[Letter to Mr Minoo Masani]

Summary

A brief typewritten letter from N. G. Ranga, then a Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), written from Nidubrolu on 16 January 1963 to Minoo Masani. Ranga expresses regret that they did not, during their recent session together, anticipate how closely Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s Colombo proposals would echo positions Nehru had already been advancing on the Sino-Indian question, and he treats this convergence as an awkward tactical predicament for their common political camp.

Ranga refers Masani to an enclosed letter he has written to C. Rajagopalachari (“Rajajee”) as an indication of the difficulty he foresees, and he asks Masani to send his advice by the morning of the 20th, when Ranga will be in Delhi and staying at 44, Western Court. The letter is essentially a coordinating note between two of the founding figures of the Swatantra Party as they work out a joint line in response to a fast-moving foreign-policy development.

Key points

• Ranga writes to Masani on Lok Sabha letterhead from Nidubrolu on 16 January 1963, with a receiving-office stamp dated 21 January 1963 (No. 01813).
• He laments that during their recent session together they did not foresee how close Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s proposals would come to positions Nehru had been advancing.
• He directs Masani to a companion letter he has sent to Rajagopalachari, which he says will indicate the political “predicament” he perceives.
• He asks Masani to convey his advice in time to reach him in Delhi by the morning of 20 January.
• He notes he will be staying at 44, Western Court in Delhi, and a handwritten note at the foot records the enclosure of his letter to Rajaji.
• The letter is a private coordinating note between senior Swatantra Party figures on how to respond to the Sirimavo (Colombo) proposals on the Sino-Indian conflict.