Amrita's Correspondence with The Mother

4 March 1933

Mother,

According to the present agreement between the owner of the Josue House and us, we are to deduct Rs. 11 every month from the rent for the tax we pay on the house till the end of June. Thereafter the amount deducted will be Rs. 12 a month. But now the owner proposes that we deduct not more than a rupee and a quarter every month till the end of the lease.

Until when is the lease? Because you must understand that every year we shall have to pay the tax as she will not be able to do it—and then?...

The lease commenced on the 1st of December 1931 and will run up to the 30th of November 1934. The money paid to the owner, till the end of January 1933, was Rs. 559. as. 7. This includes the tax for 1933.

What about the tax for 1934?

The house owner has further proposed that if we pay the rent till the 30th of November 1934 in advance, a promise in writing will be given to us for the extension of the present lease for another three years. Her only condition is that the rental value of the house will have to be revised from the current Rs. 20 per month and not be less than Rs. 23 a month. Mother, how do you find her proposal?

She must not exaggerate all the same and believe us to be more stupid than we are! Who profits most by the extension of the lease? She or us? Where will she find tenants like us ready to pay all the rent in advance? To extend the lease for 3 years more cannot be considered as a concession to us. The most we can say is that it is reciprocal. As for the increase of rent it is an absurdity and I refuse or then I shall ask an interest of 6% on all the money she owes us and on the Rs. 147 she expects us to pay in advance. Her house is not worth more than 20 rupees and if she wants more she can seek for another tenant. Moreover I stick to the previous arrangement and will make not the slightest concession. What is written is written and we shall act accordingly.

4 March 1933