The Last Walk

On 30 January 1948, shortly after 5 pm, Gandhi walked for one last time for his daily prayer meet. Having just undergone a fast, considered as his the most challenging describing his fast)? one, to quell communal frenzy, the apostle of peace had become quite frail. In this last walk he was accompanied, like always by his two trusted aides, Abha Gandhi and Manu Gandhi. It was Manu Gandhi who was shoved aside by Nathuram Godse, Gandhi’s assassin, before he pulled the trigger and shot the Mahatma. Manu, while accompanying Gandhi in his evening prayer walks, always used to carry three things, namely, a spittoon, a mala and a diary. And it was these three possessions which fell to the ground when Godse rudely pushed her aside. Of the three articles, the diary is, undoubtedly, the most important. It is valuable in that it provides critical insights into the political developments which unfolded in the years leading up to India’s Partition and freedom.