Margaret Bourke-White

Quiet scenes from a revolutionary life

In 1946, Mohandas Gandhi sits next to a spinning wheel, a device used to make yarn or thread; the now-famous image came to symbolize the notion of Indian self-sufficiency — and thus independence from British rule.

Gandhi often went on hunger strikes as a method of anti-government resistance. Here in 1948, he's seen ending his last fast, which was intended to persuade Hindus and Muslims to work towards peace. Mere weeks after this picture was taken, a Hindu extremist would assassinate him as he headed to an evening prayer meeting.

Gandhi ends his final fast in 1948

Before she was allowed to photograph Gandhi, Bourke-White was informed she would need to learn the spinning wheel. (She caught on quickly.) Her now-famous images of Gandhi working at his wheel, like this one from 1946, became an enduring representation of Gandhi's legacy.

In 1946, an array of sandals and shoes lie outside the doorway of the flat occupied by Gandhi's personal secretary

Mohandas Gandhi's long-eared goat, 1946

The children of Gandhi's son, Devadas — from left, Gopu, Mahun, Ramchandra, and Tara — gather with Hindu leader Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari in 1946.

Gandhi, center, is shown walking with family members and an official (in suit) from the Friend's Ambulance Unit — an international organization focused on famine relief — in 1946.

"Surrounded by his adoring disciples, Gandhi goes walking each morning. Here he is supported by his granddaughter Sita (left) and daughter-in-law Abha (right)."

Mohandas K. Gandhi, 1946.

Mohandas Gandhi with his secretary, Pyarelal Nayyar, 1946.

Mohandas Gandhi stands near his nephew Kanu (right) and his wife Abha, as his secretaries (left to right) Sushila Pai, Raj Kumari and Pyarelal Nayyar sit at his feet during a twilight prayer meeting, 1946.

Mohandas Gandhi (third from right) walks with (left to right) his secretary, Pyarelal, Dr. Horace Alexander of the Friend's Ambulance Unit. Also pictured: Abha Gandhi (second from right) and his son Manilal's wife, Sushila.

Mourners crowd around Gandhi's body — he was killed by a lone gunman on Jan. 30, 1948 — as it lies in state

Mourners crowd the street below a terrace displaying the body of Gandhi after his assassination in New Delhi in 1948

Gandhi's five-hour funeral procession stretched over five and a half miles through the streets of Old and New Delhi, and included some 4,000 troops and more than a million mourners.

Mourners gather around wood stacked for Gandhi's funeral pyre in 1948. His ashes were scattered on the holy Jumna River in New Delhi

Just 24 hours after his murder, Gandhi’s son set his funeral pyre aflame on the banks of New Delhi’s holy Jumna River, January 1948.

Henri Cartier-Bresson

Mahatma Gandhi's last days and funeral procession, 1948

Delhi. Birla House. 1948. Gandhi the day before his assassination.

Delhi. Birla House. 1948. Gandhi dictates a message, just before breaking his

Delhi. Birla House. 1948. Gandhi dictates a message, just before breaking his fast.

Delhi. 1948. Gandhi leaving Meherauli, a Moslem shrine. This is one of the last appearances between end of his fast and his death.

Delhi. Birla House. 1948. Gandhi, just after breaking his fast.

Delhi. Birla House. 1948. Gandhi, just after breaking his fast.

Delhi. Birla House. 1948. Gandhi on last day of his fast, the day before his assassination.

Delhi. 1948. Gandhi leaving Meherauli, a Moslem shrine. This is one of the last appearances between end of his fast and his death.

Delhi. Birla House. 1948. An interview with Gandhi the day before his assassination.

Delhi. Birla House. 1948. Gandhi on last day of his fast (the day before his assassination). After prayer meeting crowds pass in front of him.

Delhi. 1948. Gandhi leaving Meherauli, a Moslem shrine. This is one of the last appearances between end of his fast and his death.

Delhi. 1948. Gandhi (center, back) leaving Meherauli, a Moslem shrine. This is one of the last appearances between end of his fast and his death.

Delhi. Birla House. 1948. Gandhi on his death bed.

Delhi. Birla House. 1948. In Gandhi's bedroom just after he died.

Delhi. Birla House. 1948. Crowd at the windows following Gandhi's death.

1948. Delhi. Birla House. Crowd at the windows following Gandhi's death.

Delhi. 1948. Gandhi's funeral. The procession leaves Birla House.

Delhi. Birla House. 1948. Couch Gandhi was to have used at prayer meeting he never reached.

Delhi. Birla House. 1948. Nehru announces Gandhi's assassination to a crying crowd.

Delhi. Birla House. 1948. Gandhi's body. He had been assassinated the day before.

Delhi. Birla House. 1948. The crowd gathers following Gandhi's death. The cloth.

Delhi. Gandhi's funeral. 1948. Crowds gathered between Birla House and the cremation ground.

Delhi. Gandhi's funeral. 1948. Mourners along the route between Birla House and cremation grounds.

Delhi. 1948. Gandhi's funeral. Mourners along the route between Birla House and cremation grounds.

Delhi. 1948. Gandhi's funeral. The procession leaves Birla House.

Delhi. 1948. The cremation of Gandhi on the banks of the Sumna River.

Delhi. 1948. The cremation of Gandhi on the banks of the Sumna River.

Delhi. 1948. The cremation of Gandhi on the banks of the Sumna River. Left: The Prime minister Cri Jawaharlal Nehru.

Delhi. 1948. The cremation of Gandhi on the banks of the Sumna River. Gandhi's secretary watches the first flames of the funeral pyre.

Delhi. 1948. The cremation of Gandhi on the banks of the Sumna River.

Delhi. 1948. The second day after Gandhi's cremation, members of Gandhi's family, and a few closest friends, gather the ashes.

Delhi. 1948. The train carrying Gandhi's ashes to the river Ganges, where they were to be scattered. Crowds lined the railway tracks to see and touch Gandhi's ashes, and pay a last tribute to their leader.

Delhi. 1948. The train carrying Gandhi's ashes to the river Ganges, where they were to be scattered. Crowds lined the railway tracks to see and touch Gandhi's ashes, and pay a last tribute to their leader.

Delhi. 1948. Gandhi's ashes on their way to the Ganges. Left: The Prime minister Cri Jawaharlal Nehru.

Delhi. 1948. Gandhi's ashes on their way to the Ganges.

Delhi. 1948. The crowd watching Gandhi's ashes being scattered.

January 30, 1948, New Delhi, India

Mahatma Gandhi, Assassinated

…..Godse approached Gandhi on January 30, 1948 during the evening prayer at 5:17 pm. When Godse bowed, one of the girls flanking and supporting Gandhi, Abha Chattopadhyay, said to Godse, "Brother, Bapu is already late" and tried to put him off, but he pushed her aside and shot Gandhi in the chest three times at point-blank range with a Beretta M 1934 semi-automatic pistol chambered in .380 ACP bearing the serial number 606824. Gandhi died almost immediately. Godse himself shouted "police" and surrendered himself.

end

cast Mahatma Gandhi by Photographers Margaret Bourke-White and Henri Cartier-Bresson

images credit   www.          Music Yanni.Prelude    

created   o.e.

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