[Letter to Mr Minoo Masani]

Summary

A single typewritten page dated 26 November 1975, from S. V. Raju in Bombay to Minoo Masani in Calcutta, addressed “My dear Minoo” and signed by Raju (with the reference SVR/LP and “REF: 70a”). The letter is entirely logistical: Raju confirms a telegram sent earlier and reports on arrangements for a Madras meeting to mark Rajaji’s birthday, at which Shanti Bhushan has agreed to speak alongside Masani, with Subba Rao likely to preside. He supplies flight timings (IC.109 out of Bombay at 0855 hours reaching Madras at 10.45, and the return IC.172 leaving Madras at 20.20 to arrive Bombay at 2200 hours) and observes that if the meeting begins at 6 p.m. Masani should still make the return flight.

The second half of the letter turns to the “Simon Carves Attitude Survey” in Calcutta. Since Masani is staying at the Grand, Raju suggests he book rooms for the 9th and 10th of December and proposes flights IC.175 (Bombay–Calcutta, 9 December) and IC.176 (Calcutta–Bombay, 11 December). Eighteen interviews are now scheduled — sixteen originally, with two more added by a Mr. Vicaji — split into eleven on the 10th and seven on the 11th, running 9.30 a.m.–1 p.m. and 3 p.m.–5 p.m. Raju closes by noting confusion over Masani’s return to Bombay: Ranjana reports she has booked him on a flight leaving Calcutta on 2 December, but Raju recalls Masani saying he would return on the 4th night and that papers should be sent to his home that evening, and he asks Masani to confirm.

Key points

• Letter dated 26 November 1975 from S. V. Raju (Bombay) to Minoo Masani (Calcutta); typed carbon with initials SVR/LP and reference “REF: 70a”.
• Reports arrangements for a Madras meeting marking Rajaji’s birthday, with Shanti Bhushan agreeing to speak alongside Masani and Subba Rao likely to preside.
• Provides precise Indian Airlines flight timings (IC.109 outbound, IC.172 return) so Masani can attend the 6 p.m. Madras meeting and still catch the return flight to Bombay.
• Turns to the “Simon Carves Attitude Survey” in Calcutta, suggesting Masani book rooms at the Grand for 9–10 December and take IC.175/IC.176 between Bombay and Calcutta.
• Interview schedule has grown from sixteen to eighteen persons (two added by Mr. Vicaji), broken into eleven interviews on the 10th and seven on the 11th, in morning and afternoon sittings.
• Flags a scheduling confusion about Masani’s return to Bombay: Ranjana has booked a 2 December flight from Calcutta, but Raju recalls Masani intending to return on the night of the 4th, and asks him to confirm which is correct.