Owners of garment store ‘Hitler’ in Vastrapur area of Ahmedabad that stirred a controversy have decided to change the shop’s name, following intervention by Israel and Jews.
“We have voluntarily decided to change the name by this week and shall remove the billboard ‘Hitler’,” Rajesh Shah, one of the owners, said.
In the name board the ‘i’ is dotted with a Nazi swastika.
Earlier, a group of Jews from a synagogue here demanded the shop owners to change the name, saying it hurt the sentiments of their community.
Israel Counsel-General Orna Sagiv, who is on a visit to Gujarat, took up the issue with officials here.
“I met top officials and expressed my concern about this shop and why we see it so seriously,” he told PTI.
In the past few years, similar incidents have been reported from Nagpur and Navi Mumbai, but the shop owners later changed the name. Ignorance was the reason behind such acts.
“After realising how much pain and hurt it caused to some community, they [shop owners] decided to change the name,” she added. The shop that sells menswear was opened last month and the name was selected in memory of the grandfather of one of the shopowners, who was nicknamed ‘Hitler’ for being very strict.
Keywords: ‘Hitler’ garment store, Vastrapur area
A very prominent road in Delhi is named after "Aurangzeb" who murdered
thousands of non-muslims in India and converted even more forcefully
to Islam!
Aurangzeb even executed the Sikh's prophet Guru Tegh Bahadur; This is
all recorded in numerous history books and not a mere 'propaganda' by
right-wingers which many so called left-intellectual want us to
believe.
Does honoring such a person not offend the sentiments of Hindus and
Sikhs of this country? Can we expect Delhi and central government to
undo this insult on Indian Sikhs? If state honor to 'Aurangzeb' is
fine, I do NOT see any problem with a private Indian citizen naming
his store Hitler!!
This puts the education of our children in poor light. We have been
shamed before the whole world because of lack of general knowledge,
history, and current affairs among our children. Had these youngsters
studied about Hitler in school they would not have done this. We must
change the syllabus to include the Rwandan genocide, Sri Lankan Tamil
genocide, Armenian genocide by Turkey, Godhra riots, Hitler's
holocaust, his eugenics program for his own Germany wherein he killed
his own people because they were mentally retarded or physically
deformed. Thus youngsters will be more prepared to detect such people
in our nation and the world and reject them instead of deifying them.
What right do you have to say that the swastika is "symbol of callousness and demagoguery" Hari? It is a holy symbol to all Hindus and Buddhists, and has been for thousands of years. Just because some stupid European used it to do wrong doesn't mean that its meaning changes for us.
From all the comments, it is quite evident that History as a subject is
so completely neglected in Indian education that probably we are quite
proud to be so ignorant of history....so much for Santayana
It is important to remember the legislation following the burning of the German Parliament Jan 1933 which enabled the Nazis to tear down the democratic rights of the Weimar Republic and establish their dictatorship. The burning of the parliament was put in scene by the Nazis themselves, who blamed it on the communists and used this as a pretext to fight the 'terrorists' in a state of emergency. Today, the 'war on terror' has found many supporters and aggressive military policy appears to be business as usual. In this climate, many govts around the world constrain existing democratic rights such as freedom of speech and divert public funding in the name of fighting terrorism. It is alarming indeed. It seems as though the Nazi Horror was not shocking enough for the memory to last.
It is offensive and in bad taste to glorify Hitler.On the otherhand,it is a Hindu symbol ,the swastika so why blame Hindus if someone hijacks it and mis uses it.
Indeed,hope and pray that we get Hindus globaaly who defend not only Hindus world wide but also Indians all over the world so that they can HRHH Hunmanji temples in Mecca,Jeruslam,Rome <london etc with Ram and Ganputhy Dada temples where they safe;y preach and pray just as others are allowed to do in India and promote Ahimsa and equality of women in all spheres of life as King,Queen,PM<President in all united nations countries.
SR,
And the Palestinians, from the West Bank as well as from Gaza, also have to recognise Israel's right to exist, and stops all acts of terrorism against Israel. Go to any school in the West Bank or Gaza, and you will see that Israel has been blotted out from the childrens' Geography books.
