[రచయిత ఆర్. సుదర్శనానికి కొడవటిగంటి కుటుంబరావు తన ఆలోచనా పద్ధతులను తెలుపుతూ రాసిన మూడు ఉత్తరాలను వారి శ్రీమతి ఆర్. వసుంధరాదేవి గారి సహకారమూ అనుమతితో మొదటిసారిగా ఈమాట పాఠకులకు ప్రత్యేక కానుకగా ప్రచురిస్తున్నాం. వసుంధరాదేవిగారికి మా కృతజ్ఞతలు- సం.]

9-8-66

Dear Sri Sudarsanam Garu,

Your letter of 5th instt. Let me congratulate you on your promotion. Now that you are nearer I suppose I may expect frequent visits from you.

I took rather a long time to finish your book because of rush of work and outside engagements, but I have read it. In it you have raised many subjects which normally we do not find in novels. One up for you there.

ఆర్ సుదర్శనానికి కొకు రాసిన
ఉత్తరం పే.1, 09-08-1966

While the novel is intellectual, it appears to me somewhat academic. Probably it is because of the hero who is too introspective and given to too much philosophical rumination. Though I do happen to have a philosophy of life I do not group what are, I suppose, called linguistic philosophies.

Gandhi had a great influence on me by his writings – he still has. But I never appreciated his religio – political postures. Except the 1921 movement the other nationalist movements left me either cold or somewhat irritated. But Gandhi’s murder was a blow to me. I have come across many Gandhiites, but I have no love lost for them. Under these circumstances I do not take the hero Sridhar to my heart. At times I have an uneasy feeling that I understand him better than he understands himself.

You have almost avoided politics except when you portrayed a nasty communist. As I am certain of your sincerity as a writer, I conclude that you came across such specimens only. I was slightly more lucky. But your objections to communism and its violence & theory of class war are those of a layman who is a victim of propaganda. Class wars exist in most cruel forms even where nobody has heard of Karl Marx or communism. Look at the terrible poverty and oppression of the lowest class in our villages. Your assertion that a man’s freedom has nothing to do with his economic condition is not at all true. On the contrary I think decides largely the measure of one’s freedom. May be we are not thinking of the same freedom.

ఆర్ సుదర్శనానికి కొకు రాసిన
ఉత్తరం పే.2, 09-08-1966

Most of the characters look quite real to me except at times పద్మమణి and other women who befriend Sridhar. The trouble is some of their talk is “made to measure”.

Another character which ought to but didn’t impress me is that of the theosophist. He sounds hollow all the time. Perhaps I am not equipped to understand that character.

Another thing that eludes me is the nature of the New Party Nagaraju happens to start. Could it be the Swatantra Party?

I have given you my impressions as a reader for what they are worth. I have not presumed to criticize it as it is the work of a philosophy and I am not well versed in philosophy. Hence I request you take it only as my personal opinion.

With regards

Yours sincerely
K. Kutumbarao