This seventh volume details Rajaji’s correspondence from January 1940 to March 1946, which gives an overview of the political climate of the time and the final phase of India’s freedom struggle. It discusses important events in Indian history, such as the Cripps Mission, Quit India movement, deliberations on the Hindu–Muslim settlement, and the elections to the central and provincial legislatures, held between December 1945 and January 1946, for which Rajaji campaigned actively for the Congress. This volume covers a decisive phase of Rajaji’s political journey, detailing his difference with the Indian National Congress on the timing of the Quit India movement as well as on the demand for Pakistan, which resulted in his resignation from the party in 1942, and his subsequent return in 1945. It also discusses his work on matters of national importance, notable among which was the ‘Rajaji/C.R. Formula’, which formed the basis of the Gandhi-Jinnah talks in 1944. Contents:List of Illustrations Preface 1. Tribute to Late K. Raman Menon  4 January 1940 2. Letter to Arthur Alfred Hayles  7 January 1940 3. Letter to John Francis Ashley Erskine  9 January 1940 4. Letter to A. Appadurai Pillai  1 February 1940 5. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad’s Election to the Presidentship of Congress: Interview to the Associated Press 16 February 1940 6. Duty to Vote for Congress: An Appeal  17 February 1940 7. Letter to Kasturi Srinivasan 18 February 1940 8. Letter to Percival Spear  21 February 1940 9. Interview to The Hindu: The Advantage of Instruction in Hindustani  21 February 1940 10. Study of Hindi in Schools  24 February 1940 11. No Doubt as to Final Issue 25 February 1940 12. Interview to the United Press of America  2 March 1940 13. Budget Failure to Extend Prohibition Disregard of People’s Verdict 4 March 1940  4 March 1940 14. Interview to a Representative of The Hindu  4 March 1940 15. Letter to B. Bhima Rao  8 March 1940 16. Letter to John Francis Ashley Erskine  8 March 1940 17. Letter to Kasturi Srinivasan  11 March 1940 18. Interview to The Hindu  20 March 1940 19. Statement on Partitioning of India  26 March 1940 20. Tribute to Yakub Hasan: Servant of the Nation till the Last  27 March 1940 21. Position has Worsened: Indictment  1 April 1940 22. Interview to The Hindu on the Plan to End the Stalemate 4 April 1940 23. “No Truer Friend of India”:A Tribute to C. F. Andrews   5 April 1940 24. Letter to Jagdish Prasad  9 April 1940 25. Letter to Vallabhbhai Patel  20 April 1940 26. India One Living Unit  20 April 1940 27. Statement on Ending Indian Deadlock  26 April 1940 28. A Smooth War Machine  27 May 1940 29. Letter to J. H. Maclean 31 May 1940 30. Governments with Popular Backing  9 June 1940 31. What Free India Will Do for Allies 10 June 1940 32. Letter to T. A. Ramalingam Chettiar  11 June 1940 33. Letter to V. I. Muniswami Pillai  13 June 1940 34. Checking Enemy’s Advance  14 June 1940 35. Letter to K. A. Nachiappa Gounder  26 June 1940 36. Government by One Man: Criticism of India Bill  27 June 1940 37. Viceroy’s Council Expansion Will Not Satisfy Anyone  1 July 1940 38. Statement on the Congress Working Committee’s Resolution  10 July 1940 39. Folly to Reject Congress Offer  11 July 1940 40. Letter to G. A. Natesan 18 July 1940 41. Letter to Mahadev Desai  19 July 1940 42. Letter to the Press 22 July 1940 43. Delhi Decision Ratified: Question of Time-Limit  28 July 1940 44. Significance of Tricolour  1 August 1940 45. Letter to W. T. Bryant  3 August 1940 46. Next Step of Congress  12 August 1940 47. Congress and the Formation of National Government   12 August 1940 48. Promotion of “Civil War Atmosphere”:A Disastrous Policy  15 August 1940 49. National Government Proposal: Test of Britain’s Sincerity   22 August 1940 50. Appeal for Amnesty to Political Prisoners in Mysore  25 August 1940 51. Ban on Volunteer Organizations:“Unreasonable Policy”  26 August 1940 52. Pakistan Not an Answer: Rejoinder to Raja Mohammad Amir Ahmad Khan  26 August 1940 53. Letter to T. Suryanarayana  27 August 1940 54. Letter to Speaker, Madras Legislative Assembly  30 August 1940 55. Muslim Reaction to Viceroy’s Offer:Danger of Pakistan Move  3 September 1940 56. Only