1975 Letter From Krishna Bharadwaj To Piero Sraffa

This letter is an item removed from printed books in Sraffa's library. It is labeled Sraffa I/38 in the archives where I stumbled into it.

15th Oct, 75

Centre for Economic Studies,

Nehru University,

New Delhi 57

Dear Piero Sraffa,

How are you? A lot of things have happened since my return in July to Delhi. Personally, my health was not too good for some time but has now stabilised somewhat. I had considerable teaching load this term and have had to devote a lot of time to preparation of lectures etc. I am now writing up a part of my lectures material - mainly on classical theories of value and distribution. My intention is to focus on conceptual development and the shift to the supply and demand approach and the implications of such a methodological shift. What I intend to do is mainly to provide the background to interpret your book as a return to the classical theory, to discuss the propositions developed in the book and draw out explicitly the implications. I am intending to make it a reference book, mainly for students. As I have been lecturing on this for the last three years, I should suppose I should be able to write up the first draft not too late and look forward to discussing it with you.

I have done some work on the tenurial conditions in some parts of India based on a student under my guidance. That study has received a favourable reaction.

The books which you gifted me - Wicksteed, Schumpeter, Meek - have proved very helpful.

I hope you are keeping health. Sudha remembers you. She is now very much interested in mathematics and science and has done very well in these subjects at school. She seems to have developed a genuine interest in these subjects.

With regards,

Yours as ever,

Krishna

Bharadwaj is looking forward to the Romesh Chunder Dutt Lectures on Political Economy, in 1976. Was the setting the Centre for Social Sciences, Calcutta. They were published in 1986. I do not know much of her study of peasants and Indian agriculture.

• Krishna Bharadwaj. 1986. Classical Political Economy and Rise to Dominance of Supply and Demand Theories. University Press (India) Ltd.