FilmIndia (Feb-Dec 1949)

OQ5 (This is the readers forum — as and when space permi\ From the producer to the lay filmgoer, every one can wn\ to the Editor and ventilate his grievance. For every letti published in these columns, the publishers will pay Rs. i\ Letters should be signed and marked "Woes And Echoes] Photographs of the readers will be published along with tht\ letters, if convenient. — The Editor.) THE JEWS EXPLAIN! With reference to the note which appeared in "Bombay Calling" in the June issue of "filmindia" under the caption, "Red Rag to the White Bulls", the Central Jewish Board of Bombay has written to the editor as follows: — "The remarks of Judas in his section "Bombay Calling" under the heading "Red Rag To The White Bulls" in your issue of June 1949 has been brought to the notice of the Central Jewish Board of Bombay. Apart from the great resentment felt by members of the Jewish Community, my Board considers it inconceivable that any Jew whether Continental or otherwise would stoop to behave in the manner alleged by "Judas". My Board would have treated the whole thing with disdain were it not that we feel that the attack of "Judas" on our Community has motives which go deeper than what is apparent on the surface. I am therefore constrained to make the following observations: At the outset, we venture to think that our feeling of resentment is shared by many other readers who are used to the high standard of your publication and are surprised at your giving space to an ^ item like this in your columns^ *~ ' Judas in his comment is opposed to India's National Ffag "being handed over to film exhibitors" and suggests that its display be reserved for ceremonial occasions. Surely this view point could have been communicated to the reader without a vituperative attack on a particular section of a certain community. There are very few Continental Jews left in India, barely a total of 600 spread all over this vast subcontinent. Where has Judas acquired the ability to decide at a glance whether any particular cinema-goer — his "white bull" — is a Continental Jew. not an Italian. French. Greek or some other Continental gentile, or even a very much non-continental American for that matter? What proof has he gol that the "crowd" he *a\\ walk out of the Metro "with lofty contempt" at the sight of the national flag consisted of Continental Jews, or even contained any Continental Jews at all? Judas is quite right when he mentions that '"Jews should be the last people on earth to insult India's National Flag". But why must he follow up this sentence by the totally unwarranted statement that the Continental Jews had "become ungrateful" and were biting "the very hand that had fed them"? Does your JUDAS wish to imply by the "Nemesis of their past" having "caught up with them", that the Jews were "hounded out of their homes" because of their past record. If anywhere in the columns of "filmindia" a similar statement appeared regarding ths Hindu refugees from Pakistan, who are not more guilty of being driven out than the Jews were in Europe, Filmindia would probably face a storm of indignation. Yet where a minority of a few hundred is concerned, truth seems to be a negligible commodity. To the best of our knowledge there have been no disorders in any cinemas so far due to the National Flag being disregarded. Hence JUDAS* remark about "one dav there might be murders" is poir unless it is meant as an incite for violence, something which si is not in keeping with the n standard of FILMINDIA. We cannot help feeling JUDAS would have thought it twice or thrice before makin similar slanderous attack on other group of foreigners. Is t some purpose, some ulterior mJ in striking at a small group of pe who have suffered more than body else at the hands of the "% Bull's"? Whatever the answer to this c tion may be, there is an even r serious aspect. For argument's let us assume that it was a C< nental Jew whom JUDAS hi mutter: "What the hell are t idiots standing for an idiotic tl like that?" What gives JUDAS right of attacking a whole grouj people for the bad behaviour ol individual? India's National ( ernment supported by all progres and enlightened elements in Ii and all over the world is tryinj uproot this very evil of commu ism which your JUDAS is tryinj propagate, this very habit of th ing in terms of communities insl Y«>u can't blame Jeevan wearing that funnj shirt-front seeing that he has j attract Kainini Kaushal in "Shabnam", a Filmistan picture. 63