Madanlal Pahwa
Encyclopedia
Madanlal Pahwa came to India
in 1947 as a refugee after the partition of India. The plight of refugees intensified his anger against Mahatma Gandhi
and other Congress
leaders. Madanlal was sentenced to life imprisonment for his involvement in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi
and Pakistan
he came to India and settled at the Chembur Refugee Camp in Bombay
. The main reason of coming to Bombay
at that time was to find a job and during his tenure in the Navy he was stationed at Bombay
. During that period most of the refugees were cursing Mahatma Gandhi
and other Congress
leaders for their plight.
at Ruia College. He considered Dr. Jain as a surrogate father and used to earn commission by selling his books. He used to earn a 25% commission by selling the books.
Madanlal found work in a licensed firecracker
factory, Messrs Vassen Puspasen, and during this time he developed his skills at making grenades. During this period he came in contact with Dixit Maharaj, brother of Dada Maharaj, who was the head of a sect of affluent Hindu
s known as Pushtimarg Vaishanavas. He lived in a house in the precincts of the famous Bhuleshwar temple
at Bombay
.
Madanlal lost his index finger while working at the firecracker factory. The finger had got caught in the gears of a turntable when his hand had slipped. His assistant had immediately stopped the machinery, but the finger was wedged between the teeth of two rotary wheels. However medical assistance was not sought. There were half-made bombs lying all over the place. To send for a doctor would have been suicidal. So I picked up a knife and chopped the finger off. – As told to Manohar Malgaonkar in the book "The Men Who Killed Gandhi".
Madanlal came in contact with Vishnu Karkare
of Hindu Mahasabha through Dada Maharaj. Madanlal started a fruit stall in Ahmednagar. His business was sponsored by Vishnu Karkare, whom he referred to as Karkare Seth. Mr. Karkare took Madanlal to Pune and introduced him to Narayan Apte
and Nathuram Godse
. Madanlal had already entered the police records for his Hindu nationalist stance. He was kept under overnight detention for rushing to the podium and snatching the microphone from Congress leader Rao Saheb Patwardhan at Ahmednagar. The incident occurred on January 5, 1948.
On January 9, 1948, Inspector Razak recommended that both Madanlal Pahwa and Vishnu Karkare
be arrested. However, the warrants were issued only on January 12, 1948 and by that time they had left Ahmednagar for Delhi
to carry out their mission with other members.
, Shankar Kistaiya
, Digambar Ramchandra Badge, Gopal Godse
, Nathuram Godse
and Narayan Apte
came to Birla House in Delhi
to carry out an attack on Mahatama Gandhi. Except for Madanlal Pahwa and Vishnu Ramkrishna Karkare
everyone reached the venue through the rear entrance in a cab. Surjeet Singh was the cab driver. Madanlal Pahwa tried to bribe the driver Choturam at Birla Bhavan to let him go behind the podium to take photographs of Mahatma Gandhi
from behind him. However Choturam became suspicious and asked Madanlal Pahwa the need to take photographs from behind, especially as he did not have a camera
. Madanlal Pahwa just went off. Choturam thought that he was going back to the taxi. However, he placed a gun-cotton ball on the wall behind the podium and ignited it. The bomb went off without creating any panic. The team had left, abandoning Madanlal Pahwa.
or Shankar Kistaiya would shoot Mahatama Gandhi in the ensuing panic and stampede
and use the chaotic situation to effect their escape. Vishnu Karkare
was to compound the chaos by hurling hand grenades. However at the last minute Digambar Badge decided not to act and also instructed his servant, Shankar Kistaiya to do likewise. The late start of the meeting, and Choturam's cross questioning were the reason for this decision.
Later Madanlal Pahwa took the police to the Marina Hotel where Nathuram Godse
and Narayan Apte
were staying and also to Sharief Hotel where all the others were staying. Everyone had left by that time and the police were only able to recover some letters and clothes which had the initials "NVG" on them. By this time they had evidence that the members of that team were from Maharashtra
. However, they had not been able to identify Nathuram Godse
Madanlal Pahwa was identified by one Mrs. Sulochana Devi during the Mahatma Gandhi murder trial, who had come to Birla Bhavan in search of her three year old son who used to play in the servant quarters. She was the fifteenth witness in the trial
.
Madanlal was sentenced to life imprisonment for his involvement in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. After serving the sentence Madanlal Pahwa lived in Dadar
, Mumbai
.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in 1947 as a refugee after the partition of India. The plight of refugees intensified his anger against Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
and other Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
leaders. Madanlal was sentenced to life imprisonment for his involvement in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi
Early life
Madanlal Kishanlal Pahwa was born at Pakpattan in the district of Montgomery in India before partition. Pakpattan is now in Pakistan. After his matriculation he served in the Royal Indian Navy as a wireless operator. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1946 after the end of the Second World War. After the partition of IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
he came to India and settled at the Chembur Refugee Camp in Bombay
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
. The main reason of coming to Bombay
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
at that time was to find a job and during his tenure in the Navy he was stationed at Bombay
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
. During that period most of the refugees were cursing Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
and other Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
leaders for their plight.
