When Henri Cartier-Bresson Captured The Birth Of The Nation And The Death Of The Mahatma

Centred on his images of Mahatma Gandhi, the aftermath of his assassination, and his funeral procession, this body of work represents one of the most invaluable archives of India's modern history.
L: Gandhi leaving Mehrauli, the day before his assassination. R: The crowd at his cremation ground.© Henri Cartier-Bresson | Magnum Photos
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In 1947, the legendary French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson embarked on a three-year journey across Asia. It was the first of six trips he'd make to the region over the next 40 years. His first stop was India, just after the country gained independence from the British Empire. Centred on his images of Mahatma Gandhi, the aftermath of his assassination, and his funeral procession, this body of work represents one of the most invaluable archives of India's modern history.

Gandhi dictating a message at Birla House, the residence where he spent his last days and in which he was assassinated, just before breaking his fast. Delhi, India. 1948.
Gandhi dictating a message at Birla House, the residence where he spent his last days and in which he was assassinated, just before breaking his fast. Delhi, India. 1948.© Henri Cartier-Bresson | Magnum Photos

Advised by Magnum Photos co-founder Robert Capa to make more journalistic and documentary photographs, and also to visit India, Cartier-Bresson originally set out to create a photo essay that would capture the essence of the country — its past and present at a time of rapid social and political changes resulting from the postwar collapse of the British colonial empire. The Partition of the country into India and Pakistan along religious fault-lines, however, plunged the region into social and political unrest. What was meant to be a document of the birth of India as a modern nation, soon became a document of the death of Mahatma Gandhi, one of its founding fathers.

Centred on his images of Mahatma Gandhi, the aftermath of his assassination, and his funeral procession, this body of work represents one of the most invaluable archives of India's modern history.
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On 30th January, 1948, Mahatma Gandhi — who had been protesting and leading multi-faith prayers at the Birla House in New Delhi to seek an end to the communal riots and violence which had broken out between Hindus and Muslims following the Partition — was assassinated by the Hindu Nationalist terrorist Nathuram Godse. Only the day before, Cartier-Bresson had made one of the last photographs of the Mahatma.

Gandhi leaving Meherauli, a Muslim shrine. This was one of his last appearances during the time between the end of his fast and his death. Delhi, India. 1948.
Gandhi leaving a Muslim shrine in Mehrauli. This was one of his last appearances during the time between the end of his fast and his assassination at the hand of Nathuram Godse, who shot Gandhi three times in the chest at point-blank range. Delhi, India. 1948.© Henri Cartier-Bresson | Magnum Photos

As news of Gandhi's murder spread like wildfire across India, Cartier-Bresson unexpectedly found himself witness to a major historical event the echoes of which are still rippling across the fabric of time today.

An astute photographer, he returned once again to Birla House to document Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s announcement of Gandhi’s death. Cartier-Bresson’s quiet pictures of Gandhi’s body lying in state led to a commission from Life magazine to document the funeral, and his solemn black and white photographs captured silence and grief in a moment of chaos, confusion, and collective grief.

These photographs Cartier-Bresson made in the aftermath of Gandhi’s death not only offer a unique visual record of this decisive moment, but also epitomise, although perhaps not intentionally, what makes for iconic photojournalism.

Crowds gathered between Birla House and the cremation grounds on the Jumna River, during Gandhi’s funeral. Delhi, India. 1948.
Crowds gathered between Birla House and the cremation grounds on the Jumna River, during Gandhi’s funeral. Delhi, India. 1948.© Henri Cartier-Bresson | Magnum Photos
Gandhi’s body at Birla House, the day after his assassination. Delhi, India. 1948.
Gandhi’s body at Birla House, the day after his assassination. Delhi, India. 1948.© Henri Cartier-Bresson | Magnum Photos
Gandhi's secretary watching the first flames of the funeral pyre. Delhi, India. 1948. In the back a person who appears to be Jawaharlal Nehru — the first Prime Minister of India — is trying to calm the crowd.
Gandhi's secretary watching the first flames of the funeral pyre. Delhi, India. 1948. In the back a person who appears to be Jawaharlal Nehru — the first Prime Minister of India — is trying to calm the crowd.© Henri Cartier-Bresson | Magnum Photos
Gandhi’s cremation on the banks of the Jumna River. Delhi, India. 1948.
Gandhi’s cremation on the banks of the Jamuna River. Delhi, India. 1948.© Henri Cartier-Bresson | Magnum Photos
Inside the train carrying Gandhi's ashes to the River Ganges. Crowds lined the railway tracks to see and touch Gandhi's ashes, and pay a last tribute to their leader. Delhi, India. 1948.
Inside the train carrying Gandhi's ashes to the River Ganges. Crowds lined the railway tracks to see and touch Gandhi's ashes, and pay a last tribute to their leader. Delhi, India. 1948.© Henri Cartier-Bresson | Magnum Photos
Crowds lining the railway tracks to pay homage to Gandhi's ashes. Delhi, India. 1948.
Crowds lining the railway tracks to pay homage to Gandhi's ashes. Delhi, India. 1948. © Henri Cartier-Bresson | Magnum Photos
Gandhi’s ashes being transported to the River Ganges to be scattered. Delhi, India. 1948.
Gandhi’s ashes being transported to the River Ganges to be scattered. Delhi, India. 1948.© Henri Cartier-Bresson | Magnum Photos
A crowd on the banks of the River Ganges watching the scattering of Gandhi’s ashes. Delhi, India. 1948.
A crowd on the banks of the River Ganges watching the scattering of Gandhi’s ashes. Delhi, India. 1948.© Henri Cartier-Bresson | Magnum Photos

To learn more about Henri Cartier-Bresson's visions of India, read Henri Cartier-Bresson in India (Thames & Hudson, 2006).

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