Sharma : What books of Roy did you read ?
Chavan : It is very difficult to remember, what books I read of Roy, as such. But I regularly read his articles in Independent India. In early stages, some booklets of Roy were given to us in which the theory of decolonisation was explained. But later on I read some of the books he got published.
Sharma : In 1939, was Roy still a Communist?
Chavan : Yes. He was a Communist. In 1939 he was a Marxist. Humanism came later.
Sharma : You had quite a few meetings with him. what did you discuss?
Chavan : In one meeting at Tasgaon in 1938, we discussed the resolutions to be adopted at that time. We drafted the resolution in Marathi and he wanted to know what they meant. He gave some ideas about it. He explained to us as to how we should project our ideas to the people in the conference. The other meeting was brought about by Atmaram patil. When I started parting my ways with them during the war period, they took me to him in Bombay. I was there for half an hour or so. He explained some of the doubts that I had in my mind about his analysis of the war. He very logically explained what he meant ny war. But when I came out, I came away.
Sharma : Was he quite comradely or overbearing in his manners?
Chavan : No. He was a very friendly person. Maybe when you meet a person quite often, you can say more. from the little contact that I had with him, I had the impression that he was always willing to explain and understand others.