Refugee in India
After many days of searching, he was unable to find a job. A friend at the refugee camp took him to Dr. J. C. Jain. At that time Dr. Jain taught HindiHindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
at Ruia College. He considered Dr. Jain as a surrogate father and used to earn commission by selling his books. He used to earn a 25% commission by selling the books.
Madanlal found work in a licensed firecracker
Firecracker
A firecracker is a small explosive device primarily designed to produce a large amount of noise, especially in the form of a loud bang; any visual effect is incidental to this goal. They have fuses, and are wrapped in a heavy paper casing to contain the explosive compound...
factory, Messrs Vassen Puspasen, and during this time he developed his skills at making grenades. During this period he came in contact with Dixit Maharaj, brother of Dada Maharaj, who was the head of a sect of affluent Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
s known as Pushtimarg Vaishanavas. He lived in a house in the precincts of the famous Bhuleshwar temple
Bhuleshwar temple
Bhuleshwar is famous for the Hindu Temple of Lord Shiva, situated around 55 kilometres from Pune. The temple is situated on a hill and was built in the 13th century. There are beautiful carvings on the walls....
at Bombay
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
.
Madanlal lost his index finger while working at the firecracker factory. The finger had got caught in the gears of a turntable when his hand had slipped. His assistant had immediately stopped the machinery, but the finger was wedged between the teeth of two rotary wheels. However medical assistance was not sought. There were half-made bombs lying all over the place. To send for a doctor would have been suicidal. So I picked up a knife and chopped the finger off. – As told to Manohar Malgaonkar in the book "The Men Who Killed Gandhi".
Contacts with Hindu Mahasabha
Vishnu Ramkrishna Karkare
Vishnu Ramakrishna Karkare , a Hindu Mahasabha activist was sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in an attempt to assassinate Mahatma Gandhi.-Early life:...
of Hindu Mahasabha through Dada Maharaj. Madanlal started a fruit stall in Ahmednagar. His business was sponsored by Vishnu Karkare, whom he referred to as Karkare Seth. Mr. Karkare took Madanlal to Pune and introduced him to Narayan Apte
Narayan Apte
Narayan Dattatraya Apte was a Hindu activist and enterpreneur who was executed for his role in the assassination of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi....
and Nathuram Godse
Nathuram Godse
Nathuram Vinayak Godse , from the city of Pune, India was a Hindutva activist and journalist, who was the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi. Along with his brother Gopal Godse and six other co-conspirators, he executed a plot to assassinate Gandhi.-Early life:Nathuram Godse was born in Baramati, Pune...
. Madanlal had already entered the police records for his Hindu nationalist stance. He was kept under overnight detention for rushing to the podium and snatching the microphone from Congress leader Rao Saheb Patwardhan at Ahmednagar. The incident occurred on January 5, 1948.
On January 9, 1948, Inspector Razak recommended that both Madanlal Pahwa and Vishnu Karkare
Vishnu Ramkrishna Karkare
Vishnu Ramakrishna Karkare , a Hindu Mahasabha activist was sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in an attempt to assassinate Mahatma Gandhi.-Early life:...
be arrested. However, the warrants were issued only on January 12, 1948 and by that time they had left Ahmednagar for Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
to carry out their mission with other members.
Attempt at Birla House, Delhi
On January 20, 1948 Madanlal Pahwa along with Vishnu Ramkrishna KarkareVishnu Ramkrishna Karkare
Vishnu Ramakrishna Karkare , a Hindu Mahasabha activist was sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in an attempt to assassinate Mahatma Gandhi.-Early life:...
, Shankar Kistaiya
Shankar Kistaiya
Shankar Kistaiya was an accused in the Mahatama's Gandhi's assassination case. He was sentenced to life imprisonment but was acquitted by the high court.-Early life:...
, Digambar Ramchandra Badge, Gopal Godse
Gopal Godse
Gopal Vinayak Godse , was the brother of Nathuram Godse and one of the conspirators in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi on January 30, 1948. He was the last one to survive and lived his last days in Pune, Maharashtra, India....
, Nathuram Godse
Nathuram Godse
Nathuram Vinayak Godse , from the city of Pune, India was a Hindutva activist and journalist, who was the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi. Along with his brother Gopal Godse and six other co-conspirators, he executed a plot to assassinate Gandhi.-Early life:Nathuram Godse was born in Baramati, Pune...
and Narayan Apte
Narayan Apte
Narayan Dattatraya Apte was a Hindu activist and enterpreneur who was executed for his role in the assassination of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi....
came to Birla House in Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
to carry out an attack on Mahatama Gandhi. Except for Madanlal Pahwa and Vishnu Ramkrishna Karkare
Vishnu Ramkrishna Karkare
Vishnu Ramakrishna Karkare , a Hindu Mahasabha activist was sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in an attempt to assassinate Mahatma Gandhi.-Early life:...
everyone reached the venue through the rear entrance in a cab. Surjeet Singh was the cab driver. Madanlal Pahwa tried to bribe the driver Choturam at Birla Bhavan to let him go behind the podium to take photographs of Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
from behind him. However Choturam became suspicious and asked Madanlal Pahwa the need to take photographs from behind, especially as he did not have a camera
Camera
A camera is a device that records and stores images. These images may be still photographs or moving images such as videos or movies. The term camera comes from the camera obscura , an early mechanism for projecting images...
