Select Correspondence of Pandit Dwarka Prasad Mishra

Pandit Dwarka Prasad Mishra was a notable man even in an age of protean personalities thrown up by India’s cultural renaissance and epic struggle for independence. He had drawn into politics through journalism in which he had early decided to make his career. Like several contemporary Indian goaded by nationalist feeling, he soon plunged into freedom movement which was then synonymous with sacrifice and suffering. Thus from an early age his life was shaped by the High ideals then personified by Mahatma Gandhi and other great sons of Mother India. He occupied several important portfolios in the Congress Ministry of Old Madhya Pradesh till 1951 and became Chief Minister of New Madhya Pradesh in 1960s. He was a close associate and advisor of Smt. Indira Gandhi during her early years as Prime Minister. Pt. Mishra was also man of academic interests. While in jail during the freedom movement he wrote Krishna, an epic of Lord Krishna presented as a political saga of struggle against tyranny. His memoirs "Living An Era" in two volumes covers the history of freedom struggle and Jawaharlal Nehru’s tenure as Prime Minister. His other notable works are Proto History of India, Manas Ke Ram Aur Sita, Anudita etc. The correspondence included in this volume reflects Pandit Mishra’s plans and programmes for the emancipation of India from foreign rule and the perspectives on the development of Madhya Pradesh.