Dear Shri S. Venkataraman,
Saprema Namaskar.

Received your Express Delivery letter dated 1-3-65, together with a copy of the estimate and two other enclosures. The estimate sent seems to have been prepared by the Sthapathi in the very initial stage and has, therefore, no relevance to the estimated figure of Rs. Thirtyeight lacs reported to have been subsequently calculated by the Sthapathi as per your letter dated 12-2-’65. I infer that the Sthapathi had at no time given that astounding figure which you communicated to me in the letter referred to above. The substance of the information you gave last night on phone also confirms that inference.

You do not seem to even imagine what stir and confusion your absent-mindedness in the whole affair has caused in my mind. I also fail to understand why you took more than a fortnight for rectifying the mistake and the wrong impression you conveyed. I take this opportunity to try to bring home to your mind the necessity of observing utmost caution and precision on our part in matters the Providence has presently called upon us to handle.

I hope you will utilize the visit of Shri Anil Pandya, Engineer, and refer all the problems we are likely to face in the execution of the work, to him.

I have met a number of experienced engineers here. Some of them are likely to visit the site for survey. They propose that the highest authorities in Engineering field should be approached for finalizing once for all the devices to be used
and modes of operation to be adopted in executing the construction work at that peculiarly situated spot. But even for doing so, they say, we must have in possession full technical data having important bearing on the items of work
involved in the project. (1) We have to address ourselves, therefore, to think out in detail and systematically the different categories of the technical information necessary for seeking expert advice (2) Secondly, we have to actually collect the data with the help of the experts concerned with those branches of data- collection. (3) With the help of the Sthapathi we have also to prepare the details of the time schedule and the work-schedule with a special reference to the construction work on the Rock, the total quantity of stone and other building material to be transported to the Rock, the number of cut-stones, beams, columns etc, involved in the entire construction and their respective weights, number of heaviest single items like KARNAKAL pillars, the average daily consumption of water calculated, on the Rock, during construction work, the average quantity of stone to be transported daily to the Rock, construction-activity during rains, the type of scaffoldings the Sthapathi proposes to use, the contrivances he proposes to press into service for the purposes of hoisting the heavy stones during construction work of the Mandapam and all other allied matters pertaining to the construction operations on the Rock.

I started writing this letter with a view to hand it over to Shri Anil Pandya for being carried to Kanyakumari. But just now I learn that he is postponing his visit to the Cape. He informs that some unavoidable work has sprung up all of a sudden and that work will keep him busy here at least for a week.

From the approaches I have made to certain influential quarters I have begun to feel that persons at the helm of affairs in big Companies like ‘Hindusthan Construction’. ‘Gammons Ltd’ etc can be persuaded to help the project in a big way. But before requesting sympathetic influential circles for doing so it is necessary that we have before us a clear picture of the nature of the construction work in its entirety as also of the machinery and equipment involved in its execution. Without any definite understanding or a clear idea of the project in all its aspects as mentioned above, it will be difficult to even suggest in concrete terms what type of help the Committee would like the companies to render to the project. This again means that we have to decide, with the help of the senior engineers, upon the modus operandi of the whole work, first. I hope you have
understood the situation and will/all that is needful in that connection. Even if Shri Pandya may not be able to visit the Cape immediately, I have already talked to one of the senior engineers of the ‘Gammons Ltd’ who may willingly spend three four days at the Cape for studying the site and collecting the necessary data with the help of local Engineers like Shri Rengaswami, Shri Gopinath, Shri Shrinivasan of Trivandrum, our honorary construction supervisor Shri Kolappan (I hope I have not given an incorrect name), etc. I will let you know definitely within the next few days. We have yet to send copies of the approved plan (Remodified) to the Collector, Kanyakumari. I shall send the copies from here. If I know the latest situation regarding the permission for use of the Government land near the
present workspot at Kanyakumari, I may mention about it in my covering letter to the Collector. I shall write to the Collector after hearing from you.

Printing work of the pamphlet will be resumed after the receipt of the promised copy of the estimate. I am expecting your letter containing the figures you have communicated on phone last night. Whatever I have heard on phone needs to be confirmed by a letter as there is every likelihood of my having misheard you on phone.

Convey my Saprema Namaskar to the Sthapathi and all other co-workers.

Yours Affectionately,

Eknath