The Self-less Assassin

As India observes the 60th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's death, Hindu nationalist groups still grapple with the question whether to reject or appreciate his-killer.

Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by a Hindu nationalist Nathuram-Godse on 30 January, 1948 in Delhi's Birla House. In the communally charged atmosphere during India's Partition in August 1947, Godse and his accomplices held 'Gandhi' responsible for the miseries of the Hindus and accused him of appeasing Muslims.

Hindu nationalist organisations like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, (Nationalist Volunteers' Organisation) were banned and many of its leaders were sent to jail following the assassination.

The RSS is the ideological fountainhead of India's main opposition party BJP.

'Selfless act'

"We will have to accept that Nathuram-Godse acted with selfless spirit; he did not have any self-interest in it. He must also have been aware that he would be hanged for what he was going to do.

This spirit cannot be denied," RSS ideologue Devendra Swaroop told the BBC.