Dr. Iqbal Shedai’s Journey to Paris, Return to Pakistan
Chapter 2: Dr. Iqbal Shedai's return travelogue
After a few days, I went to Paris to see my daughter. I was afraid that the French police would do some mischief because in 1938 March 29th I was expelled from that blessed country. But fortunately, my “dossier” was taken away by the German Gestapo when the Germans occupied Paris. I had been given a visa to enter and live in France for 15 days.
After a week I saw my dear and venerable friend Senator Marcel Cachin, father of French Communism. He helped me to get permission to stay in Paris for another three months. I returned to Rome after three months where I remained till the end of June, 1947.
On 7th of July 1947, I again left for Paris on my way to India with all my luggage. When I reached Paris with all my paraphernalia (with some 10 big and small boxes) the custom people asked me what was in those boxes.
I replied that they contain my personal affairs.
The officer asked me what “was my occupation?”
I said that I was a journalist.
He asked me “in which paper I was writing.”
I said in “L’Humanite” of Paris and showed him my credential. It was given to me by Senator Marcel Cachin who was also director general of that paper. It ran as follow.
When the customs officer saw my credential, he shook hands with me and said,
“I am a communist and hence a comrade”
He did not open any of my boxes. On 13th July I sailed from Marseille for Alexandria in a French boat where I landed on 18th July, 1947, at about 3 P.M.
