Gandhi, Mohandas K. (1869-1948)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1948 Feb 5 p. 1

Birth date: 1869 Oct 2

text of obituary:

ASSASSIN TAKES LIFE OF FAMOUS HINDU LEADER

MOHANDAS K. GANDHI, 78 year old Hindu leader, died on the night of January 30 at New Delhi, India, only a few minutes after being shot three times by an assassin during a Hindu prayer service. The attack upon Gandhi was made as he was out on the lawn of the elaborate Biria mansion, an estate owned by a wealthy Indian industrialist, who for years had been his close friend and supporter.

The famous Indian statesman was the world’s best known exponent of non-violence, a method which he applied many times through his life to achieve political ends. Even in the short moments before his death he waved his hand to make the customary sign of forgiveness to his attacker.

He undertook his latest fast only a few weeks ago, in a desperate effort to avert further outbreaks of communal warfare between Moslems of Pakistan dominion and Sikhs and Hindus of the dominion of India. A small, radical element among his Hindu followers had opposed his efforts of conciliation.

All of India went into mourning immediately after the great tragedy became known among the masses. Thousands of mourners lined the path of the funeral procession as Gandhi’s body was carried to the banks of the sacred Jumna river for cremation. The funeral pyre was set on fire by his oldest son, Divada Gandhi. As the body was consumed by the flames, a thunderous shout went up from the multitude, “Gandhi still lives! Victory to Gandhi!”

Political observers have made various predictions as to the effect of this new turn of events upon the whole Indian continent. Already new riots have broken out in various sectins, and the tension between the Pakistan dominion may increase.