Reasonable Adjustment: Appeal to Britain  6 September 1940 57. Letter to B. S. Gilani  11 September 1940 58. Ban on Use of Council Chambers: Significance of Government Policy  11 September 1940 59. The Use of Legislative Council Building  11 September 1940 60. Collections for War Fund  12 September 1940 61. Disservice to Britain: Views on Secretary of State’s Rejection of Congress Proposal  26 September 1940 62. Democracy and the War: England’s Claims Examined  5 October 1940 63. Letter to B. S. Gilani  6 October 1940 64. The Bratachari Movement: Founder on its Ideals and Scope  8 October 1940 65. Letter to Mahadev Desai  17 October 1940 66. Letter to Pir Nazeer Ahmed  19 October 1940 67. Letter to Pir Nazeeer Ahmed  17 November 1940 68. Circular Letter  1 December 1940 69. Letter to K. M. Munshi  11 August 1941 70. Address Delivered at the Twentieth Annual Convocation of the University of Lucknow  13 December 1941 71. Proclaim India and Burma Free  2 January 1942 72. Letter to Chief Secretary, Government of Madras  7 January 1942 73. Letter to Chief Secretary, Government of Madras  9 January 1942 74. Letter to the Madras Legislature Congress Party  22 January 1942 75. Unsatisfactory Defence Position:Statement on Govt.’s Apathy   23 January 1942 76. Letter to Gangadhar Rao Deshpande  24 January 1942 77. Letter to M. S. Aney  3 February 1942 78. India Wants Freedom, Not Power  15 February 1942 79. Worth While to Take Risks of Battle   1 March 1942 80. Britain Must Act Now: Statement on Dangers of Delay  4 March 1942 81. No Support for Fanciful Claims: Statement on League Demands  8 March 1942 82. Britain Must Rouse India: Statement on Cripps Mission  22 March 1942 83. Present—The Only Reality: Statement on American Comments  5 April 1942 84. Need to Arm the People: Only Way to Face Invasion  15 April 1942 85. Resignation Letter  30 April 1942 86. Statement to the Press on Pandit Nehru’s Criticism of Congress–League Settlement Proposal   23 May 1942 87. Congress–League Understanding Necessary for Defence Purpose  25 May 1942 88. Letter to Mahatma Gandhi  29 May 1942 89. Statement on J. B. Kripalani’s Circular Letter  31 May 1942 90. Congress–League Settlement: A Reply to Gandhiji  1 June 1942 91. Letter to A. V. Thakkar  9 June 1942 92. Letter to Mahatma Gandhi  10 June 1942 93. Nehru and Jinnah Must Join a Settlement Most Urgent  15 June 1942 94. Letter to Vallabhbhai Patel  16 June 1942 95. Letter to Mahatma Gandhi  2 July 1942 96. Letter to Reginald Maxwell 6 July 1942 97. Letter to President, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee  9 July 1942 98. Put Mr Jinnah to Test: Appeal to Congress  10 July 1942 99. Letter to P. C. Joshi  14 July 1942 100. Letter to Vallabhbhai Patel  16 July 1942 101. Sambamurti’s Resignation: Tribute to Work as Assembly Speaker  18 July 1942 102. Letter to Tej Bahadur Sapru  21 July 1942 103. Letter to Sir Reginald Maxwell  23 July 1942 104. Letter to Sir Reginald Maxwell  1 August 1942 105. Letter to W. T. Bryant  1 August 1942 106. Letter to Sir Reginald Maxwell  2 August 1942 107. Letter to the Viceroy  3 August 1942 108. Letter to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad 4 August 1942 109. Telegram to Mahatma Gandhi  7 August 1942 110. Letter to Mahatma Gandhi 8 August 1942 111. Government Create Fresh Difficulties  9 August 1942 112. Interview to the Hindustan Times 10 August 1942 113. Appeal for the Formation of Provisional Government  15 August 1942 114. Letter to K. M. Munshi  15 August 1942 115. Heavy Blow for Gandhiji  16 August 1942 116. Letter to B. T. Thakur  23 August 1942 117. Letter to Muhammad Yamin Khan  2 September 1942 118. Letter to Tej Bahadur Sapru  8 September 1942 119. Letter to Tej Bahadur Sapru  12 September 1942 120. Letter to Pothan Joseph  26 October 1942 121. Letter to D. M. Tahilramani  26 October 1942 122. Letter to John B. Ketcham  2 November 1942 123. War-Time Government for India: Article  6 November 1942 124. Viceroy’s Refusal Unwise: Interview to the Press  12 November 1942 125. Future Plan of Work: Interview  21 November 1942 126. Policy of Drift Deplored: Interview  1 December 1942 127. Letter to K. M. Munshi  17 December 1942 128. Princes’ Claims: Rejoinder to Sir