Just a few thoughts.
1. The killing of Gandhi proves the Law of Destiny as enunciated by Swami Parthasarthy. I am not trying to justify the killing but saying that the present is a result of our past actions. Life is all about Cause and Effect.
2. The next question that you might ask, If we were to continuously go by the Cause and Effect theory, Muslims will kill Hindus and vice versa. When will this stop? Is the Muslim or Hindu correct in killing? Cannot agree with you more. We have to examine whether an act is Dharmic or Adharmic. Lord Krishna inspired Arjun to kill many Kauravas because they had done evil or adharmic deeds. So eventually every action would need to be weighed in terms of Dharma. What is Dharma?
3. In his defence Godse has covered the Independence Movement from 1920 to 1948 and given us numerous examples of how Gandhi ignored Hindu sentiment continuously. Gandhi’s fast of 1948 pressurizing the Govt to pay Rs 55 crores to Pakistan was the last straw.
4. All through my reading of Indian history starting 1870 to 1947 there was one common factor. British encouragement, direct and tactful, of the divisive tendencies amongst Muslims. Part of their grand strategy of Divide and Rule.
5. In 1950 Liaqat Ali came to India. Nehru pressurized Patel to meet him. Patel said to Liaqat, “Jawarharlal is exerting day and night for Muslim rights. I lie awake at night worrying what happened to Gandhi might happen to him”. Quote from the book Sardar by Rajmohan Gandhi.
6. Said noted freedom fighter, K M Munshi, follower of Gandhi in the freedom special of his Social Welfare “Last 25 years, we have been brought up on a slogan, naturalness and inevitableness of Hindu-Muslim unity. That this was wishful thinking has been proved in Noakali, Bihar, Rawalpindi. The Muslim, a hard realist knew and exploited the hollowness of the slogans, the Hindu cherishes it still. Hindus love words and ideals”. Seeing the way secular Hindus of today, you might wonder, Has anything changed?
7. Although the British / Congress appeasement of Muslims started between 1870 and 1880 its first major impact was the Lucknow Pact of 1916 where the Muslims were granted separate electorates. Thus appeasement was the Cause. What was its Effect? Then and to this day.
8. Facing the truth rather than suppressing it might reduce animosity. In India when Hindus are killed by Muslims, the word Muslim is rarely used, newspapers use the words miscreant – underworld, makes page three news. But the killing of one Muslim, rape of a nun by a fellow Christian or Hindu backlash gets excessive media coverage. Muslim pain is highlighted while the Hindu’s is ignored. Thanks to Technology the truth is only a mouse away so Hindus get to know sooner than latter. Now suppose, the media were to behave responsibly and report the truth without sensationalizing matters, Hindu feelings might be assuaged and Muslims would refrain from repeating such acts.
9. Muslims of this sub-continent have to be made to realize that they cannot start Violence and get away with it. As Sardar Patel said that sword must be met with a sword. In 1946 Jinnah said give me Pakistan or I will give you Direct Action. We gave him Pakistan only after Muslims had taken to the streets. In 1948 Pakistan said, Kashmir is ours and invaded the state. We went to the United Nations. From 1988 onwards Kashmiris have given us death and we have been pussyfooting them for years. Instances are many. Surely Hindus have to take some blame too. The point I am making is that unless and until Muslims are made to realize the cost of taking to Violence things will not change.
10. I would urge all Indians to move ahead with positive vibrations, educate, create, employ, add wealth and let the people who discuss religion remain backward - be left behind.
A number of problems that we have faced before and after Independence are courtesy Gandhi. Yet for years millions have worshiped him. Surely, Ganhiji had many qualities that made people overlook his shortcomings.