[Letter to Mr Viren Saha]

Summary

In this letter dated 17 March 1971, M. R. Masani responds to Viren Shah’s letter of 13 March, acknowledging the seriousness of recent events and calling for a careful reassessment. Masani emphasizes the need to think clearly, learn from what has happened, and identify ways to help in the future.

Masani also says he is arranging a meeting of the National Executive and General Council of the Party in the second half of April, by which time the situation will have settled and more information will be available. The letter is a brief piece of political correspondence focused on party deliberation and organizational response.

Key points

• Masani describes the situation as very sad and in need of serious reflection.
• He calls for clear and hard thinking in order to learn from recent events.
• He frames the moment as requiring an “agonising reappraisal.”
• He plans to convene the Party’s National Executive and General Council in the second half of April.
• He expects that the situation will have settled and that more facts will then be available.