© 2007 Institute of Current World Affairs
The Institute awards long-term fellowships to develop a deep understanding of an issue, country, or region outside the US and to share that understanding with a wider public.
Institute of Current World Affairs - Home Page

Below is a hobbled text version of a PDF document.
In order to read the actual document please click the link below and register if necessary.
(One-time registration is free and very quick.)
Read article

9/4/1960 - India: Notes Not Quite at Random by Granville S. Austin

NOT FOR PUBLICATION INSTITUTE OF CURRENT ORLD AFFAIRS CA2 Marina Hotel India Notes Not Quite Random New Delhi Mr Richard Ho Nolte September Executive Director Institute Current World Affairs Madison Avenue New York New York Dear Dick The recent earthquake Delhi which rumbled menacingly barely ruffled academic denying heroic about ceiling plaster Olivetti research bravely carried under So quite random I lunch Penderel Moon Wednesday turned I thought might Moon former member Indian Civil Service India since working Planning Commission He Fellow All Souls Oxford He ranged turbulent August British locked higher echelonsof Congress transfer power period Partition background recent disturbances Assam British modern India generally disgraceful strength divisive forces India All We discussing period transfer power published documents winter about negotiations between Cabinet Mission Indian Government Muslim League Congress He agreed Cabinet Mission failed arbitrator because could neither enforce decisions prior agreement contestors abide decisions The Congress LeagUe wouldn agree British Govern withdrawing could enforce diktat He believed militarily British could India I still attitude voters England climate world opinion impossible Cripps cited former Commons principal reason Rritish withdrawal He thought opportune British major change India status The British after Simon Commission Report should demand Liberals Dominion status which amild thing those Statue Westminster As happen transfer actually place summer For British stayed longer would achieved nothing agreed For British India assuming logistically possible which electorate England would supported which doubtful would catastrophic Moon believed India would China situation which would beginning emerge I important anyway convinced because I differ points I agree Gandhi Congress League would never ether British could attempt outflank other I think shock brutally sudden British withdrawal would prevented civil Moon would answer saying would resulted because Jinnah committed public statements position faced hostilities This strong argument Jinnah bargaining Pakistan makes wonder Anybody I talked variety people besides Moon I inter views Minoo Masani brains sense humor includes irony talks successful taking He helpfUl offered papers I Bombay I second interview Dr Kunzru which produced helpful general ideas specifics The afternoon I Kunzru Krishna Menon received For twenty minutes I peppery reputation He received cordially seemed interested I doing He talks softly makes remarks offhand thaunless cocked misses points He asked again would draft constitution wrote summer which influence present constitution particularly Preamble Menon K R Kripalani summer Organizing Secretary AICC convener Congress Expert Committee Constitution Kripalani things before house present having damaged earthquake I called Tajamul Husain readily available Auslims Constituent Assembly He Shia I visit productive More visits N C Chatterjee powerful lawyer former Calcutta High Court judge Hindu Mahasabha president talked about Assam supposed touch helpful Mahasabha M N Kaul secretary Lok Sabha whose forbidding manner hopeless became genial garrulous inclined helpful V K N Menon director Indian Institute Public Administration offered papers Institute library K Santhanam former editor Hindustan Times Constituent Assembly Member active Congressman pleasanty reminiscent generally factless K M Munshi K M Munshi Mr Activity Constituent Assembly He member Congress Expert Committee Constitution least Assembly I0 committees including Drafting Committee If accept Nehru Patel influential constitution making place B N Rau Dr Ambedkar second safely Munshi third H President complete papers Constituent Assembly This counting Dr Ambedkar papers which still tracing Sardar Patel which secret sister Maniben My happy Munshi offered papers I extends microfilming looked collection contains minutes complete Drafting Committee other committees minutes Congress Expert Committee personal correspondence My little adventures dustiness newsletter place AICC publications warehouse office A request publications Congress issued which still copies produced stack about I those ratefully around shelves office while totalled Result inches Several later I warehousein three hours added publications framing period While office determininE I looked unexplored corner added inches Total three eisht inches measure political propaganda I think And I Congress squeezed For three ending yesterday Lok Sabha discussed Assam disturbances July Thanks Masani I received tickets heard debate Before debate there usual question statements government response requests I heard dozen ministers speak watched several snappy exchanges The entertaining between Nehru Communist member Hiren Mukerjee Nehru became quite angry moments Mukerjee ropes Communist propaganda border districts Communist behavior generally He doubt India friendly Russia would allowed endanger India national security Two things especially interested Nehru point hoped always courage India right wrong India right One loopholes I wonder American President would United States At another