This discusses making arrangements for money to be given to Moody to be used on Rajiv’s (Indira Gandhi’s son’s) behalf.
recipient: Lloyds Bank Letter from Marie Seton to Lloyds Bank, addressed from New Delhi
In this letter Marie Seton asks Moody to update Indira about Menon’s illness. She provides some background to Menon’s past psychological state and the lead up to the present operation needed because of a clot on the brain. Seton asks Moody to try to persuade Indira to intervene with Nehru who Seton thinks is the only person who can take action in the situation. She emphasises the importance of Menon to Nehru politically, Menon’s vulnerable position politically, and Menon’s ‚unhealthy dependence‘ on Nehru. She also refers to Indian attitude to mental illness.
recipient: Ronald Moody Letter from Marie Seton to Ronald Moody, addressed from New Delhi
In this letter Marie Seton writes about fabric for a divan and her work on finishing her book. She then describes the pressures surrounding Indira Gandhi and the effect on her. She goes on to talk of the repeated negative comments about Menon in the American press and the impact of this on him, which Seton believes is similar to what both Sergei [Eisenstein] and Paul [Robeson] faced. Seton discusses what her own position with regard to this and the difficulty of helping Menon. She also describes Indira’s attitude to the situation with Menon and Seton’s belief that the only …
recipient: Helene Moody Letter from Marie Seton to Helene Moody, addressed from New Delhi
This letter is incomplete. The final page(s) are missing. This letter mainly relates to Nehru’s death. Marie Seton describes thousands of people pouring past his house and refers to her presentment of his death which made her stay in India. She informs Moody that his ‚Three Heads‘ have been on the ledge outside Nehru’s room so Nehru could go nowhere without seeing them. She shares her belief that Nehru died enlightened and gives an account of her visit to Nehru on 4 May and an account of her arrival at Nehru’s house and subsequent vigil with Indira Gandhi by his …
Ronald Moody Incomplete letter from Marie Seton to Ronald Moody, addressed from New Delhi
In this letter, Marie Seton talks about fabric for a divan cover and mentions a possible return to London. She informs the Moodys that she has given their names to the Nandas who will be visiting London and tells them that Satyajit Ray will also be travelling to London. Seton describes the situation with Menon following Nehru’s death, including attacks on him, and writes about meeting Menon at Madras airport when he was due to join the Cabinet. She analyses Menon, his mistakes, her relationship with him, and the effect of Nehru’s death on Menon. She segues into a discussion …
recipient: Helene Moody Letter from Marie Seton to Helene Moody, addressed from New Delhi
Marie Seton opens this letter with a reference to the situation in Goa (Goa was annexed by India in 1961). She informs Moody that his ‚Three Heads‘ is missing from mantelpiece in the Prime Minister’s house and has been replaced by Indira Gandhi with a Japanese stone eagle and four Eskimo carvings. She comments on the Goa situation and the effect on Nehru and Indira Gandhi and also writes about poor Afro-Indian relations. Seton concludes the letter by asking Ronald to find out about Essie and Paul Robeson’s health.
recipient: Ronald Moody Letter from Marie Seton to Ronald Moody, addressed from New Delhi
Marie Seton opens this letter by writing about fabric. She goes on to discuss the crisis in India and Nehru’s handling of it and the opposition Nehru is experiencing. She refers to her unorthodox cousin/godmother and her connection with the Nehru family. Seton also writes about Menon’s opposition to Nehru and an awkward encounter with Menon and subsequent phone call to him. This is followed by a lengthy discourse on Menon, his behaviour and what Seton views as his Messiah complex. The letter concludes with a brief reference to Moody’s ‚Savacou‘ and the phoenix-like quality of India.
recipient: Helene Moody Letter from Marie Seton to Helene Moody, addressed from New Delhi
This letter mainly relates to Menon and the appalling situation facing him in Bombay which Seton describes as ‚bear baiting‘. She writes of the enmity surrounding him, including that of Indira Ghandi’s aunt, and Nehru’s own frustration with Menon. She describes Menon’s intellectual arrogance and his unsuitability for the post he was given (Minister of Defence). She tells Moody that Nehru is in a very difficult position regarding Menon and how to deal with him. There is also a reference to getting money from the bank for Indira.
recipient: Ronald Moody Letter from Marie Seton to Ronald Moody, Addressed from New Delhi
In this letter Marie Seton writes about Indira Gandhi’s trip to East Africa and her contact with Jomo Kenyatta through Seton’s links with Paul Robeson. Seton informs Moody that his ‚Three Heads‘ is still in the main room of the Prime Minister’s house after redecoration. She tells Moody about her relationship with the Nehru household and her efforts to keep everyone positive. She also describes Menon’s problems, suggesting he is near to mental collapse, and discusses Nehru’s problems with various factions. There is some discussion of her relationship with Menon. Seton provides an account of a meeting with a Russian …
recipient: Ronald Moody Letter from Marie Seton to Ronald Moody, addressed from New Delhi
This letter regards Indira Gandhi’s attempts to contact James Cameron and asking Moody to arrange a meeting between them. Marie Seton writes of a rapprochement between Nehru’s sister and herself and mentions this sister’s loyalty to Paul and Essie (Paul Robeson and his wife Essie). Seton describes family in-fighting and her fears that this sister is putting pressure on Nehru regarding Menon whom she hates. Seton writes about Menon’s relationship with Nehru and Dr Allchin’s advice that Menon have psychiatric treatment. She tells Ronald that she has had a word with the detective guarding Nehru to keep an eye on …
recipient: Ronald Moody Letter from Marie Seton to Ronald Moody, addressed from New Delhi
