[Letter to Mr Minoo Masani]

Summary

This letter, dated April 22, 1968, is N. Dandekar’s appeal to M. R. Masani to reconsider his resignation from the Central Parliamentary Board and the National Executive. Dandekar reports that both bodies discussed Masani’s letter at meetings in New Delhi on April 13 and 14 and that he read the resignation letter aloud to them. He also notes that Masani had reiterated his refusal to withdraw the resignation when invited to attend those meetings by Prof. Ranga, identified in the letter as the President.

Dandekar says that the Board and Executive unanimously requested Masani to withdraw his resignation. Their reasoning was that disciplinary action had already been initiated against Mahida and five other people known to have supported Masani’s candidature, leaving, in their view, no further cause for Masani’s “dramatic act of atonement.” The letter closes with a personal appeal that Masani return to both bodies. The single rendered page does not provide the broader circumstances of the disciplinary proceedings, the identities of all the parties involved, or Masani’s response.

Key points

• N. Dandekar wrote to M. R. Masani on April 22, 1968.
• The Central Parliamentary Board and National Executive considered Masani’s resignation at meetings held in New Delhi on April 13 and 14.
• Dandekar read Masani’s resignation letter to both bodies and emphasized Masani’s refusal to withdraw it.
• Both bodies unanimously asked Masani to reconsider and withdraw his resignation.
• The appeal cited disciplinary action against Mahida and five others who had supported Masani’s candidature.
• Dandekar characterized the resignation as a “dramatic act of atonement” that was no longer warranted.
• The letter ends with a personal request that Masani return to both bodies.