Sixty four years back on January 30, 1948 after the Friday prayers Mahatma Gandhi was shot dead by Nathuram Godse. That was a very tragic and violent end of a peace-loving frail saintly man. A man such as Mahatma does not descend so often on the earth. Whatever diferences in his perception Nathuram had with Gandhi, this perhaps is not the right solution. Sad, Nathuram did not live even to repent for his misdeed. In spite of Gandhi's request not to give him capital punishment, Nathuram faced death.

In the last decade of his life Gandhi did not enjoy peaceful moments. The onset of second world war, refusal of politicians to dismantle of Congress since its job is over, the partition of India, departure and death of Subash Bose etc would have troubled his utopian mind. The death is ever sad and no body in India would have thought an Indian could do such a ghastly deed!

However, the thoughts, the wisdom, the philosophy, the vision and teachings of Gandhi will never die. These will be more and more relevant in years to come when the world will face conflicts arising out of intolerance, political discord, economic imbalances and shortages in food, fuel and water.

On this day let us remember the saintly leader, pay our homage to him and fondly hope that there is peace in the world and people do not face wants for a reasonable living, specially in Asia, Africa and Latin America.