[Letter to Smt Indira Gandhi]

Summary

In this two-page letter dated 9 November 1975, R. Prasad writes to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi about the deteriorating health of his brother, Jayaprakash Narayan, who is imprisoned in Chandigarh. Drawing on monthly visits since July, Prasad records Narayan’s worsening symptoms: low blood pressure, low blood sugar, nausea, loss of appetite, severe stomach pain, extreme weakness, swollen legs, bent toes, eye trouble, and large swellings below the eyes.

Prasad stresses that Narayan has been moved to a hospital ward but remains bedridden, dependent on support to move, and restricted to a liquid diet. He is especially alarmed that, despite examinations and investigations, the illness has not been identified and Narayan has not been told what medicines he is receiving. The letter conveys a personal appeal to Gandhi to assess whether it is in the Government’s interest for Narayan to die in jail, warning that he may not survive more than two months if his condition continues to deteriorate.

Key points

• R. Prasad identifies himself as Jayaprakash Narayan’s brother and reports having visited him monthly since July 1975.
• Narayan’s health is described as progressively worsening from July through early November, including weakness, loss of appetite, stomach pain, and nausea.
• By late October, Narayan had been transferred from a hospital cottage to a ward for better medical care and attendance.
• Narayan is reported to be bedridden, on a liquid diet, and dependent on support to move around his room.
• Prasad reports swelling in the legs and below the eyes, bent toes, and serious trouble with the eyes.
• The letter criticizes the failure to identify Narayan’s disease despite examinations and investigations, and notes that he has not been told what medicines he is receiving.
• Prasad warns that Narayan might not survive for more than two months and asks Gandhi to consider the implications of his dying in jail.