A little is known about Odisha’s Raghunath Nayak, who was the first one to track down Nathuram Godse after Gandhi’s assassination. The bravery of Raghunath as a hero has not received the recognition as expected. Even history doesn't seem to be sensitive to his heroic deeds. Raghunath has been confined to a small space in history and still remains an unsung hero.
It was January 30, 1948 and time was around 5.10 pm. In Birla House, after the meeting with Sardar Patel, Gandhi was really eager to go to the prayer meeting. It was a bit late that day. Gandhi did not like people to wait for him. He went out to the prayer meeting with Manu and Ava. There were more than 100 people in the meeting on that day.
Seeing Gandhi, people stood in two rows. Gandhi was walking among the people. At that time, a young man suddenly walked in front of Gandhi from the crowd and shot three consecutive rounds from an automatic pistol which hit Gandhi's chest and stomach. Gandhiji died on the spot due to bullet injury.
Birla House gardener Raghunath Nayak alias Raghumali was working a short distance from the scene. He hailed from Jaguleipada of Kendrapada district. Raghunath was approximately 37 years at that time. No sooner did he hear the sound of gunshots than he rushed to Gandhiji. Raghunath could not understand seeing his beloved Gandhi in a pool of blood. He immediately grabbed Nathuram.
At that time, Raghunath was holding a Khurpi, a gardening tool. With the instrument, he attacked Nathuram and gave a blow to Godse’s head. Clash between Nathuram and Raghunath was short but vicious. Even the struggle was a decider. Nayak pinned Nathuram down and caught hold of him until police came and arrested the later.
The trial on Gandhiji’s murder continued. Six eyewitnesses of Gandhi's murder gave statements. Raghunath was prosecution witness-76. Along with him, there were other prosecution witnesses such as Amarnath, Nandlal Mehta, Ratan Singh, Dharam Singh, and Sardar Gurbachan Singh. Later, Nathuram was hung to death.
Many scholars have written about the heroic act of Raghunath. Teesta Setalvadin “Beyond Doubt - A Dossier on Gandhi's Assassination" mentions that on January 30, 1948, 26 policemen were assigned at Birla House to protect Gandhi. But Raghunath was the first to catch the person who shot at Gandhi. Then two constables came forward to help him. An inspector and a sub-inspector were also present there. But they could not capture Nathuram.
Dhirendra Jha's book "Gandhi Assassin - The Making of Nathuram Godse and His Idea of India" has a brief account of the prayer meeting at Birla House and the assassination of Gandhi. Herbert Reiner Jr was a young officer at the United States Embassy. He came to Gandhi's prayer meeting on the advice of his mother. Reiner never imagined that something like this would happen that day. He mentioned in the New York Herald Tribune that all the people nearby stood as if paralyzed or frozen after seeing the assassination of Gandhi. Raghunath, the gardener of Birla House, hit Nathuram's head with his khurpi. The battle between Godse and Raghunath was decisive. Herbert Reiner claimed that he also joined Raghunath and grabbed Nathuram's shoulder.
Odisha's prominent Gandhian writer Gaurang Parida in his book "Gandhi Mahatma"has mentioned about Raghunath. Parida writes that Raghunath hit Nathuram with a grass cutting knife and captured him.
Further to this, books like Pyarelal’s "Gandhi The Last Phase" and Tushar Gandhi's "Let Us Kill Gandhi" also describe the bravery of the unknown Odia hero.
Apart from being a gardener at Birla House, Raghunath was also responsible for giving goat milk to Gandhi and looking after the room where Gandhi lived. Raghunath's wife Mandodari said that Raghunath always talked about Gandhi and he was very impressed by Gandhi's vision. Up to his last breath, Raghunath organised prayer meetings in Gandhi's memory on January 30 and October 2 and would give homage to Gandhi by offering prayer for about half an hour.
Even after Gandhi's death, Raghunath was working in the Birla House. He retired in 1973 and came to Jaguleipada with his wife, three daughters and only son. The pension was Rs 25 per month. However, later the pension was increased to Rs 100. It is mentioned in some writings that things were not good for Raghunath in the last days. Raghunath passed away in 1983.
Raghunath was awarded for his bravery by former President Rajendra Prasad. In 1997, former Chief Minister Janaki Ballabh Patnaik announced a one-time aid of Rs 10,000 for Raghunath. In 2013, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced a monthly allowance of Rs 500 with a special assistance of Rs 30,000 to his distressed family. And then again in 2016, Chief Minister Patnaik gave financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the family of Raghunath.
The statue of Raghunath is installed in Jaguleipada. Even people of his village pay homage to him just like Gandhi. Raghunath's heroism should be included in the curriculum. Youth should know about his contribution. The Odisha Government should take initiatives to recognise Raghunath.
(Dr Parida is an Assistant Professor in Sociology; (M) 8456879522)
