Letter to Raja

Summary

This two-page typescript letter, dated 8 March 1963, is from Minoo Masani to C. Rajagopalachari (“Rajaji”) coordinating a nascent Swatantra-led public campaign against the Union Budget of 1963. Masani thanks Rajaji for agreeing to publish a paragraph in his Swarajya column supporting the appeal, reports on a strategy meeting held in Jaipur, and previews a public meeting in Matunga at which N. Dandekar and he are to speak.

The body of the letter sketches the shape a wider mobilisation might take. Masani conveys a widespread sentiment among businessmen that Rajaji is the only national figure around whom a countrywide anti-budget campaign can crystallise, and floats the analogy of Gandhi’s Dandi March — this time aimed at the sales tax — as the possible beginning of a mass movement. He concedes that a full no-tax campaign may not be sustainable while the Defence of India Rules are in force, and therefore proposes pinpointed protest instead.

For Rajaji’s Swarajya appeal Masani drafts four talking points: that the Government’s “brute and artificial” parliamentary majority may pass the budget but the people must reject it; that Chambers of Commerce and trade associations must show courage on behalf of their members; that businessmen unaffected by the Gold Control Order should demonstrate solidarity with goldsmiths, artisans and jewellers; and that Rajaji himself might travel to Bombay or Calcutta to head a mass demonstration if the business community invites him. He closes by candidly conceding that the Swatantra Party organisation is too weak by itself to carry the mounting anger about the budget, and endorses those urging that Rajaji be projected personally as the symbol of resistance. A postscript records that Sir Homi has drawn attention to a distorted PTI report of Rajaji’s earlier remarks and asks Rajaji to publish a corrective article.

Key points

• Letter from Minoo Masani to C. Rajagopalachari, dated 8 March 1963, coordinating an anti-Budget 1963 public campaign.
• Masani thanks Rajaji for agreeing to run a supporting paragraph in his Swarajya column and pledges to circularise Swatantra State Units in the same direction.
• Reports a strategy meeting held in Jaipur and a forthcoming public meeting in Matunga featuring N. Dandekar and Masani among the speakers.
• Argues, on the basis of feedback from businessmen, that Rajaji is the only national figure around whom a nation-wide campaign against the budget can revolve.
• Proposes Gandhi’s Dandi March as the template for a targeted campaign against the sales tax, since a full no-tax movement is impractical under the Defence of India Rules.
• Drafts four talking points for the Swarajya appeal, including popular rejection of the budget, action by Chambers of Commerce, cross-class solidarity with those hit by the Gold Control Order, and a possible mass demonstration led by Rajaji in Bombay or Calcutta.
• Concedes the Swatantra Party organisation is too weak by itself and endorses building the campaign around Rajaji personally as symbol of resistance.
• Postscript reports that Sir Homi flagged an “unfortunate” PTI report of Rajaji’s statement and asks Rajaji to publish a clarifying article.