Nehru accused having Ccmmunist phobia foolish remark I heard because Indis relations largest Ccmmunistcountryintheworld Russia Chinalost00millionpeople rather quickly Back Assam The first July Assamese about districts Assam amuck killing least Bengalis destroying about I0 houses making refugees nearly Bengalis settled Assam The reasons economic linguistic Assamese haven Benga The affair seems shaken press Government public Nehru called totally unpardonable worst things happen India All parties deplored events condemning linguistic chauvinism dangers national unity On Independence Day August speeches around India devoted danger threatening national unity But disaster doesn wised Bengal Assam In Bengal Independence Day celebrations boycotted government buildings black In Lok Sabha other Assamese Praja Socialist Party member accused party leader trying sacrifice Assamese branch party interests national unity When Nehru Assam July lectured Assam Congress about behavior meeting reportedly broke disorder fists shaken shouts Go Nehru Nehru Parliament certainly agree Judicial inquiry future determine culprits He favors further scale inquiry reasons disaster later believes inquiry would wounds rather Both Assam Bengal governmentsare crying Nagas still threa tening noises Akalis still Punjabi Subha India learned lesson For years prior Indian National Congress powerful movement India The elections Central Assembly Provincial Assemblies showed Congress movement turning political party nearing height power It unchallenged except Muslim League after Partition Congress again unchallenged India This constitution making could reasonably deduce Indian Constitution party Congress document because written Const ituent Assembly elected members Provincial Assemblies wherein Congress majorities This necessarily however degree truth inaccuracy vital understand Constitution Party representation Constituent Assembly based party strength Provincial Assemblies Congress alloted therefore nearly seats Assembly When elections Constituent Assembly July Congress membe Provincial Asse voted Constituent Assembly thBir representatives thepeoplewhomtheAll lndiaCongressPartyhadpreviously chosen seats Provincial Congress Committee which controlled Congress Assembly members province received Central elected Generally those thought deserving particular Assembly there residence requirements egislators England could elected Constituent Assembly provincial assembly It perfect opportunity create packed House steamroller through ideas Congress High Command But High Command particularly Nehru sensible instructed provincial legislatures elect number outstanding Congressmen H N Kunzru B Shiva Rao N C Ayyangar A K Ayyar Mr Shiva Rao before July elections Gandhi prominent Congressmen should Assembly Nor Congressmen stronger dissent fromthan support Congress policies lists Nehru shades opinion Assembly order frame accepts possible constitution Once Congress these constitutional stars Assembly shelve The composition Drafting Committee perfect example Of seven original members Congressmen although members elected Congress ticket The remaining members Muslim League former Indian State independents Dr Ambedkar elected Scheduled Castes Untouchable Federation ConEress This Congress twiddled thumbs while someone Assembly The Congress experience government Parliamentary majority believed ectlve geing thins The device eiciency discipline forum Congress Parliamentary Party Every member Assembly elected Consress icket member Parliamentary Party attend ernoon sessions Constituent Assembly sitting From I00 members attended these daily sessions where discussed ought items agenda Everyone wanted seems spoke piece Generally arrived decisions discussion persuasion concession retreat compromise believing Indian manner molliy opponent persuasion efective divisive embittering crushing negative On several occasions though different stands couldn reconciled settled Is issue settled Certain issues Fundamental Rights solved whether include process clause example question compensation should landowner zamlndar farmer taken forced Finance Minister Matthai reportedly walked session because thought amount compensation Votes ended battle least twice language issue Reportedly majority Parliamentary Perry voted favor period EnElish facto national lanuaEe Once Party session taken decision party discipline force Usually complete people frequently their losing point floor House perhaps Eenuine protest uselessly majority Assembly already turned The Party allowed voting debate floor Assembly issues however It evident reader Debates happened there public instead preordained smoothness The inner circle Parliamentary P Executive Committee This caucus The members those members inner Congressmen Central Assembly under British second Congressmen High Command stayed Central A ssembly High Command which newly Constituent Assembly Men Maulana Azad Nehru Patel Asaf All Sarat Chandra Bose N V Gadgil K C Neoy T D Bharava Minoo Masani Sri Prakasa members This committee routine decisions Parliamentary Pary whole ratified I Nehru Patel aEreed issue nearly impossible stand aEainst I sometimes happened Nehru Patel couldn agree solicited supporters Party As somewhat Khruschev going Central Conmdttee support against Politburo Despite their power appears Nehru Patel roughshod dissenters unconvincebut swung around force their arguments I doubt benchers assemblies affect party policy ordinary Congressmen Constituent Assembly What Assembly lacked powerful Oppositio while I imagine existing administratively I wonder could brought forward ideas already expressed Congress members Sincerely yours Granville Austln Received New York September