C. P. Ramaswami Aiyar  23 December 1942 129. Letter to Sri Prakasa  27 December 1942 130. Appeal to All India Hindu Mahasabha  2 January 1943 131. Letter to Devadas Gandhi  15 January 1943 132. Letter to The Times Special Correspondent  11 February 1943 133. Letter to Gilbert Laithwaite  19 February 1943 134. Speech at the Leaders’ Conference, New Delhi  19 February 1943 135. Interview to the United Press 14 March 1943 136. Letter to Francis Low  18 March 1943 137. Letter to Gilbert Laithwaite 29 March 1943 138. Letter to Gilbert Laithwaite  30 March 1943 139. Letter to Gilbert Laithwaite 31 March 1943 140. Telegram to Tej Bahadur Sapru  31 March 1943 141. Government Do Not Desire Reconciliation 1 April 1943 142. Why Deputation was Dropped  2 April 1943 143. Letter to Tej Bahadur Sapru 4 April 1943 144. No Prospect of National Government  5 April 1943 145. Letter to Tej Bahadur Sapru 10 April 1943 146. Letter to Purushotamdas Thakurdas  10 April 1943 147. The Pakistan Scheme 12 April 1943 148. Letter to William Phillips  22 April 1943 149. Real British Intentions Laid Bare 28 May 1943 150. Hurdle Set up on Road to National Pact  30 May 1943 151. Letter to Devadas Gandhi 27 June 1943 152. Maximum Congress Could Agree to  16 July 1943 153. Statement on Hindu Mahasabha’s Opposition  17 July 1943 154. Fixing of Proper Boundaries  19 July 1943 155. Negotiations with the League  22 July 1943 156. Letter to Devadas Gandhi  7 August 1943 157. Congress–League Settlement 17 August 1943 158. Letter to K. M. Munshi 18 August 1943 159. Letter to K. M. Munshi 21 August 1943 160. Letter to Choudhry Khaliquzzaman 23 August 1943 161. Statement on Loss of “Valued Leader” of Harijans 24 August 1943 162. Postponement of Indian Freedom  29 August 1943 163. Letter to Gopinath Srivastava  11 September 1943 164. Leaders Outside Must Act  23 September 1943 165. Statement on Absence of a National Government—Root Cause  24 September 1943 166. Letter to Syama Prasad Mookerjee  28 September 1943 167. Appeals Again for Cripps Scheme  5 October 1943 168. Legend of Congress Tyranny 26 October 1943 169. The Way Out 30 November 1943 170. Reply to Henry Duffield Craik  20 January 1944 171. Convocation Address at Osmania University 27 January 1944 172. I Am Not Afraid of Pakistan  11 February 1944 173. Letter to Mahatma Gandhi 25 February 1944 174. Tribute to Kasturba Gandhi  26 February 1944 175. Need for Settlement with League 10 March 1944 176. Tribute to Ramdas Pantulu  18 March 1944 177. Interview on Rajaji–Jinnah Talks  10 April 1944 178. Amery Stands Condemned  21 April 1944 179. Greatest Figure of South India: Tribute to C. Vijayaraghavachariar  21 April 1944 180. Congress–League Settlement  9 July 1944 181. Bids Good-Bye to Muhammad Ali Jinnah  8 April 1944 182. Letter to Mahatma Gandhi  19 July 1944 183. Explains His Proposals: Interview to the Associated Press  20 July 1944 184. Speech at Madras Presidency College  24 July 1944 185. Advice to Muslim League on Plebiscite  28 July 1944 186. Interviewed on Layton’s Statement  28 July 1944 187. Jinnah’s Opportunity 29 July 1944 188. Gandhi–Jinnah Talks  2 August 1944 189. Interview to the Press 4 August 1944 190. Implications of the Formula of the Hindu–Muslim Settlement   4 August 1944 191. Boundaries of Pakistan 10 August 1944 192. Hindu–Muslim Settlement  12 August 1944 193. Towards A Settlement 13 August 1944 194. Viceroy’s Attitude Unreasonable  17 August 1944 195. Gandhiji’s Action Not Inconsistent 20 August 1944 196. First Step Towards Unity  8 September 1944 197. Letter to Muhammad Ali Jinnah 10 September 1944 198. Letter to Muhammad Ali Jinnah  11 September 1944 199. Wisdom of Dadabhai Naoroji  16 September 1944 200. Breakdown in Unity Talks  29 September 1944 201. League’s Demand Vague: Reply to Muhammad Ali Jinnah  6 October 1944 202. Broaden Basis of Collaboration: Advice to Congressmen  26 October 1944 203. Kulasekarapatnam Rioting Case  31 October 1944 204. Letter to Mahatma Gandhi  12 November 1944 205. Letter to Devadas Gandhi  15 November 1944 206. Speech on Post-War Prospects  16 November 1944 207. Convocation Address at Nagpur University  25 November 1944 208. Letter to Devadas Gandhi 30 November 1944 209. Letter to Tej Bahadur