[Letter to Mr Minoo Masani]

Summary

This typewritten letter, dated 27 August 1964 and sent from Kings Beeches, Sunninghill, Ascot, replies to a note Minoo Masani had written six days earlier. The correspondent explains that a planned return to India on 3 September has been pushed back, for family reasons, to Sunday 20 September; he will therefore reach the Lok Sabha only on the 21st and regrets that he will miss the opening of Parliament, the party meeting scheduled for 6 September, and a chance to see Rajaji.

The second half of the letter turns to Swatantra Party organisational business in Rajasthan. Major Bhatnagar and Ayuvan Singh have been sending regular reports; Kesri Singh and Bhargava are said to be functioning well. The writer confesses feeling guilty about his prolonged absence, but suggests it has been salutary for the state unit not to rely too much on him, and admits that reconciling duties to family and Party has become extremely difficult — while insisting this does not signal any intention of quitting. He has also promised Shri Maraswamy that he will travel to Tiruchirapalli in the last week of September.

Key points

• Typed letter dated 27 August 1964, sent from Kings Beeches, Sunninghill, Ascot (Berkshire) in reply to a letter Minoo Masani sent on 21 August 1964.
• The writer’s return to India has been delayed from 3 September to Sunday 20 September because of family circumstances; he will be in the Lok Sabha on the 21st.
• He apologises for missing the opening of Parliament and the Swatantra Party meeting on 6 September, including a chance to see Rajaji.
• Rajasthan party affairs are being reported to him by Major Bhatnagar and Ayuvan Singh; Kesri Singh and Bhargava are said to be functioning well.
• The writer feels guilty about his prolonged absence but reasons that it is good for the Rajasthan unit not to rely too heavily on him.
• He candidly admits, ‘between you and me’, that reconciling duties to his family and to the Party has become extremely difficult, while denying any thought of quitting.
• He has promised Shri Maraswamy that he will travel to Tiruchirapalli in the last week of September.