Reply to some comments above:
A few hundred thousand Indian soldiers fought along with the British
in WW2. The ratio of British vs Indian soldiers in the British army
was around 1:10. Many people including Indians think that India was
never in the middle of WW2 which is absolutely wrong. The Indian
soldiers just did not get the recognition because at that time they
fought as the British army.
Hitler had comitted brutalities, no doubt.
At the same time people do not speak about brutalities committed by
Americans (& European nations) while conquering America from Red
Indians or about Australians against Aborigines.
Is it just because of Hollywood movies?
On the other hand Hitler and WW II played a crucial role in winning
freedom for countries in Asia and Africa from colonial rule.
How many millions of people in these lands have benefited?
What if tomorrow someone else seeing the fame and publicity it goes with naming the establishment as Hitler also decides to name it this way?? I strongly believe that sentiments of every community should be respected rather than policy of appeasing one that too on a topic of which the authenticity is still being debated. Hitler, is not the only one who is known to be the oppressor in history. even in today's world there are many more Hitler alike which are not even condemned but considered Heroes to many abnormal individuals.
The owner should not remove but keep SWASTIK on the board of the shop for which none should have any objection. The Swastik symbol has been in existence in our country since time immemorial, much before Hitler adopted it. This must be kept to symbolize our tradition and culture. Dr Amrit Patel
I do not know how much role 'ignorance' had in this episode. But from my personal experience, the knowledge of Indian and World history among modern Indian youngsters is pathetically low. Despite having a world of knowledge (the Internet) at their fingertips, they are more inclined to believe in sensationalist conspiracy theories and revisionist Hindutva histories than genuine mainstream ones. For them Hitler is nothing more than a charismatic ruler who made his country powerful. That he did this over the bodies of millions is either not known or ignored by them.
Its just PR exercise and it is successful. If it was really serious,
even then no need to create a lot of fuss. USA and the EU today has gone
far beyond the Hitlers and Mussolinis.
If I recall, a few years back a simialr store was opende in Kharghar,
Navi mumbai under the name of HITLER.There were protests and it was
closed. Perhaps another Hiteler admirer from Gujarat tried this name and
has had to withdraw the name. But why should the world be so much
against this man Hitler when similar dictators like Stalin and Mao are
being worshiped by their governments. Some day, the world needs to
take a stock of this German leader and stop treating him badly. He
should not be put under the carpet or even mentioned. It is just a name.
Ridiculous to see the arrogance and authoritative way Israel and its consul general at Mumbai acting towards this incident. What's wrong in having Hitler's name elsewhere? In fact, during our Indian Independence struggle, N.S.C.Bose went to Germany to seek Adolf Hitler's help and was promptly received an offer from Hitler.
History goes on record to say that Indian POW's under British India at Germany war camps readily agreed to fight for India's struggle for Independence. We don't need to sympathise with those who helped British and European countries to their own vested interests. It was due to Jews enormous funding, British survived WWII, which resulted in inevitable exile of our beloved Netaji to Japan, which left thousands of freedom fighters disillusioned.
Will the Jewish state of Israel ever realise the sacrifice by millions of our soldiers and freedom fighters against the British,Portuguese and the French?I doubt they ever will.
Hitler killed Jews, non-Aryan race, homosexuals and gypsies. He waged wars against
countries. He burnt books. He expelled intellectuals.
Nazism hurt millions and even Germany. It ruled by fear. Facism trampled progress and
rights.
Swastika is a symbol of callousness and demagoguery.
All this should have no place in India.
Across the political and social spectrum in India, we have aspiring Hitlers who fortunately fall short of his rabble rousing skills that mesmerised millions of people into war and antisemitic crimes of that magnitude. They are all 'anti' this or that- some of them have been even hailed as social reformers, idolised and are in statues while they spewed venom against particular castes or classes all through their life; Probably the appeal of right versus wrong to our people's minds is so strongly ingrained that a majority of us took only the good parts of their mission there by avoiding a catastrophe like what happened in Europe and which only recoiled on the aggressors.
What's their in the name?? But surely the shop and it's owners got the fame for unknown reasons..
Reply to Sam Ross
QUOTE [Indians generally do not understand the significance of Hitler
and the Holocaust in European history, because despite the fact that
India obviously has its own equally terrible social divisions, there
is nothing here that quite matches the peculiar profile of European
antisemitism]UNQUOTE
India was never in the middle of WW2 as Europe and U.S were. Our
priority was getting rid of an oppressive British Rule. Remember how
Churchill started millions of Bengalis.
