Consequent upon various political factors and socio-religious upsurge India was divided, much against his will, into two nations and granted independence. The partition of India and the outbreak of communal violence shattered his dream and with a heavy heart he tried his best to remove communal frenzy and violence. He toured extensively the affected areas. While thousands of soldiers and policemen could not bring normalcy, his presence, personal appeal and moral courage could bring a sea change in the situation, particular in Nuakholi, the worst affected region. Finally being moved by his inner voice he decided to go on a fast to death to arouse the conscience of all. He considered his death would be amore glorious deliverance than witnessing the destruction of India due to communal violence. His fast had a tremendous effect on Hindu-Muslim amity. Riots stopped both in India and Pakistan.

Gandhi was assassinated by a religious fanatic on January 30, 1948 while going to attend the evening prayer meeting. A great votary of non-violence fell victim to a barbaric act. His death was mourned all over the world and rich tributes were paid to him by all world leaders. Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India, described Gandhi’s death as a serious blow to the millions and millions in this country and befittingly described the event as “light has gone out”. In the words of Nehru “ the light that has illumined this country for these many years will illumine this country for many more years, and a thousand years later that light will still be seen in this country and the world will see it and it will give solace to innumerable hearts”.⁴

Truly Gandhi has become universal human. He is recognized as a moral genius comparable with Jesus and Buddha despite all his shortcomings and human commissions. His non-violent struggle, the first of its kind in human history, has been a great ray of hope to settle all human conflicts in a turbulent world for peaceful coexistence. For Gandhi’s greatest message to mankind is: conquer hate by love.