[Swatantra Party Minutes of Meeting]

Summary

These two pages record the 9 October 1959 meeting of the Swatantra Party’s Greater Organising Committee for Greater Bombay. The minutes list the attendees, confirm the previous meeting’s minutes, record condolences on the death of Subbiah Gounder, and note reports on the party’s reception in the United Kingdom and continental Europe, as well as regional responses in northern and eastern India. The committee also considers expanding its membership to include representatives from Maharashtra and Caltex.

The committee’s practical agenda focuses on organisation, publicity, labour outreach, fundraising, and ward-level activity. It calls for publicity for forthcoming meetings, reports that Rs. 9,100 has been collected for the 24 November effort, discusses a labour manifesto and meetings with workers in a housing colony, and approves the preparation of inexpensive pamphlets and folders. It also supports studying a Labour Contact Centre in an area with many labourers and sanctions propaganda expenses for a students’ meeting. The document is an administrative record rather than a policy essay, and its pages end while reporting on the committee’s activities.

Key points

• The Greater Organising Committee for Greater Bombay met on 9 October 1959 at the Swatantra Party office.
• The committee confirmed the previous meeting’s minutes and passed a condolence resolution for Subbiah Gounder.
• Reports described interest in the party in the United Kingdom, continental Europe, northern India, and several other regions.
• The committee discussed co-opting additional members, including a prominent Maharashtrian and a Caltex representative.
• Publicity work included the distribution of a Convention Handbook and proposals for low-cost pamphlets and folders.
• Labour activity included meetings in a housing colony, preparation of a labour manifesto, and study of a Labour Contact Centre.
• The committee reviewed fundraising for 24 November and approved Rs. 150 for propaganda connected with a students’ meeting.