[Letter to Mr Minoo Masani]

Summary

This two-page handwritten letter, dated 5 April 1971 and written on Swatantra Party (Mysore State) letterhead, is addressed to Minoo Masani after Masani announced his resignation as party president. The unidentified sender says the resignation was shocking but understandable, comparing the collapse of the political structure Masani built through “sincerity, devotion and hardwork” to a house of cards. The letter argues that the electorate has been wrongly credited with political acumen and knowledge that it does not possess, and therefore cannot be expected to make sound political choices.

Key points

• The sender acknowledges and sympathises with Minoo Masani’s resignation as president of the Swatantra Party.
• Masani’s political work is praised as having been built through sincerity, devotion and hard work.
• The letter criticises the assumption that the electorate possesses political acumen and knowledge that it does not in fact possess.
• It invokes the maxim “Wait and Hope” while expressing continued belief that political circumstances may change.
• The sender defends the continued struggle for individual liberty and fundamental rights, explicitly including property rights.
• The letter predicts that a disillusioned electorate may eventually reverse course and that the party should be ready to capitalise on that change.
• The sender says the party cannot reasonably ask Masani to reconsider, while noting that the General Council is expected to request withdrawal of his resignation.