[Letter to Morarji Desai]

Summary

In this personal and confidential letter dated November 10, 1967, M. R. Masani writes to Morarji Desai about two proposed government appointments. He encloses a press letter concerning S. S. Dhawan’s appointment as Indian High Commissioner in London, warning that the information may come as a shock, and reports rumours that the Prime Minister intends to appoint Ramesh Thapar as Minister of State for External Affairs.

Masani argues that Thapar’s alleged Communist background makes the proposed appointment unacceptable. He identifies Thapar as a former editor of the Communist Party of India’s official organ, noting its successive names—People’s War, Crossroads, and New Age—and recalls that Thapar was prosecuted by the Madras Government in 1950 for seditious material. Masani challenges any claim that Thapar has renounced communism, pointing to his continuing leftist journalism and attacks on people he considers “Rightists.” The letter ends by urging Desai to ensure that such an appointment does not pass without notice.

Key points

• Masani’s letter to Morarji Desai is dated November 10, 1967, and marked personal and confidential.
• The letter encloses a press communication about S. S. Dhawan’s proposed appointment as Indian High Commissioner in London.
• Masani reports rumours that Ramesh Thapar may be appointed Minister of State for External Affairs.
• He presents Thapar’s past editorship of a Communist Party of India organ as evidence of his Communist affiliations.
• The letter records the publication’s successive titles as People’s War, Crossroads, and New Age.
• Masani recalls Thapar’s prosecution by the Madras Government in 1950 for publishing allegedly seditious material.
• Masani argues that Thapar has never publicly announced a renunciation of communism and continues to write from a leftist perspective.