'File 11/46 Publicity in the Persian Gulf' [‎104v] (208/314)

Dominions. Detailed proposals for the distribution of
United Publications in England through the medium
of India House were submitted last November. The
Office of the Indian High Commissioner, which had not
previously been informed of their existence, was much
impressed with United Publications and was very
optimistic about their reception in England. It is hoped
that a decision to meet his requests for supplies will
very shortly be taken. The notice taken of the publica
tions by the Imperial Institute also deserves considera-
deration. The greatly increased interest in India now
being taken in England and all over the British Com
monwealth has presumably created a demand for
material about India which it seems a pity not to satisfy.
It is hoped that the existence of Indian Publicity Officers
in various parts of the Dominions will quickly result
in a demand for United Publications from those
countries.
11. India:—
A cut motion introduced in the Legislative Assembly
by the Opposition on the 11th March 1946 resulted in
the reduction of the Government of India’s expendi
ture on publicity to the extent of about £ 650,000 per
annum and the consequent abolition of four separate pub
licity organizations within the Department of Information
and Broadcasting. It is rumoured that the intention was
to include the Publications Division in this cut, but the
fact remains that it was not so included and is to con
tinue work. Meanwhile, while applauding the action
of the Assembly, certain newspapers have strongly criti
cized the work of the Publications Division and have
recommended its abolition. There is much ground for
believing that the criticism of the Government of India
publicity activities is actuated more by psychological
causes than by any genuine disapprobation. It can only
be supposed that those who describe United Publications
as anti-Indian and anti-national have never taken the
trouble even to peruse them. No careful reader of
United Publications could by any stretch of imagina
tion discover any anti-Indian or anti-national atmosphere
about them. These attacks have been particularly pain
ful for the large number of patriotic Indians employed in
the Publications Division who have always been stimu
lated by the genuine conviction that they were working
in the best interests of India. Tnere are, however,
grounds for hoping that since by its deliberate or uninten
tional exclusion from the cut motion, the Publications
Division has, as it were, received a mandate for the
continuance of its work, it may by tactful persistence
eventually succeed in impressing Indian politicians and
pressmen with its utility. In spite of criticism^ the
sales of United Publications in India continue to be
satisfactory.
B. P&ODIKTION.
The cloud of uncertainty which has shrouded the
work ot the Division during the past few months has
made it difficult to go ahead with any plan for the im
provement of production by the purchase of additional
printing equipment, the acquisition of better premises, etc.
The use of the photo litho offset plan referred to in the
last Report has resulted in some admirable work the
like of which has not been produced by India before.
The printing of the United Publications calendar in
seven colours and the entire printing of Naunihal and
Heyday by offset mark an epoch in the history of Indian
printing. The covers of most of United Publications
have been printed by the same process and it is little
short of a tragedy that the prospects of these facilities
remaining open to us are at present by no me^xs
bright.
With the new though possibly short lease of life
granted to the Publications Division, it will be neces
sary to resume our efforts to acquire printing machinery^-
1. DUSSIAN
No change.
2. IRANIAN PERSIAN:-
The January issue of Ahang in its new form appeared
in February. In the present disturbed condition of
Persia, reactions to a magazine of this kind can hardly be
expected.
3. AEGHAN PERSIAN:—
Taj Mahal is the only popular magazine of its kind
ever produced in Afghanistan in the Afghan idiom of
Persian. It is probable that no magazine so appreciated
by its readers has in fact been read by so few people.^ ts
continuance is regarded as fruitless by some, but it is n f
difficult to visualize circumstances in which our persf*^
tence in producing it might be richly rewarded!
Afghanistan has become much more India-conscious
during the recent war and if only she were not haunted
by the ever present spectre of Russia, it is probable that
she would be glad to encourage the distribution of
Taj Mahal.
4. PUSHTU:—
No change.
5- ARABIC;-
There has been a considerable increase in the print
order of Al Arab. Agents approached by the Director
during his tour in the Middle East last year showed great
interest in Al Arab and placed encouraging orders for it.
Although conditions in Egypt and Palestine have not
recently been conducive to good sales, there is reason to
believe that the circulation of Al Arab might still be con
siderably increased.