“Forsaken hero”

I read every issue of Parsiana and find it is a mine of Parsi lore which I find interesting — since though a proud Indian, I am also a "Parsi community” man!

Congratulations on your editorial about Minoo Masani ("Forsaken hero,” Parsiana, July 21, 2012). I particularly liked the filial bit — the offer of a free lunch by his father to compensate Masani for his paltry salary of Rs 150!

Masani was a great son of India. When Rajendra Babu (Prasad) complained to him that Pandit (Jawa­harlal) Nehru did not allow him to exercise presidential powers which he thought he had under the Constitution, Masani said that Prasad did not have the force of Nehru’s personality and therefore gave in too readily to the Prime Minister; and yet went on grumbling (as he gave in) saying: "This is not the way we framed the Constitution.” Masani then added, "When people say what is wrong with this Constitution, I say, ‘Nothing is wrong. What is wrong is us. We have destroyed the Constitution because people in Delhi love power too much to tolerate either a strong President or a strong state.’”

FALI NARIMAN

Delhi

falinariman@gmail.com