Jivishaa Pandit

The Crown Award funding made it possible for me to pursue my thesis research on Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination and its far-reaching political and diplomatic consequences. With this support, I was able to travel within India this summer to access archives, museums, and primary materials, such as trial records, letters, and documents. The award allowed me to fully commit to this project without any financial strain.

As I’ve begun my research, I’ve seen how challenging yet rewarding it is to grapple with the legacy of Gandhi’s death. His philosophies were central to India’s independence movement, yet they also provoked fierce opposition from Nathuram Godse. Investigating this ideological clash through historical documents has revealed how Gandhi’s assassination not only shocked the nation but also reshaped India’s internal politics and diplomatic standing in the early years of independence.

The project is still underway, and over the coming months I will continue organizing findings, drafting chapters, and preparing to share my work beyond the thesis itself. I plan to elaborate on my research through my blog (Selfmusing by Jiv) that will make my research accessible to wider audiences, connecting Gandhi’s nonviolence, Godse’s opposition, and their modern relevance.

I am deeply grateful to the Renée Crown Honors Program for supporting this project. This funding has given me the opportunity to engage directly with archives, analyze the political aftermath of Gandhi’s assassination, and contribute to conversations that connect history with contemporary challenges in peacebuilding and international relations.