[Letter to Dilip Chitre]

Summary

This two-page letter from Bombay, dated January 10, 1973, is addressed to Dilip Chitre and discusses Jayaprakash Narayan’s political efforts, the role of younger activists, and the possibility of coordinating non-party voluntary organisations. The sender approves of Jayaprakash Narayan’s initiative but criticises what he sees as a lack of consistent effort and confused thinking, comparing it with perceived weaknesses in Minoo Masani. He argues that the problem lies less with older people who founded existing organisations than with the younger generation’s limited involvement and lack of constructive organisation-building.

The letter proposes cooperation among groups such as the ICCP, the DMS, the Indian Liberal Group, and the Forum of Free Enterprise, while questioning whether such cooperation can remain genuinely non-partisan. It also reflects on the sender’s own decision to continue serving as Swatantra Party Executive Secretary for another six to eight months, despite doubts about party politics. In the second page, the writer revisits anti-communism and Cold War politics, acknowledges Bertrand Russell’s “Better Red Than Dead” position without accepting it, and argues that present political frustration should not lead to an uncritical glorification of the younger generation.

Key points

• The writer supports Jayaprakash Narayan’s efforts but questions their consistency and intellectual clarity.
• The letter attributes the inactivity of voluntary organisations partly to disengagement among younger members.
• It proposes coordination among non-party organisations in social, economic, cultural, and political fields.
• The writer describes a personal decision to remain Executive Secretary of the Swatantra Party for six to eight more months.
• The letter argues that anti-communism and Cold War politics have become less relevant in the contemporary context.
• It discusses Bertrand Russell’s “Better Red Than Dead” position while rejecting life under communism.
• The writer resists blaming older political figures alone for current public apathy and frustration.