Following his rejection from the British Army because of his Brahmin ancestry, a young Indian, Naturam Godse, learns that his child bride and his father have been killed during communal riots. After promising his mother to fight violence with violence, Natu joins a reactionary political group opposing Mahatma Gandhi and his policy of nonviolence. While employed as a newspaper editor, he falls in love with Rani Mehta, a beautiful married woman who is a firm believer in the teachings of the Mahatma, but their affair ends because of political differences. Natu is then ordered to assassinate Gandhi during a prayer meeting at the home of an Indian industrialist. As Natu and his confederate, Naryan Apte, await the appointed hour of the execution, Natu recalls the events of his early life. Suddenly beset by doubts, he spends a few drunken hours with a Punjabi prostitute named Sheila and then seeks out Rani. When she once more rejects him, he decides to go through with his assignment. Although Gopal Das, the local police chief, has learned of the assassination plot, he is unable to persuade Gandhi to postpone the prayer meeting. Rani also learns of the plan but arrives too late to prevent Natu from firing the fatal shots. Knowing he has killed a great man and that he must be executed for his crime, Natu allows himself to be dragged off by Das's officers.