14.4.98

My dear Prakash,

I didn't realise that the whole scheme for celebration of 50th Anniversary of Chandigarh had been initiated by Charles Correa.

As far as I understood, he was allergic to Le Corbusier. But may have changed his mind.

He knows our MARG Book. But he has not contacted me for any contribution.

Orcourse, I can't talk about technicalities. And can only write about background. Which I have done in a short piece. Which I will send you as a possible afterward to your book. 

I have told the story of how Thapar began to think of the idea of a Capital for Punjab. In a personal conversation in the house of his nephew Romesh Thapar, when I parried him about his whereabouts. And I showed him article about Le Corbusier in Marg. Gave him a letter to Andre Malraux so, that he might be able to see Corbusier through my friend.

Le Corbusier's first reaction was negative. Then Jane Drew and Maxwell Fry persuaded him to take on the Commission and they mention Nehru, which name was magic to Corbusier. So he agreed. Anyhow, I told that story in the piece I will give you for an Afterword.

Warm Regards,

Sincerely,
[signed]
Mulk Raj Anand


Shri Aditya Prakash
1118, Sector 8, C
CHANDIGARH

Mulk Raj Anand, letter in collection of Aditya Prakash Foundation

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