Letter from Ismail Merchant, Mumbai, India, to James Ivory, New York, New York, [1964] April 25 : typescript signed.

Summarizing the events of the last few days as concerns the affair with Columbia over the Indian distribution of "The Householder"-- Ivory's cable about Columbia, Jhab saying the quota-lifting letter from the Finance Ministry has been sent to the Reserve Bank, Mr. Dutt's (of the Finance Ministry) coming visit to Bombay; assuming Ivory will be coming back to India soon; telling Ivory that everyone involved is "very happy"; including "government," lawyers, Shashi, Taher Doctor, the MPEAA; describing all the negative press he had lined up in India and the U.S. to shame Columbia if they had not capitulated; feeling that his prayers at Nizamuddin have been answered; saying he is "keeping a lot of things to talk when you get back"; mentioning the cottage rental with Ruth on Juhu Beach beginning the 15th of May; asking Ivory to pay a small bill for a friend at NYU; suggesting Ivory bring his father with him to India; asking again for Ivory to get the photographs from Leo Lerman; saying he received the tape and is getting to work conforming the Hindi version of "The Householder" to the English one, as well as starting on the documentary "The Doll's Wedding" in June; saying "I am so excited to have you here that I can't think staright [sic]"; reminding Ivory that Ruth's birthday is May 7th.