A resolution was reached in the matter involving the plagiarism of my work. After the exchange of emails with the copier, the infringing article was properly attributed. Ms. Savara wrote to Tehelka and had the authorship corrected. My final correspondence can be found below:

Dear Tejshree,

I’m pleased that we have come to an equitable agreement as to the proper attribution of the Tehelka article.

In regards to your invitation for me to attend a conference in India, I appreciate the gesture. Thank you. Unfortunately it looks like I will be unable to participate, as the remainder of the year is quite busy. I will be in Europe working for part of the summer. I have active client matters that require my attention, and I am preparing for conferences in the US scheduled for the fall. I must be in New York for autumn because I teach two courses during the fall semester, art crime at New York University and art law at Fordham Law School. In addition to these work commitments, I am also an active member in numerous arts organizations in NY, serving as a Steering Committee Member of the Young Patrons of Lincoln Center and “ambassador” of the Hispanic Society of America. In light of these commitments, it seems unlikely that I will be able to attend the plagiarism conference.

However, the sponsorship of a conference addressing plagiarism is clearly of import. It has been noted by academics that plagiarism is a major problem in India, home to a population of educated professionals who are taking an important role in shaping global academic and professional discourse. A conference on plagiarism and international norms is a valuable opportunity to educate professionals. As a nation with a rich artistic heritage and valuable intellectual contributions, it is essential for Indian professionals to understand global standards so that they can engage in academic discourse in a more substantive manner. It is unfortunate that recently there have been numerous plagiarism controversies involving Indian professionals, but it highlights the need for educating them on universal academic standards and conventions. For this reason, your conference can be a way of turning a negative incident into a positive experience by educating others. I support and applaud this effort. Please do keep me apprised of plans for this conference.

Although I am unable to attend the conference in New Delhi, I would be pleased to meet your father upon his next visit to the US.

Regards,
Leila