Amrita's Correspondence with The Mother

18 April 1934

Mother,

A few things continue to puzzle me; no, they even trouble me. A certain atmosphere sometimes develops that prevents the actual facts from being presented to you. The result is that something not exactly wanted or needed is either constructed or furnished which fails to satisfy the person concerned.

For instance, Chandulal’s latest proposal is to put a broad, half-opened conduit broad pipe made of a thick iron sheet between the well and the cistern. It will satisfy neither Rama Reddy nor the servant who has to fill the cistern. And is the proposal economical? Instead a cement wall 60 cm high will stand easily for five years and the cost will surely not be exorbitant. Why can’t Chandulal see it? It becomes very much annoying when one has to go on day after day even when the inconvenience or difficulty is small.

I completely fail to understand why a wall would be more convenient than the semi-circular pipe. It is not Chandulal but I who suggested that as the simplest and most practical way if it is done properly. Now, if your happiness and quietness depends on the wall, you can certainly have it.

18 April 1934