INDIA 30 January 2008 India marks 60th anniversary of assassination of Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi – the pioneer of non-violence movement and the main architect of the independence of India – was assassinated on 30 Jan 1948 on the grounds of Birla House in New Delhi. He is officially accorded the status of father of nation in India. A two-minute silence in memory of Gandhi is observed throughout India at 11 a.m.

The anniversary is observed every year as a “Martyrs’ Day.”

Gandhi Smriti is called Birla House and also the National Memorial of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi had spend his last 144 days in Gandhi Smirti

The assassin, Nathuram Godse, was a Hindu radical with links to the extremist Hindu Mahasabha, who held Gandhi responsible for weakening India by partitioning Pakistan (an Islamic state) from India.

To commemorative the 60th anniversary, the Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti (GSDS), an autonomous body within the Ministry of Tourism and Culture (MOTS) has initiated special campaigns. The GSDS has launched a special campaign “to know and gather the information on what the world community feels about the life's message and the Martyrdom of Mahatma Gandhi." Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh is the chairman of GSDS.

On 15 Jun 2007, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring Mahatma Gandhi's birthday -- 2 Oct -- as the International Day of Non-Violence. UPDATED Jan/08

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