Ratan Devi (witness)

Ratan Devi was a key witness in the 1949 assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. She was a resident of Birla House in New Delhi, where Gandhi was staying at the time of his death.

Devi's testimony was significant because she was standing near Gandhi when Nathuram Godse fired the fatal shots. She was able to provide a detailed account of the events leading up to the assassination, as well as a description of the assassin. Her account corroborated other witness statements and played a crucial role in the prosecution of Godse and his accomplices. Specifically, she testified to seeing a man in khaki clothes (later identified as Godse) push through the crowd towards Gandhi and then hearing gunshots.

Ratan Devi's testimony helped establish the sequence of events, the location of the shooter, and the intent to kill. Her bravery in coming forward and recounting the traumatic event was commended, and her testimony is considered a vital part of the historical record of Gandhi's assassination.