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This Week in History

Mahatma Gandhi Is Assassinated

30 January 1948

Indian pro-independence activist and leader Mahatma Gandhi is assassinated in New Delhi.

In 1948, Mahatma Gandhi was shot by a Hindu radical while attending prayers in New Delhi. His death came the year after India became independent after nearly 200 years of British colonial rule. Gandhi was a major force in the independence movement, advocating strictly non-violent methods in the struggle for freedom.

assassinate (verb): kill someone important for political or religious reasons
pro-independence (adjective): supporting a country's right to be free from another country
activist (noun): a person who openly exhibits his or her beliefs and concerns
radical (noun): a person who takes extreme measures to fight for change in society
advocate (verb): show one's support for

Mahatma Gandhi

Test your understanding:

Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated

before India gained freedom from British rule
after India gained freedom from British rule
while India was gaining freedom from British rule

Gandhi advocated the use of

non-violence in the independence movement
independence in the non-violence movement
force in the independence movement

A pro-independence activist is someone who

supports independence activists
acts independently of other activists
plays an active role in a pro-independence movement

Teacher's Notes - how to use This Week in History in your classes

Contributor: Matt Errey creator of Word Up