Nathuram Godse killed Mahatma Gandhi on January 30, 1948. Almost 6 months after India became independent.

Many people believe that he killed Mahatma Gandhi as he thought Mahatma Gandhi was responsible for Partition of India.

But very few people know that before the final fatal blow, there were five failed attempts to kill him. Out of the five attempts, Godse was involved in three

First attempt occurred on June 25, 1934 

According to the archived evidences, it was in Pune when Gandhi ji had arrived to deliver a speech, that the conspirators had bombed a car presuming Bapu was in it. His secretary Pyarelal on his book “Mahatma Gandhi: The Last Phase” mentions how much Bapu was grieved at the loss of innocent lives due to the conspiracy.

Second attempt in July 1944

It was in Panchgani when Gandhi ji was advised to rest that a group of protesters created a ruckus mouthing anti-Gandhi slogans. As a result, Gandhi ji invited the leader of the group Nathuram, for a discussion which the latter rejected. Later on, during the prayer meeting, Godse was seen rushing towards Gandhiji with a dagger but was luckily tackled by Manishankar Purohit and Bhillare Guruji of Satara. Both of them had testified about this attack before the Kapur Commission.

Third attempt in September 1944

The Hindu Mahasabha was against the Gandhi-Jinnah meet. Nathuram Godse and L.G.Thatte picketed the ashram to prevent Gandhiji from visiting Mumbai for the session. The ashram inmates detained Godse when he tried to attack Gandhi; a dagger was confiscated as documented in the Kapur Commission

Fourth attempt in June 1946

Another attempt to kill Gandhi ji was hatched when he was travelling by the train Gandhi special to Pune. The train had crashed into the boulders placed on the tracks and thanks to the driver’s skills that though the train had met with an accident between Nerul and Karjat station, Gandhi ji was saved.

Fifth attempt on January 20, 1948

It was during a meeting at Birla Bhavan that the conspiracy to yet again attack Bapu was hatched. Madanlal Pahwa, Nathuram Godse, Narayan Apte, Vishnu Karkare, Digambar Badge, Gopal Godse and Shankar Kistaiya had planned to attend the meeting to execute the murder. They were supposed to throw a bomb at the podium and then shoot. But fortunately, the plan did not work as Madanlal was caught, and identified in time by Sulochona Devi.

Therefore, it is wrong that Nathuram Godse killed Gandhi after independence. He had attempted thrice earlier (before independence) to kill him.

Also, about Mahatma Gandhi’s role in India’s independence, I don’t think it needs to be proven now. RSS & BJP guys keep whispering about many bad things about Mahatma Gandhi in order to assassinate his character. But when they are in public, their leaders start every sentence, every activity by greeting Mahatma Gandhi.