'File 11/46 Publicity in the Persian Gulf' [‎93r] (185/314)

campaign which can only be regarded as malicious against
the Editor of Namihal. The campaign assumed consider^
able proportions and is still going on.
7. Hindi:— , .
The drop in the sales of Ajkal (Hindi) has been arrested
and the tide definitely turned in the opposite direction.
Z. English:—
(a) foreign Devieuj. The first issue of Foreign Revieto is
now in the press. There is every indication that its new
form will make it considerably superior to Soviet Union
News & Foreign Review in its interest value. The cover
will be in two colours. There is every reason to believe
that these improvements will justify the increase in price.
(A) Heyday (English version of Namihal). The success
of this magazine abroad is even more striking than its
popularity in India. Persia reports that the irregularity
of^eceipt hinders large sales from being obtained but the
numerous enquiries that are made about it when it is
late in arriving testify to its popularity. One reason for
its late arrival in Meshed was the fact that the P. R. B.
lorry service was inadequate to cope with the gradual
accumulation of supplies in Zahidan. In Kerman the
supply of the magazine has not been equal to the demand.
Complaints such as these will disappear, we hope, when
the new distribution system is working efficiently.
Certain criticisms have been made about the style,
language and contents of both Heyday and Namihal. It is
no easy matter to produce a magazine which will be of
equal interest to, and equally easily understood by
children between the ages of six and fourteen, who
comprise much of our “target”. Some valuable criti
cisms, however, have been recently received which
appear to suggest that the language, particularly of
Nqunihal, is too difficult, and we shall aim at a more
si» ^lifted diction.
The “ Nauday League” has been started in connection
with the two magazines; a badge is being made for sale
to members and various ambitious schemes are being
considered of linking up with the League plans for a
film society, etc. The response to such a league gives
a useful indication of the wide distribution of the
magazines.
(c) Perspective. Two issues of this magazine have now
appeared and we are waiting for reactions from America.
(d) The Bugle. The single issue appeared in November
and has had a mixed reception. It appears, however,
to be a well produced and interesting magazine and it is
on linesisimilar to these that material should be pro
duced for the English-speaking markets outside India.
(e) OnUJdrd. Two issues of Onward have now appeared
and the third is in the press. Articles from contributors
are coming forward well. Some difficulty is being expe
rienced in recruiting an adequate staff which will fully
represent all shades of women’s opinion In India.
There was some delay in bringing out the first number
of Onward and it has not proved easy to deal with the
magazine under our present press arrangements. This
points to an urgent need in our Production Section for
more modern machinery. Delay was also caused by the
absence of certain letters which were not supplied with
the special fount of type that had been ordered for this
magazine.
(/) India. We have now managed to catch up more
or less with the lag in the production of this magazine
by bringing out the September and October issue
in one.
(g) The following subjects were dealt with in the
Mizan Newsletter during the period under review:—
October — Book on India.
November — Civil Aviation.
December — Archaeology.
(h) What's in an Indian Name? produced as a pamphlet
in October, has been extremely successful and a reprint
may shortly be necessary.
(i) Studies in Russian History appeared in November and
is on the market.
(j) The final proofs have recently been passed of
Indim Studies. This is a reprint of the series of four
smaller booklets which have appeared under the same
title. The contents have been rearranged so as to fall
under several headings, such as cultural, religious, mili
tary, economic etc. In its present form this book will
give the earnest student of Indian affairs a very reliable
background of objective facts.
9. SHAIPUB & AL NAEIP. Persia continues to report
favourably on Shaipur and the popularity of the maga
zine has very definitely increased throughout the whole
of Persia during the period under review. The “intro
duction of literary articles has proved a popular addition,”
while on the other hand, the gradual disappearance of
pin-up girls “is noted with regret by younger readers’’.
Particularly large increases were shown in the Tabriz
district which makes the present situation in Persia all
the more unfortunate from our point of view.
In one area of Persia it was discovered that some of
the agents had been giving copies of Shaipm out on hire
to customers. A seal was placed on all copies of the
magazine and this proceeding produced spectacular
results: all the consignment of two issues of Shaipur was
immediately sold out and sales increased by almost
300%. In view of this report and at the request of our
new distribution agents, seals have been placed on all
copies of Shaipur.
It has now been found possible to include in Shaipar
certain Persian features which will not appear in Al Ntrfn,
and in Al Nafir certain Arab features which will not
appear in Shaipur. Furthermore, the attractive weries