Sapru 23 December 1944 210. Aim of University Education 2 February 1945 211. Tribute to “Pussyfoot” Johnson 11 March 1945 212. Undemocratic Selection for London and San Francisco Conference 13 March 1945 213. Allied Nations’ Responsibility: Article 21 March 1945 214. Principles of Arbitration 20 March 1945 215. Letter to the Editor, Hindustan Times 2 April 1945 216. Letter to G. R. Merrell 6 April 1945 217. Next War Not Within Thirty Years  7 April 1945 218. Indian Reconciliation: Article 8 April 1945 219. Solution of the Deadlock  9 April 1945 220. Letter to William Phillips 17 April 1945 221. Marriage: Article  22 April 1945 222. The Sapru Solution: Article 27 April 1945 223. Government’s Industrial Plan: Article  29 April 1945 224. Tagore’s Poetry  9 May 1945 225. Muslims and Pakistan  16 May 1945 226. Seizing of Present Opportunity  20 May 1945 227. Indian Problem Can be Solved if Britain Makes Up Her Mind  22 May 1945 228. Letter to Joachim Alva  30 May 1945 229. Speech on the Need for People’s Government  4 June 1945 230. Letter to Mahatma Gandhi 9 June 1945 231. Letter to Mahatma Gandhi  9 June 1945 232. An Interview on Wavell Proposals  13 June 1945 233. Letter to Mahatma Gandhi 15 June 1945 234. Letter to Mahatma Gandhi  16 June 1945 235. Statement on his Role at the Simla Conference 23 June 1945 236. League Demands Should be Left Undecided Now 11 July 1945 237. Wrong Procedure at Simla 21 July 1945 238. Education for Enlightened 28 July 1945 239. Urgency of Indian Independence has Trebled 15 August 1945 240. India Must Have Strong Central Government 31 August 1945 241. Rejoins the Congress 10 September 1945 242. Letter to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad 19 September 1945 243. Letter to Vallabhbhai Patel 29 September 1945 244. Message for Tippu Day 20 October 1945 245. Letter to Mahatma Gandhi 15 November 1945 246. Letter to Vallabhbhai Patel 15 November 1945 247. Letter to Vallabhbhai Patel 21 November 1945 248. Anti-Gandhi Propaganda: Article 25 November 1945 249. Letter to Vallabhbhai Patel 23 December 1945 250. Telegram to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad 23 December 1945 251. Letter to Vallabhbhai Patel  30 December 1945 252. Letter to Vallabhbhai Patel  19 January 1946 253. Letter to Vallabhbhai Patel  20 January 1946 254. Letter to Vallabhbhai Patel  24 January 1946 255. Letter to Major Wyatt  29 January 1946 256. Letter to Professor Richards  29 January 1946 257. Letter to Mahatma Gandhi  5 February 1946 258. Gandhiji’s Visit to South India 6 February 1946 259. Letter to Vallabhbhai Patel  12 February 1946 260. Letter to Vallabhbhai Patel 13 February 1946 261. Telegram to Vallabhbhai Patel  13 February 1946 262. Letter to Vallabhbhai Patel  14 February 1946 263. Letter to Vallabhbhai Patel  15 February 1946 264. Letter to Vallabhbhai Patel  16 February 1946 265. Letter to Vallabhbhai Patel  17 February 1946 266. Letter to Amrit Kaur 19 February 1946 267. Letter to Vallabhbhai Patel 20 February 1946 268. Letter to Vallabhbhai Patel 21 February 1946 269. Letter to Amrit Kaur 21 February 1946 270. Letter to Amrit Kaur 23 February 1946 271. Letter to Mahatma Gandhi 24 February 1946 272. Letter to Mahatma Gandhi  27 February 1946 273. Letter to Vallabhbhai Patel  2 March 1946 274. Letter to Mahatma Gandhi  13 March 1946 275. Letter to Amrit Kaur  22 March 1946 Appendices Appendix I 1. Draft Resolution Moved by Rajaji at the Congress Working Committee Meeting 5 July 1940 Appendix II 18 July 1942 1. Joint Letter Mahatma Gandhi Appendix III: Reference Items 1. Section 93 of Government of India Act 1935 1935 2. Resolution Passed by Congress Working Committee at Patna 1 March 1940 3. Resolution Passed by All-India Muslim League (Lahore Resolution)  23 March 1940 4. Resolution Passed at Congress Working Committee Meeting at Delhi 7 July 1940 5. Unpublished Letter 26 October 1942 6. Memorandum March 1943 7. Cripps Scheme 1942 8. Letter to M. A. Jinnah by Mahatma Gandhi 24 September 1944 9. C. R. Formula 29 September 1944 Appendix IV: Miscellaneous Items 1. Rajaji’s Conversation with Mahatma Gandhi at Sevagram 5 October 1940 2. Need for Ending Deadlock: Interview to a Representative of Daily Tej 11 October 1945 Index