Letter to Mr Minoo Masani

Summary

This three-page handwritten letter from C. Rajagopalachari to Minoo Masani, dated 13 August 1962, discusses a disputed decision concerning Madras affairs and the timing of its implementation. Rajagopalachari says he is deeply pained by the tone and purpose of a telegram he has received, but explains that the cause is too dear to him to expose to further threat, and that he therefore yields. He clarifies that he had not intended the decision to remain unrescinded, but had hoped to bring Munshi around in due time; he also refers to Munshi’s last letter as evidence of serious ill-health.

The letter then considers a request from Mr. Ramachandra Reddy, who had wired from Chittoor asking that the Madras decision be held over until voting in the Chittoor election was complete. Rajagopalachari suggests that release might be delayed until after polling, possibly until the counting and declaration of results, while noting that he has written to Munshi in response. In the final page, he addresses Masani’s second request and maintains that the decision was reached after full discussion and unanimously at the first meeting. Although acknowledging possible risks, he argues that they should stand by it, particularly because Masani had also considered it the right decision. The letter closes with a brief inquiry after Masani’s health.

Key points

• Rajagopalachari describes himself as deeply pained by the tone and purpose of a recent telegram but says he yields because the cause is too dear to expose to further threat.
• He distinguishes his intention from the result, explaining that he had not meant the decision to remain unrescinded and had hoped to persuade Munshi in due time.
• He cites a request from Ramachandra Reddy to postpone the Madras decision until voting in the Chittoor election was over.
• He considers delaying release until after polling, and possibly until counting and the declaration of results.
• He defends the decision as having been reached after full discussion and unanimously at the first meeting.
• He urges Masani to accept the risks of implementing what both had regarded as the right decision.