Assassinated while on way to prayer meeting


Mahatma Gandhi's life, attitude and political action were informed by the highest moral principles and compassion. Uniquely among public men, he sought to analyse and explain events and his own reaction in terms of these principles through his talks, statements, writings and interviews. The moral force that he brought to bear on the political discourse was compelling and inspired large sections to take up the cause of freedom.

When freedom finally did come, it was no doubt a cause for celebration. Tragically, though, it was also a traumatic time that witnessed large scale killings and transfers of population across the new boundaries drawn up by Partition. At no time was moral force more badly needed and at no time was it more sorely tested than in these difficult times. Mahatma Gandhi stood unflinching as a moral force and sought to douse the raging passions.

The events surrounding his life and action in these times provide an object lesson in living morality. The last 200 days of his life in particular, provide a fascinating lesson in applying moral principles to situations which seemed totally out of control, when prejudice was all encompassing and even well-meaning advice of restraint to a friend could be mistaken for hostility.

For rendering a day-to-day account of the last 200 days ending with January 30, 1948, no person was better suited than Mr. V Ramamurthy, retired senior IAS officer, a writer of great scholarship and sensitivity whose activities extend from cricket commentary to teaching courses in management science and whose writings touch upon a vast range including Carnatic music and Tamil literature. His daily contributions drawn primarily from the archives of The Hindu and supplemented from

Contents
(Note : Day I Starts from Tuesday, 15th July 1947 and Day 200 ends with Friday, 30th January 1948)