Nathuram generally refers to Nathuram Vinayak Godse (1910 – 15 November 1949), an Indian extremist and the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi.
Biography and Ideology: Born in Baramati, Pune district, Maharashtra, Godse was a Hindu nationalist. He was a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and later a prominent figure in the Hindu Mahasabha, a right-wing Hindu political party. Godse vehemently opposed Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of non-violence, his advocacy for Hindu-Muslim unity, and his perceived appeasement of Pakistan during the partition of India. He particularly objected to Gandhi's fasts for the payment of financial assets to Pakistan, which he viewed as a betrayal of Hindu interests.
Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi: On 30 January 1948, Godse shot and killed Mahatma Gandhi at Birla House in New Delhi. Gandhi was on his way to a prayer meeting when Godse approached him, bowed, and then fired three bullets into his chest at close range. Godse did not attempt to flee and was immediately apprehended.
Trial and Execution: Godse and his co-conspirator Narayan Apte were tried at the Red Fort in Delhi. During the trial, Godse presented a lengthy statement justifying his actions, arguing that he killed Gandhi because he believed Gandhi was responsible for the vivisection of India and the suffering it caused. He was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death. Nathuram Godse and Narayan Apte were executed by hanging on 15 November 1949, at Ambala Jail in Punjab.