[Letter to Mr Minoo Masani]

Summary

This two-page correspondence from Jayaprakash Narayan to Minoo Masani records Narayan’s grief after the death of his wife, Prabhavati. In the April 24 letter, he thanks Masani for his sympathy, explains that Prabhavati’s sudden death has left him shattered, and postpones discussion of his future programme while outlining travel plans involving Patna, Delhi, Vinoba’s place, and possibly Calcutta.

In the June 25 letter, Narayan apologises for delayed replies and describes a period of depression and physical weakness. He says that reading Prabhavati’s preserved letters, dating from 1921 onward, has made him relive much of their shared life. He also gives Masani his July travel itinerary for Bombay and Poona, and notes that Govindrao and other friends are arranging his programme, partly in connection with trusteeship matters.

Key points

• Narayan writes to Minoo Masani in the aftermath of Prabhavati’s death.
• He describes himself as emotionally shattered by the suddenness of her death.
• He apologises for not answering earlier letters because of depression and poor health.
• Prabhavati’s preserved correspondence leads him to revisit their life together over roughly half a century.
• The April letter postpones discussion of Narayan’s future programme while listing planned travel.
• The June letter records planned visits to Bombay and Poona and arrangements concerning trusteeship matters.