. Madanlal Pahwa just went off. Choturam thought that he was going back to the taxi. However, he placed a gun-cotton ball on the wall behind the podium and ignited it. The bomb went off without creating any panic. The team had left, abandoning Madanlal Pahwa.
Trial
On interrogation, Madanlal Pahwa admitted that he was part of a seven member gang who wanted to kill the Mahatma. The plan was that Madanlal Pahwa would explode the bomb as close to the podium as possible. Digambar BadgeDigambar Badge
Digambar Badge was an Indian Hindu political activist. A member of the Hindu Mahasabha, he was a member of the group that plotted to assassinate Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi...
or Shankar Kistaiya would shoot Mahatama Gandhi in the ensuing panic and stampede
Stampede
A stampede is an act of mass impulse among herd animals or a crowd of people in which the herd collectively begins running with no clear direction or purpose....
and use the chaotic situation to effect their escape. Vishnu Karkare
Vishnu Ramkrishna Karkare
Vishnu Ramakrishna Karkare , a Hindu Mahasabha activist was sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in an attempt to assassinate Mahatma Gandhi.-Early life:...
was to compound the chaos by hurling hand grenades. However at the last minute Digambar Badge decided not to act and also instructed his servant, Shankar Kistaiya to do likewise. The late start of the meeting, and Choturam's cross questioning were the reason for this decision.
Later Madanlal Pahwa took the police to the Marina Hotel where Nathuram Godse
Nathuram Godse
Nathuram Vinayak Godse , from the city of Pune, India was a Hindutva activist and journalist, who was the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi. Along with his brother Gopal Godse and six other co-conspirators, he executed a plot to assassinate Gandhi.-Early life:Nathuram Godse was born in Baramati, Pune...
and Narayan Apte
Narayan Apte
Narayan Dattatraya Apte was a Hindu activist and enterpreneur who was executed for his role in the assassination of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi....
were staying and also to Sharief Hotel where all the others were staying. Everyone had left by that time and the police were only able to recover some letters and clothes which had the initials "NVG" on them. By this time they had evidence that the members of that team were from Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
. However, they had not been able to identify Nathuram Godse
Nathuram Godse
Nathuram Vinayak Godse , from the city of Pune, India was a Hindutva activist and journalist, who was the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi. Along with his brother Gopal Godse and six other co-conspirators, he executed a plot to assassinate Gandhi.-Early life:Nathuram Godse was born in Baramati, Pune...
Madanlal Pahwa was identified by one Mrs. Sulochana Devi during the Mahatma Gandhi murder trial, who had come to Birla Bhavan in search of her three year old son who used to play in the servant quarters. She was the fifteenth witness in the trial
Trial (law)
In law, a trial is when parties to a dispute come together to present information in a tribunal, a formal setting with the authority to adjudicate claims or disputes. One form of tribunal is a court...
.
Madanlal was sentenced to life imprisonment for his involvement in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. After serving the sentence Madanlal Pahwa lived in Dadar
Dadar
Dadar is a place in Mumbai, and is also a railway station on both the Western and Central lines of the Mumbai Suburban Railway network. Dadar is situated in the heart of Mumbai, and Dadar station is the only railway station common to both the Central and Western lines...
, Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
.
List of Accused
List of People accused in the attempt and assassination of Mahatma GandhiMahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
- Nathuram Vinayak GodseNathuram GodseNathuram Vinayak Godse , from the city of Pune, India was a Hindutva activist and journalist, who was the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi. Along with his brother Gopal Godse and six other co-conspirators, he executed a plot to assassinate Gandhi.-Early life:Nathuram Godse was born in Baramati, Pune...
- Narayan Dattatraya ApteNarayan ApteNarayan Dattatraya Apte was a Hindu activist and enterpreneur who was executed for his role in the assassination of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi....
- Vishnu Ramkrishna KarkareVishnu Ramkrishna KarkareVishnu Ramakrishna Karkare , a Hindu Mahasabha activist was sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in an attempt to assassinate Mahatma Gandhi.-Early life:...
- Madanlal Kashmirilal Pahwa
- Shankar Kistaiyya
- Gopal Vinayak GodseGopal GodseGopal Vinayak Godse , was the brother of Nathuram Godse and one of the conspirators in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi on January 30, 1948. He was the last one to survive and lived his last days in Pune, Maharashtra, India....
- Digambar Ramchandra Badge
- Vinayak Damodar SavarkarVinayak Damodar SavarkarVināyak Dāmodar Sāvarkar was an Indian freedom fighter, revolutionary and politician. He was the proponent of liberty as the ultimate ideal. Savarkar was a poet, writer and playwright...
- Dattatraya Sadashiv Parchure
- Gangadhar Dandavate
- Gangadhar Jadhao
- Suryadev Sharma