Death of Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi, seated in the garden of Birla House, is leading an interfaith prayer meeting when Nathuram Godse, a Hindu nationalist, approaches and shoots him three times at point-blank range. Gandh
Setting
Birla House garden, New Delhi, India. A modest open-air prayer space with a raised platform where Gandhi sits cross-legged, surrounded by a crowd of followers. The garden is lined with simple shrubs and a few tall trees, their shadows stretching in the evening light.
Characters
Mahatma Gandhi
primary
A frail, elderly man with deeply wrinkled skin and sunken cheeks, his bald head gleaming in the fading light. His small, wire-rimmed glasses perch on his nose, and his sparse white teeth are visible when he speaks. His frame is slight, almost skeletal, from years of fasting and simple living.
Nathuram Godse
primary
A wiry, intense man in his late 30s with sharp features and deep-set eyes that burn with conviction. His dark hair is combed back neatly, and his gaunt face is clean-shaven. His hands are steady, betraying no tremor despite the gravity of his intent.
Aide
secondary
A slender, middle-aged Indian man with a receding hairline and a neatly trimmed mustache. His skin is weathered from years of travel and service in various climates. His hands are calloused yet gentle, accustomed to both manual tasks and delicate assistance.
Guard
secondary
A middle-aged Indian man with a stocky build, broad shoulders, and a weathered face. His dark eyes are wide with alarm, and his thick mustache twitches as he reacts belatedly to the unfolding threat. His hands are calloused from years of service, and his stance is rigid with tension.
Devotee
background
A middle-aged Indian woman with a slight build, her sun-weathered face framed by a loose drape of her sari. Her dark eyes widen in shock, and her hands instinctively rise to her mouth as she gasps. The lines on her forehead deepen with distress.
Dialog
Mahatma Gandhi
We must hold fast to truth... truth... truth. Even when darkness surrounds us, light will prevail if we walk the path of ahimsa.
Nathuram Godse
Your truth has bled our nation dry. You speak of light while Hindus burn.
Mahatma Gandhi
Violence begets only more suffering, my child. Lay down your anger as we lay down our weapons.
Nathuram Godse
No more words. Today, history will judge who truly loved Hindustan.
Mahatma Gandhi
Hé Rām...