me this question. What have you thought? - I? I.. - Yes, you. In our last meeting too I had told you that.. ..the intention behind this assassination.. ..was solely political and only political. Do you remember? Yes, I do remember. But you don't want to accept it? Right? Yes. Really I cannot accept it. And you have come here to honestly try and accept it? Yes. And you took that effort today. Because after eight days when all the.. ..efforts of saving Nathuram would be futile.. ..that guilt will keep troubling you all your life. Once you lose the opportunity today you will never get it again. Please sit, Mr. Devidas. Please sit. Will you have coffee? You just said that till I go the coffee won't arrive? No, if you want it I will surely get it for you. No. I don't want. I have written my will. Shall I tell you what is the first last wish.. ..that I have written? - Yes. My ashes should not be immersed till.. ..the entire river Sindhu does not come back to India. Only then they should be immersed in the river Sindhu. Then never mind of they have to be handed down.. ..for generations together. But they should be preserved. Mr. Devidas, in our Hindu religion the ashes.. ..have to be immersed on the tenth day. Till then they are tied and kept outside the house. It is considered that till the ashes are not immersed.. ..the soul does not attain freedom. But knowingly I am going to keep my soul in bondage. I will not allow it to be free. But why, Nathuram? Because as Gandhi is your father he is the father of my nation. Gandhi had expressed his last wish.. ..that his ashes should be immersed in all the rivers. But Pakistan refused to allow them to immerse his ashes.. ..in river Sindhu. As if that holy water was going to get contaminated.. ..by his ashes. At that time I had sent a special letter to the Indian government.. ..and made a request that preserve a little of Gandhi's ashes.. ..as some day the brave soldiers of this country.. ..will surely bring back river Sindhu into our nation. At that time immerse his ashes in river Sindhu. And this will surely happen someday as this is the nation.. ..of Bhagirath who dragged river Ganjes here. But my request was not accepted. Gandhi's tormented soul will not be free.. ..that is why I will also not allow my soul to be free on the tenth day. Mr. Devidas, all say that death is the end of everything. But there is only one Nathuram who even after death salutes the values.. ..that he worshipped even when alive. Nathuram! - Mr. Devidas, I had no personal enmity with your father. But it was in my nation's welfare that.. ..I had to assassinate him. Mr. Devidas, I may not be a scholar but I have spent.. ..a few years of my life in company of a few scholars. I may not have been wealthy but I was leading a contended life. Even I had a position of my own in life. I had my own respect and honor. Even before Gandhi's assassination I knew that.. ..I would be deprived of all this after his assassination. But I accepted death. I did not run away like a coward. I wanted to state my role. Because I had my role, my thoughts. Nathuram, I am not saying this because he was my father. But in reality he was really great. By all means! He was great! It is not necessary for me to accept or refuse what the truth is. The way he bravely fought against racism in South Africa.. ..that is proof itself. After returning to India the way he visited all villages.. ..and tried to see the real India was respectable. The Dandi March, leave India struggle and breaking the salt act. Due to all this I myself was his devotee. When Gandhi was in jail even I had this slogan on my lips.. ..that the saint of Sabarmati is in jail. Then Nathuram, even then? The division was not necessary. The division was not necessary. That was Gandhi's wrong decision. The slaughter of the refugees after that. After that the donation of fifty-five crores given to Pakistan.. ..against our soldiers who were fighting in Kashmir.. ..all this...all this was unpardonable. Yes but he never discriminated between.. ..the Hindus and the Muslims. But Pakistan did. And this is Gandhi's greatest defeat. Where did they discriminate? Why did they then refuse to allow Gandhi's ashes.. ..to be immersed in river Sindhu? When Gandhi passed away the Pakistan radio announced.. ..that a Hindu leader passed away. We were telling Gandhi the same thing. Gandhi, you belong to us but he used to say, no. I don't belong to you but I belong to them. But...but he belonged to the entire mankind. Why did we fight with the Britishers, then? They too were human beings. In South Africa why did he fight with fair people? They too were human beings. You could have been a good lawyer. You were a little late in giving advice. But more than me his own disciples are against.. ..Gandhi and his principles. What are you saying? I fired a bullet. Gandhi collapsed. While falling a blurred sound of 'Oh'. came out from his mouth. But everywhere there was a rumour that Gandhi said, Hey Ram! He did not say, Hey Ram? Not at all. - But.. Mr. Devidas, while taking down my statement. While giving my statement in court.. ..they were forcing me to say this but I never said it. When Gandhi did not say, Hey Ram, why will I lie? But if his disciples keep telling all this and if this is noted in History.. ..then this will be the greatest defeat of Gandhi and his principles. How do you say that? That man when alive never discriminated between.. ..Ram and Rahim, Krishna and Karim.. ..will he only utter Ram's name while dying? He will take the name of both Ram and Rahim, isn't it? And if he had to take one name he would have uttered.. ..Rahim's name because Ram was in his heart and.. ..Rahim on his lips. '15th November 1949. In the morning at 8 A.M..' '..Nathuram Godse and Nan Apte were hanged.' 'Both of them held the map of India, the saffron flag and Bhagwat Geeta..' '..in their hands.' 'Once the noose was around their neck both of them..' '..shouted slogans of.. 'May India be immortal' and 'Vande Mataram.' 'After that the lever of the plank below their feet was pulled.'