A political controversy erupted in Gujarat’s Rajkot on Saturday after a play titled I Am Nathuram Godse was scheduled to be staged, prompting the Congress to accuse the organisers of attempting to glorify Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin and distort historical memory.
The play was slated for performance at Hemu Gadhvi Hall on Saturday evening. The Congress questioned how official permission was granted for the event, particularly when similar shows have reportedly been planned or held in other cities across the state.
Congress spokesperson Parthivrajsinh Kathwadia said the party would strongly oppose what it described as a deliberate effort to recast Gandhi’s assassin as a heroic figure. “We will not allow Nathuram Godse to be turned into a hero in Gandhi’s Gujarat. The hero of this country is Mahatma Gandhi, not his killer,” Kathwadia said.
Raising concerns over the venue and location, Kathwadia questioned the rationale behind allowing the play in a state closely identified with Gandhi’s legacy. “How can a play titled I Am Nathuram Godse be permitted in Gujarat itself? Why was permission granted to glorify the murderer of Mahatma Gandhi?” he
asked.
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He also drew a contrast between official symbolism and cultural narratives. “When Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosts global leaders, he takes them to Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial as a symbol of peace. Then how can attempts be made simultaneously to glorify the very man who assassinated him?” Kathwadia said.
Describing Godse as “independent India’s first terrorist”, the Congress leader alleged that such theatrical portrayals were part of a broader attempt to reshape public memory and weaken Gandhi’s ideological influence.
Kathwadia said the Congress would formally oppose the staging of the play and mobilise resistance against platforms that, according to the party, legitimise or celebrate violence against national icons. The controversy intensified after it emerged that the play had reportedly been staged earlier in Surat, Vadodara and Bhavnagar.
The episode has revived memories of a previous cultural row in Gujarat. In July 2022, a 24-hour poetry conference held at Saurashtra University under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav banner triggered outrage after a poem allegedly criticised Gandhi’s role in India’s freedom struggle.
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