Mr. M.R. Masani's Answers to the questions put by Mr. Michael Brecher, Professor of Political Science, McGill University.

Summary

This document presents M. R. Masani’s answers to a structured research questionnaire posed by Michael Brecher. The opening responses describe Masani’s Bombay upbringing in a middle-class Parsi and Zoroastrian family, his father’s and mother’s educational backgrounds, his schooling at Bharda New High School and Elphinstone College, later study at the London School of Economics, and his reading habits. He identifies himself as sceptical and agnostic, supports decentralisation and the free sector, and recalls Gandhi as an important influence while also crediting Western authors encountered in school and college.

The political answers defend democracy and freedom, express qualified support for Western culture and the Commonwealth, and reject state-sector dominance in favour of a free economy. Masani describes his earlier position as that of an extreme nationalist, records strong opposition to British rule, and distinguishes friendship with peoples from support for authoritarian regimes. In foreign-policy questions, he argues for a closer orientation toward the West, more active Indian diplomacy in South and South-East Asia, a negotiated but self-respecting friendship with Pakistan, and a firm anti-communist response to China. He criticises Nehru’s Panchsheel and co-existence policy as a serious foreign-policy error, and advocates regional security arrangements backed by the United States and its allies.

Key points

• Masani’s answers locate his family, childhood, education, and early intellectual formation in Bombay, with later study at the London School of Economics.
• He describes himself as sceptical and agnostic, supportive of democracy, decentralisation, and the free sector.
• He recalls an earlier career as an extreme nationalist, including opposition to British rule, Congress activity, and leadership in the Congress Socialist Party.
• He rejects broad pessimism about post-1947 India and considers the country’s democratic experience encouraging despite mass illiteracy.
• He supports continued Commonwealth membership because he believes it anchors India in the free world and the English-speaking community.
• He distinguishes sympathy for Russians from hostility to the Soviet regime and criticises communist dictatorship and its economic failures.
• He favours friendship with Pakistan based on self-respect and Kashmiri self-determination, while rejecting immediate reunification as necessary.
• He argues that India’s national interest requires a stronger anti-communist, Western-backed regional security policy and greater attention to South and South-East Asia.