Men Who Killed Gandhi  (English, Paperback, Malgonkar Manohar)

The Men Who Killed Gandhi by Manohar Malgonkar takes readers back into the pages of Indian history during the time of the partition, featuring the murder plot and assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.

Summary Of The Book

The Men Who Killed Gandhi is a spellbinding non fictional recreation of the events which led to India’s partition, the eventual assassination of Gandhi, and the prosecution of those who were involved in Gandhi’s murder. This historical reenactment is set against the tumultuous backdrop of the British Raj. Malgonkar’s book is a result of painstaking research and from also having privileged access to many important documents and photographs related to the assassination.

There is no doubt that Mahatma Gandhi played a leading role in obtaining independence from the British. But the problems that ensued afterwards, such as the structural rebuilding of the country and the Partition, led to many riots, massive migrations, and deep racial and cultural divides. Not everyone agreed with Gandhi and his ideals. As a result, a plot to assassinate Gandhi was devised by six individuals named, Narayan Apte, Gopal Godse, Madanlal Pahwa, Digambar Badge, and Nathuram Godse. This was eventually carried out in New Delhi, on the 30th of January, 1948. Eventually, these six individuals were tried and convicted. Four of them received life sentences while two of them received the death penalty.

The first publication of The Men Who Killed Gandhi occurred in 1978, during the Emergency years. As a result, Malgonkar omitted many vital facts including Dr. Ambedkar’s role in minimizing Savarkar’s criminal conviction. This 11th edition of the text contains these omitted facts as well as rare documents, and photographs obtained from National Archives. After the four individuals who were convicted for Gandhi’s murder completed their life sentences, they were interviewed by Malgonkar. These individuals revealed many details to him which were never known before. The author also received access to the Kapur Commission from his friend Mr. Nayar, who was in the Indian Police Service. As a result, The Men Who Killed Gandhi is considered the most historically accurate account of Gandhi’s assassination plot.

About Manohar Malgonkar

Manohar Malgonkar was an author, and civil servant who also served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Maratha Infantry.

He authored many books during his lifetime. Some of these titles are A Bend In The Ganges, Combat Of Shadows, Cactus Country, and In Uniform.

Malgonkar was a first hand witness to many of the events which led up to and after India’s Independence. As a result, the socio-historical context of that time period forms the backdrop of many of his novels.

Malgonkar was from a royal lineage. He completed his education at Bombay University. He also contributed regularly to weekly columns in the Deccan Herald and The Statesman. In the latter period of his life, he lived in a remote area in Belgaum, Karnataka. He had one daughter who passed away in 1998. Malgonkar passed away in 2010.