Picto Diary - 04 December 2019 (PM) - New Delhi - Gandhi Assination

Above: Drums poses at Gandhi assassination spot memorial. Delhi, India. 04 December 2019.

Gandhi was assassinated at the Birla House, a mansion in New Delhi, by Naturham Vinayack Godse, a Hindu nationalist, on 30 January 1948.

Gandhi, backed up by Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, was the principal advocate for the new Indian state to have a secular government thereby facilitating freedom of religion. Gandhi and Nehru prevailed. Militant Hindus were not happy.

Militant Hindus, who felt that just as Pakistan had become an Islamic state, so India should become a Hindu state.

The specter of Hindu nationalism remains strong today, if not even stronger than at time of independence in 1947.

A decidedly Hindu influenced national government (BJP) was elected in 2014 ending the sixty five year reign of Nehru's Congress Party. Recently, the Indian government has passed immigration reforms which discriminate against Muslims and has abrogated a convention which gave the state of Kashmir the right to preserve its Muslim majority via preventing Hindu immigration into the state.

Gandhi would not be happy with the growing strength of Hindu nationalism in India today.

Above: Rudy Jr. and Drums pose at Humayan's Tomb. New Delhi, India. 04 December 2019.

Humayan was the second emperor of the Mughal Empire, who ruled over territory in what is now Afghanistan, Pakistan, Northern India, and Bangladesh from 1530–1540 and again from 1555–1556.

The Mugals, whose influence began to wane in the late 18th Century, left a strong legacy of art and architecture. The Taj Mahal was built by Humayan's grand son, fourth Mugal emperor, Shah Jahan, as a memorial to his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

Addendum:

Namaste Steve et al,

What a wonderful trip you are having; Rory and I were sad not to have been able to join you all.
In response to your question about the future of India’s Muslim people I hope India will remember her founding principles of secularism and religious tolerance and stand up for what is right.

Best wishes,

Eton Mum,
Devon, UK

Thanks for the insight into India. It is a fascinating country.

Bridge,
Palm Beach, FL