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F I L M I N D I A
November. 1940
Indian pictures is simply abominable. In the past. I was told, the members of the Censor Board had come to view a picture but when they learned that it was an Indian picture they just walked out without seeing the picture.
AMERICAN PRODUCERS SUSPECTED
Since a fortnight there has been a change in the Constitution of the Censor Board and now the Director of Propaganda is the Chairman. I tried to see this gentleman for four days continuously at his office and each day I waited outside for three hours but he was too busy to see me. I then wrote to him and after five days sent him a reminder, which was four days ago but so far I have not been favoured with a reply
The system of Censoring is that every member of the Board sees the picture that is to be censored but they are all guided by one man in their decision and that is Amin Ul Asma and in his absence his secretary one Abdul Razak Sakara. Now. it is believed here, that since the success of "Hurricane Hansa" and other Indian pictures of mass
appeal, the American film companies got the wind up as no picture in the history of Iraq had previously run for four weeks continuously as â– Hansa'" did. I am told that the American companies who have thenoffices and agents here have managed to take the Amin Ul Asma in their hands and since then he is reported to have become a bitter enemy of Indian films.
This is how the matter stands at present in regard to Indian films. This can only be improved if India takes this matter up officially and enforces some retaliating steps against Iraq such as imposing a ban on the import of Iraqi dates. Arab horses etc. At present Iraq is very much dependent on India for her supplies and yet the authorities give the rottenest treatment to Indians in Iraq.
TREATED LIKE CRIMINALS AND INDEXED BY FINGERPRINTS
Here is another instance When an Indian arrives in Iraq he has to go to the passport office to register his arrival. If he wishes to stay for a period of three months
he is asked to produce a nonconviction report from the C.I.D. When he goes to the C.I.D. office his finger prints are taken. all the eight fingers and two thumbs, and is called after a week When he goes again he is made to stand in a line to wait his turn which in my case took two hours.
I met a Japanese gentleman of the Consular staff who was laughing at the way in which the "British afford protection to their Indian subjects." He told me that a couple of years ago France had started taking finger prints of all Japanese residing in France. When the Japanese Consul protested and no notice of his .protest was taken he reported the matter to Japan. Japan issued an order immediately that all French subjects, men. women and children residing in Japan had not only to give their finger prints but also their foot impressions. When the French Consul in Japan protested against this, he was asked to first find out how the Japanese were treated in his country. This soon brought France to her senses and they stopped taking finger prints.