So,Just as westerners didn't understand the significance of Indian
freedom, Indians never knew full impact of Jews' suffering.
So while Jews may be thinking WTF is with Indians, please note
Genocide was not a big issue to Indians whose priorities were
different.
This particular incident is nothing but an ignorant shop owner trying
to generate footfalls in a highly cut-throat competitive environment.
The issue may be a very small but, it gives a wrong message to the world. If some one keeps the name "Nathuram Godse" to his shop,will we not feel bad?
I am very sorry to see such name used in our country.
This is very very sad.
This man Caused so much of pain and suffering for so many people.
Please read the history of germany - then you will know,what it means.
This won't be any blessing for our country and also for any business
I personally feel this is too much of a fuss for a small issue. I mean naming a shop Hitler and using the swastika doesnt mean that the proprietors of the store are engaging in anti-Jew activity. Its just being used as a symbol to promote fashion and people should not make such a huge fuss about it.
Its ironic, people who do not let a single chance slip to remind them of Hitler and the Holocaust and associate evey possible isue with "Antisemitism" are wanting others' cooperation to forget the past..!
Thousands of students are sent from Israel on government expenditure, every year to Europe only to learn the distorted version of the already ugly history of WW2.
What a paranoid hypocrite class..!
I hope they understand what are they doing to the Palestinitans, if they 'truly' understand what has been done to them.
what's the problem in naming a shop 'hitler'. Hitler was wrong in
murdering the jews, but the British and the French and the Portugeese
where no less....they went around the world killing so many in the name
of colonialisation...and the Americans who fought Vietnam, Iraq,
Japan...with hidden agenda and killing so many millions. Do we boycott
any of their goods or stop using them...saying it might hurt sentiments
of so many out there in the world. After all Hitler is just a name...
We in India simply call Hiltler a "dictator". It is not uncommon to see people referring to some strict and authoritarian leaders/administrators as "Hitler" withoug realising that the world "Hitler" carries a far more serious meaning.
Hitler's notoriety was not just because he was a dictator and not even because he started the Second World War by invading many European Nations.
They are bad by themselves - but his worst crime was the way he treated millions of Jews - with the single minded objective of eliminating them from the face of the Earth.
He created the worst crime against Humanity ; invoking his name in a casual or "humorous" way should be discouraged.
Just an act of cheap publicity and to get noticed.
" Ignorance was the reason behind such acts."; "... and the name
was selected in memory of the grandfather of one of the shopowners,
who was nicknamed ‘Hitler’ for being very strict.";
Totally believable. Really. The red swastika sign is also a part of
the memory, I suppose. Great cooldom attempt, cover up and exit.
Hitler must be proud.
It's ridiculous and hypocrisy to unnecessarily being too much concerned about the particular "swastika" symbol. It's true that it resembles the Nazi party and Jews but this belongs to Hindu mythology as well. So it's a Hinduism's prerogative to have this.. So why there is so much fuss about it? After all the we want to know how sentiments of Israel's are being hurt? If its' really reasonable we will respectfully address their concern.
If the owners thought the name Hitler had any amount of respectability,
then they should visit the former concentration camps and read what
happened during the holocaust. Shame on our country that we dont have
any regulation to prevent businesses from resorting to cheap tactics.
Even more shameful is the attitude of the countrymen who dont find
anything wrong.
Indians generally do not understand the significance of Hitler and the Holocaust in European history, because despite the fact that India obviously has its own equally terrible social divisions, there is nothing here that quite matches the peculiar profile of European antisemitism.
First, Jews have to respect the rights of the Palestinians before asking not to hurt
their sentiments.
It is understandable why the Israeli government would work with the Indian government to change the name of the shop since it offended Jewish sentiments.
While at this, how about someone raising their voice to change the name of the Hindu-kush mountains in Afganistan which was named so because millions of Hindus were killed during the Islamic invasions hundreds of years ago??
Speaks volumes about our examination oriented educational system that churns out
Coolies for the 21st Century Indian Economy.
I am sure this is a trick to get virtually free advertisement for the shop.
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