[Letter to C Rajagopalachari]

Summary

In this letter dated 25 July 1963, M. R. Masani alerts C. Rajagopalachari to criticism prompted by two of Rajagopalachari’s recent published remarks. The first was an appeal in the July 6 issue of the National to “forget about Mr. V. K. Krishna Menon,” so that the nation might eventually make good use of him. The second was a reference to Seminar, published by Romesh Thapar, which Masani says contributed, along with other material, to Tide building “a whole facade” in its 20 July issue.

Masani does not argue the substance of Rajagopalachari’s remarks in this page; instead, he draws attention to the way they are being used in print and encloses copies of the relevant Tide articles. The letter is therefore primarily a warning about press framing and the political consequences of public statements, addressed in a courteous but cautionary tone.

Key points

• Masani writes to Rajagopalachari on 25 July 1963 about concern over two of Rajagopalachari’s published remarks.
• One remark appeared in the National on 6 July and urged the public to forget V. K. Krishna Menon so that the nation might later make good use of him.
• The other was Rajagopalachari’s reference to Seminar, a publication identified as being published by Romesh Thapar.
• Masani says these remarks, combined with other material, helped Tide construct what he calls “a whole facade” in its 20 July issue.
• He encloses copies of the Tide articles and asks Rajagopalachari to take account of how his statements are being used.