FilmIndia (May-Dec 1938)

Sample of German Courtesy Well-known city lawyer man-handled and thrown out by the German Assistant in Agfa Photo Co. (In a letter addressed to the "Bombay Sentinel" Mr. T. H. Suntoke, B.A., LL.B., a well-known city lawyer describes a shameful incident which happened at the offices of the Agfa Photo Co. in Bombay when Mr. Suntoke visited the same on an invitation. This unique specimen of Nazi courtesy !s recommended to those who still propagate the supposed superiority of the foreigners. — EDITOR) . "I am sure my experience of the type of courtesy meted out to the Indian public by the concern of Agfa Photo Co., of Bombay (which, by the way, is owned by that firm of Havero's about which your esteemed journal acquainted the Bombay public of a good few hard truths), would prove of interest to your readers. "I had occasion to make enquiries regarding certain photographic accessories, which were available only with this firm to which I received a most polite reply asking me to call over personally and "see the undersigned (Manager)" when the accessories would be demonstrated to me, and wound up with an anxious desire to be of "service," so much for preface. "I called at the firm's Head Office on Hornby Road, on the 4th instant and asked to be shown in, explaining my business. I was led into the presence of a young German who merely growled at me stating I was wasting his time over such a trifling matter which could have equally well been dealt with by the clerk at the counter outside. My explanation that I had troubled him in response to the firm's letter, cut no ice, and I was given in charge of a peon to be led to the Stores where, I was told, I would be served. "I accompanied the peon to the basement where I was received by the Indian staff, who asked to come in and take a seat and the accessories were brought out and were being shown to me. In rushes this young German, and seeing me seated on a chair inside the Stores, catches me by the arm, and with characteristic German thoroughness, leads me out to the counter, asking to be "excused" for such conduct as no one was allowed inside. "I indignantly explained that I was asked to go in by the staff and did not do so on my own, whereupon a volley of angry words were thundered at members of a cowering and thoroughly frightened staff. "The moral of this episode hardly needs explaining. It is appar ent that these over-bearing Germans consider us Indians like unto dust beneath their feet, although they live upon our patronage. In face of such an attitude and the very glaring truths revealed very recently in your columns anent the political significance of the leading German commercial firm of Havero's, I wonder how a popular government can afford to look askance at a situation which very definitely promises the worst outlook for Indian aspirations should a German Indian Empire (God forbid!) ever come about. "I am sure our much-mooted Congress High Command would find their headquarters in some corner of Siberia but most certainly unable to direct the destinies of Provincial Ministries as now under the British Flag. "I feel it would not be out of place to pass on a friendly hint to our Indian Picture Producers who rely exclusively on German made films, to discontinue their patronage. Let not German espionage and German trickery thrive on India's patronage, a patronage which may one day smother her own national hopes and aspirations in characteristically thorough German fashion." Mr. T. H. Suntoke, B.A. (Hons), LL.B., Advocate of the Bombay High Court is the victim of German courtesy with his Buick car in which he perhaps went to Agfa Photo Company. His sad experience is described on thispage. 46