Jealgora P. O., Distt. Manbhum,
Bihar, April 20, 1939.
My dear Mahatmaji,
I have today sent you the following telegram:—” Mahatma Gandhi, Rajkot. Extremely anxious your fever, pray for your speedy recovery. Jawaharlalji
and myself earnestly hope our meeting will yield fruitful results and make possible cooperation of all Congressmen in common cause. In view of our early meeting at Calcutta we both consider it unnecessary and undesirable to release correspondence before meeting. Pranams.”
We have had a long correspondence during the last three weeks. This correspondence has not produced any tangible result so far as the formation of the Working Committee is concerned. Nevertheless it has perhaps been useful in a different way in helping the clarification of our ideas. But the immediate issue has to be clinched now, for we cannot do without a Working Committee any longer. The situation within the country and in the international sphere makes it imperative that Congressmen should close up their ranks at once and present a united front. You are fully aware bow the international situation is deteriorating from day to day. The amending Bill now before the British Parliament shows that the British Government are preparing to rob the Provincial Governments of whatever power they now possess in the event of a war-emergency arising. From all accounts it should be clear beyond a shadow of doubt that we are approaching a crisis of unprecedented magnitude. We can hope to cope with it only if we sink our differences at once and do our very best to restore unity and discipline within our ranks. This task can be achieved only if you come forward and take the lead. In that event you will find that all of us will do our very best to cooperate with and follow you. You will also find that there is common ground between us so far as the need of rooting out corruption and checking any tendency towards violence are concerned, though we may differ as to the amount of corruption or the degree of spirit of violence that actually exists today. So far as the programme is concerned, it is for the Congress or the AICC to define it — though each individual has the undoubted right to place his ideas before these bodies. In the matter of programme, I have the feeling that the crisis that is soon going to overtake us will largely determine it and then there will be little room for any material differences on this score.
I am looking forward eagerly and most hopefully to our meeting in or near Calcutta before the AICC meeting. Opinion in Bengal as in other provinces is rapidly growing that the problem of the Working Committee should be
solved by mutual agreement in spite of any theoretical differences and in spite of past differences or misunderstandings. Under the Pant Resolution, the responsibility of forming the Working Committee is yours and when you undertake the responsibility, you will find that we shall cooperate to the best of our ability.
Jawahar was here yesterday. We had a long discussion on the present situation. I was glad to find that our views concurred.
We think that it would be desirable to break journey for a day at some station not far from Calcutta and have a quiet discussion. If you come via Nagpur, then Midnapore (Kharagpur) would be the best place. If you come via Cheoki, then we must think of a place near Burdwan. I have sent you a wire on this point and shall await your reply. Failing this, we shall meet in Calcutta. I have asked Jawahar to join in our talks and he has kindly agreed.
I am feeling anxious about your fever. I am praying that it may soon disappear.
With respectful Pranams,
Yours affectionately,
Subhas.