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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Gandhi's ashes scattered at sea | Gandhi's ashes scattered at sea |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Ashes of Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi have been scattered off the coast of Mumbai to mark the 60th anniversary of his assassination. | Ashes of Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi have been scattered off the coast of Mumbai to mark the 60th anniversary of his assassination. |
| An urn containing the ashes was opened and they were mixed with water from the Arabian Sea by his great-granddaughter Nilamben Parikh. | An urn containing the ashes was opened and they were mixed with water from the Arabian Sea by his great-granddaughter Nilamben Parikh. |
| The ceremony was in accordance with Hindu rites. | The ceremony was in accordance with Hindu rites. |
| Gandhi - called Mahatma or "Great Soul" - spearheaded a non-violent campaign against the British Raj. | Gandhi - called Mahatma or "Great Soul" - spearheaded a non-violent campaign against the British Raj. |
| 'Come together' | 'Come together' |
| His campaign culminated in India getting its independence in 1947. | His campaign culminated in India getting its independence in 1947. |
| "It is a day of thought and reflection for me and for all of us who can now look to carry his thoughts forward," Ms Parikh, 75, said. | "It is a day of thought and reflection for me and for all of us who can now look to carry his thoughts forward," Ms Parikh, 75, said. |
| A Mumbai display depicting Gandhi's assassination | A Mumbai display depicting Gandhi's assassination |
| "I feel on this occasion the whole nation will come together." | "I feel on this occasion the whole nation will come together." |
| She and 10 other family members - descendants of Gandhi's four sons - boarded a boat and scattered the ashes about 1km (0.6 miles) out to sea. | She and 10 other family members - descendants of Gandhi's four sons - boarded a boat and scattered the ashes about 1km (0.6 miles) out to sea. |
| Ms Parikh is descended from Gandhi's eldest son, Harilal, who had a turbulent relationship with his father and was not at his funeral, contravening Hindu tradition by which the eldest son lights the father's funeral pyre. | Ms Parikh is descended from Gandhi's eldest son, Harilal, who had a turbulent relationship with his father and was not at his funeral, contravening Hindu tradition by which the eldest son lights the father's funeral pyre. |
| Her participation in the ceremony has been described by family members as a gesture of reconciliation. | Her participation in the ceremony has been described by family members as a gesture of reconciliation. |
| After Gandhi's cremation, his ashes were distributed in 20 different containers to towns and villages across India for memorial services. | After Gandhi's cremation, his ashes were distributed in 20 different containers to towns and villages across India for memorial services. |
| Some were kept and worshipped by wealthy industrialist families who supported Gandhi during his lifetime. | Some were kept and worshipped by wealthy industrialist families who supported Gandhi during his lifetime. |
| Moral conscience | Moral conscience |
| In 1997, one such urn was found in a bank locker in the state of Orissa. They were later immersed in keeping with the family's wishes. | In 1997, one such urn was found in a bank locker in the state of Orissa. They were later immersed in keeping with the family's wishes. |
| The BBC's Prachi Pinglay, who attended the Mumbai ceremony, says that many of those present at Chowpatty beach were in their seventies. | The BBC's Prachi Pinglay, who attended the Mumbai ceremony, says that many of those present at Chowpatty beach were in their seventies. |
| Assassin who still divides | Assassin who still divides |
| Indian Home Minister Shivraj Patel and Maharashtra Governor SM Krishna represented national and state governments. | Indian Home Minister Shivraj Patel and Maharashtra Governor SM Krishna represented national and state governments. |
| The ashes were taken to sea after police formed a guard of honour. | The ashes were taken to sea after police formed a guard of honour. |
| Gandhi was assassinated by a Hindu fanatic in 1948. Today he is widely revered as the nation's moral conscience. | |
| His principles of truth and non-violence have been widely followed and worshipped. | His principles of truth and non-violence have been widely followed and worshipped. |
| However, some Hindus question his philosophy of non-violence. | However, some Hindus question his philosophy of non-violence. |
| Wednesday's ceremony was deeply moving for 72-year-old lawyer Trivedi, who stood at the barricade in Mumbai and watched his wife Usha Trivedi go with the boat to immerse the ashes. | Wednesday's ceremony was deeply moving for 72-year-old lawyer Trivedi, who stood at the barricade in Mumbai and watched his wife Usha Trivedi go with the boat to immerse the ashes. |
| He watched the media scuffle with police as they jostled to get on other boats to cover the ceremony with a certain amount of sadness. | He watched the media scuffle with police as they jostled to get on other boats to cover the ceremony with a certain amount of sadness. |
| "Isn't it an irony that when ashes of a man who practiced peace and non-violence are being immersed, there is so much commotion and chaos?" he asked. | "Isn't it an irony that when ashes of a man who practiced peace and non-violence are being immersed, there is so much commotion and chaos?" he asked. |
| As the ashes dropped deep into the sea, another follower with childhood memories of Gandhi, 72-year-old Dr Vora, was overcome with emotion. | As the ashes dropped deep into the sea, another follower with childhood memories of Gandhi, 72-year-old Dr Vora, was overcome with emotion. |
| "Hope he is reborn," she said. | "Hope he is reborn," she said. |