The appearance of Nathuram Godse portrait at a Durga Puja pandal in West Bengal has reignited debate over the public representation of Gandhi’s assassin and the ideological messages conveyed through festival decorations.
BY PC Bureau
October 21: A Durga Puja pandal in Mahishadal, West Bengal’s Purba Medinipur district, has triggered controversy after visuals circulated on social media showed a portrait of Nathuram Godse displayed alongside images of Mahatma Gandhi, Subhas Chandra Bose, Rabindranath Tagore and other prominent historical figures.
The images and a video of the pandal organised by the Mahishadal Youth Cultural Organisation (MYCO Club) were shared widely on X on Wednesday, October 21, drawing criticism over the placement of Godse’s portrait among figures associated with India’s freedom struggle and national heritage.
Godse’s portrait among historical figures
The visuals show a wall inside the decorated pandal featuring a series of framed portraits, including those of Gandhi, Bose, Tagore and Swami Vivekananda. Godse’s photograph appears among them, prompting questions about the decision to include the man who assassinated Gandhi.
The footage, reportedly recorded by Surjo Maity around October 20, also shows colourful hanging lanterns, elaborate ceiling decorations and the Durga idol with accompanying figures.
Mohammed Zubair of fact-checking website Alt News shared the visuals on X, drawing attention to Godse’s presence among the historical personalities. Other social media users also criticised the display, with some accusing it of attempting to normalise the legacy of Gandhi’s assassin.
No official response reported
The controversy has so far been driven largely by social media posts and the circulating visuals. No official response from MYCO Club, the local police or the West Bengal government was available in the material reviewed for this report.
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It was also unclear why the organisers chose to include Godse’s portrait or whether they intended to convey a particular political or historical message through the display.
The episode recalls earlier controversies involving the representation of Gandhi and Godse at Durga Puja celebrations in West Bengal. In 2022, a puja organised by a Hindu Mahasabha-linked group in Kolkata drew criticism after an idol depicting Mahishasura reportedly resembled Gandhi. The organisers subsequently modified the figure following objections.
West Bengal: A Durga Puja at Mahishadal’s MYCO Club, Purba Medinipur has photos of Mahatma Gandhi’s Killer Nathuram Godse along with other Great Freedom fighters and Icons. https://t.co/61zd836iMP
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) October 21, 2026
Godse’s place in India’s history
Godse, a Hindu nationalist who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi at a prayer meeting in New Delhi on January 30, 1948, was convicted and executed in 1949. His act and ideological motivations remain contentious subjects in Indian public life.
Durga Puja pandals across West Bengal often use elaborate themes, historical imagery and cultural references as part of their decorations. The inclusion of Godse alongside figures such as Gandhi and Bose has, however, raised questions about the message conveyed by the Mahishadal display.
The controversy comes amid continuing political and ideological disputes over how India’s freedom struggle and its leading figures are remembered and represented in public spaces.
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