'File 11/46 Publicity in the Persian Gulf' [‎88r] (175/314)

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where one or two minor criticisms were made about the
style of the Pushtu which was described as similar both
in diction and calligraphy to the Pushtu of Peshawar.
As the magazine is wholly meant for the North West
Frontier Province it would be a mistake to make changes
that would offend this public; but if Afghanistan is ever
able to give free access to our publications it is highly
likely that Zhwand will enjoy there as much popularity
as in the N. W. F. — in spite of the "Peshawari-isms."
5- ARABIC:—
(a) Al Arab. The Editor of Al Arab has visited various
places in India where Arabic tradition is strongest. (Inci
dentally, the value of editors engaged in projecting India
to foreign countries touring throughout the country is
very great and we have been able to arrange for several
ci»pur editors to visit parts of India. The General Editor
Gudia) has also visited senior officers in the provinces
with very encouraging results: United Publications
are gradually becoming better known and wherever
they are known they seem to be appreciated.)
The popularity of Al Arab is increasing and its
influence is being felt far beyond the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. for
which it was originally intended. Indeed, Bagdad
reports that sales of Al Arab during the period under
review have increased at Aden where the magazine is
penetrating into Southern Arabia.
(b) Copies are expected early in October of the
Arabic version of India 1945.
(c) The Bugle Library Series “ A ” has been discontinued.
6. URDU:—
(a) Ajkdl. Some criticisms were made of the uneven
g*»ality of the Ajkal Annual Number. This unevenness
was due to the fact that it was printed in more than one
press. In spite of the popularity of annual numbers,
problems of production and distribution cause so much
disturbance to the ordinary programme that it is very
doubtful whether they are worth while in their present
form. A more practical proposition might be to intro
duce colour insets into the Annual Number instead of
large quantities of extra matter.
(b) NdUnihdl. The present print order is 9,000. A
sales drive would multiply the sales of this magazine
many times, but unless it is decided to print the magazine
by another process the problem of producing very large
runs on our own presses is a very difficult one.
From the November issue Naunihal will appear with
an entirely new cover; the letterpress will be increased
and also the price.
7. HINDI:—
Although there has been some drop in the sales of
Ajkal ( Hindi) paradoxically enough its popularity seems
to be at last firmly established. This popularity is evi
denced by very favourable reviews in various magazines
and also by the increased willingness of well-known
writers to contribute to it.
8. ENGLISH:—
(a) Soviet Union News and foreign Review. No strong
criticisms of the magazine in its new form have been
voiced. It has, therefore, been decided to bring out,
as from 1st January, 1946, the magazine in a revised
form:—
(i) It will be called Foreign Review ( incorporating Soviet
Union News) ; the phrase in brackets will be dropped
after one or two issues.
(H) The general policy will be to present the
English-speaking public with factual information in a
popular form about foreign countries in general and
India's neighbours in particular. There will be four
sections:—
(I) U. S. S. R.. America and the British Common
wealth.
(2) Other countries (China to be featured in every
other issue).
(3) "As Others See Us"—reports of references
to India in the foreign press.
(4) A literary section.
(iVi) The front cover will be re-designed but will
keep the predominant colours of the present magazine.
(to) The price will be raised to As. - 6 -.
(b) Heyday. (English version of Naunihal). Like its
brother Naunihal, Heyday will appear in November with a
completely new cover. The Annual Number will have a
colour inset A small map or other image enclosed within the margin of a larger map, map sheet, or larger image; or papers placed inside a book or archival volume. , and the price will also be raised to
As. 4 -. So great is the popularity of this magazine
both inside and outside India that we anticipate that
the increase in price will not keep the print order down
low enough for it to continue to be printed by the
present method. The sales could be increased almost
indefinitely and it may be immediately necessary to
consider other methods of production.
Heyday and Naunihal invite contributions from their
youthful readers, and a fair number of praiseworthy
efforts have been printed just as they have been received.
Cases occur, however, of children copying articles from
little-known books and sending them up as their own
work, so that it is often difficult to decide how original
a contribution is. A case has also recently occurred
of an article sent in which proved good enough for
inclusion after a great deal of editorial work had been
done on it. When the article had appeared, the Editor
received letters from the author—who proved to be an
adult — demanding money for his contribution. When we
replied that it was our policy to pay for contributed