[Letter to Pujaya C Rajagopalachari]

Summary

In this letter dated September 24, 1969, N. K. Somani writes to C. Rajagopalachari (“Rajaji”) after reviewing Rajagopalachari’s views on India’s automobile industry. Somani refers to a Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to the Ministry of Industrial Development and argues that, under India’s prevailing economic conditions, manufacturing cars for private consumption cannot be justified.

Somani instead emphasizes the severely debilitated state of public transport and urges that available funds be diverted toward mass-transit systems. The letter records a policy argument contrasting private automobile production with public transportation investment; it is copied to Minoo Masani and Piloo Mody and includes an enclosure whose contents are not visible in the rendered page.

Key points

• The letter is dated September 24, 1969, and is sent by N. K. Somani from Bombay to C. Rajagopalachari.
• Somani responds to Rajagopalachari’s views concerning India’s automobile industry.
• He says the matter was considered by a Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to the Ministry of Industrial Development.
• He argues that manufacturing cars for private consumption is unjustified under India’s prevailing economic conditions.
• He describes India’s public transport system as severely debilitated.
• He advocates diverting available funds toward the development of mass-transit systems.
• The letter is copied to Minoo Masani and Piloo Mody and refers to an enclosure not included in the rendered page.