HinduPACT

Tag: AHAD Protest

  • AHAD Action: Products with Inappropriate Ganesha Images

    AHAD Action: Products with Inappropriate Ganesha Images

    AHAD sent the following letter to the CEO of Walmart demanding that the offending products be removed from Walmart online immediately.  The products were eventually removed.

     

    Doug McMillon

    President and CEO

    Walmart Inc.

    702 S.W. 8th St.
Bentonville, AR 72716

    Dear Mr. McMillon,

    We, American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD), write to express our most profound disappointment and outrage over Walmart’s sale of thongs, briefs, underwear and other products featuring the sacred image of Ganesha, a revered Hindu deity (representation of God). This action represents a profound insult to the sentiments of over 1 billion Hindus worldwide who hold Lord Ganesha in the highest regard.  These product can be found in the Walmart online store at:

    https://www.walmart.com/search?q=ganesh+easygdp

    We realize that some of the egregious products have been removed.  However, many others remain.  We specifically find the following to be most offensive:

    1. Easygdp Celestial Ganesh Blessings Slippers for Women Mens Winter Warm Home Slippers Plush Slip on House Slippers for Indoor Outdoor Shoes-8. Hindus remove shoes before entering their homes and temples, to have God images on slipper is very offensive.
    2. Easygdp Celestial Ganesh Blessings Beach Towel 27.5X55 Inches Quick Dry Pool Towel Travel Compact Bath Towel Sandproof Beach Blanket Towel for Swimming. Wiping body with divine image? 
    3. Easygdp Celestial Ganesh Blessings Women’s Long-Sleeve Shirt and Full-Length Bottom Pajama Set,Two Piece Loungewear Soft Pajama Top and Pants Pjs Sleepwear-XX-Large. We do not endorse using God’s imagery on pants.

    Ganesha, worshipped as the Remover of Obstacles, is among the most beloved deities in Hinduism. He is honored as the first deity to be worshipped in any ritual or auspicious undertaking, signifying the foundational respect accorded to him in Hindu culture. Depicting Lord Ganesha on items such as thongs, briefs, underwear, and the products above is not only highly inappropriate but deeply offensive, reducing a symbol of profound spiritual significance to mere commercial novelty.

    This insensitivity is not unprecedented, as AHAD has previously confronted similar actions by corporations and organizations that trivialize Hindu symbols and deities. For example:

    • In 2004, we successfully protested Abercrombie & Fitch for featuring Lord Ganesha on flip-flops, leading to the product’s withdrawal.
    • In 2006, we raised concerns about Urban Outfitters selling Hindu deity-themed toilet seat covers, prompting the company to cease selling such offensive items.
    • More recently, in 2020, AHAD protested against a jewelry collection featuring Hindu deities inappropriately displayed by a Canadian designer, which was ultimately discontinued.

    These campaigns underscore AHAD’s unwavering commitment to protecting Hindu cultural and religious symbols from being misused or demeaned in commercial ventures.

    For over two decades, AHAD has served as the oldest and largest organization in North America, devoted to combating the defamation of Hinduism and ensuring accurate representations of Hindu beliefs, culture, and traditions. As part of this mission, we have consistently engaged with corporations, media, and other entities to foster understanding and respect for Hindu sensitivities.

    Walmart’s actions also have significant implications for its global reputation. In countries like India, where Walmart strives to expand its presence, this insensitivity risks alienating millions of potential consumers. The Hindu community in the United States and globally will rightly view this product as an affront, raising concerns about whether Walmart truly respects diversity and religious sentiments.

    We urge Walmart to:

    1. Immediately withdraw the product featuring Lord Ganesha from all stores and online platforms.
    2. Issue a formal public apology to the Hindu community for this offensive oversight.
    3. Implement measures to ensure that Walmart’s product design and approval processes include cultural sensitivity reviews, preventing such incidents from occurring again.

    Respect for cultural and religious symbols is non-negotiable in a diverse and interconnected world. We hope Walmart will swiftly and decisively address this issue, reaffirming its commitment to being a socially responsible and inclusive global corporation.

    We look forward to your prompt response.

  • ACT: Sign AHAD & HinduPACT Petition – Remove Gita Shloka from the Movie “Oppenheimer”

    ACT: Sign AHAD & HinduPACT Petition – Remove Gita Shloka from the Movie “Oppenheimer”

  • AHAD and HinduPACT Demand Removal Bhagavad Gita Shloka from the Movie “Oppenheimer”

    AHAD and HinduPACT Demand Removal Bhagavad Gita Shloka from the Movie “Oppenheimer”

    The following press release was issued by American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD) and HinduPACT

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    July 28. 2023

    We are deeply offended by a scene in the Christopher Nolan’s Hollywood movie Oppenheimer that shows the eponymous character having sex while reading out verses from The Bhagavad Gita, one of the most revered and sacred Hindu scriptures.  As representatives of one of the oldest and the largest American Hindu organizations, we strongly urge the producers of the film and the distributor, Universal Pictures to remove the shloka from the movie.

    A shloka is a sacred verse from Hindu scriptures that carries profound spiritual significance to the Hindus. It is not merely a piece of background music to be used for dramatic effect in a movie; rather, it holds immense religious sanctity and is meant to be recited with utmost respect and reverence. By using the shloka from the Bhagavad Gita without the appropriate religious context, the producers of “Oppenheimer” are trivializing and commodifying a central aspect of Hindu spirituality. This not only shows a lack of understanding of the cultural and religious sensitivities of the Hindu community but also amounts to cultural appropriation, which is deeply disrespectful and offensive.

    Commenting on the inappropriate use of shloka, Ajay Shah, Convenor of the World Hindu Council of America (VHPA) and Convenor of AHAD and HinduPACT said:

    “Hollywood must resist the urge to use Hindu scriptures as props in their movies.  In 1999, Stanley Kubrick’s “Eyes Wide Shut,” used a shloka from the Bhagavad Gita during an orgy scene. After our protest, this scene was removed from most locations.  We would have hoped that after almost a quarter century after “Eyes Wide Shut,” Hollywood producers are more enlightened, more aware of religious and cultural sensitivities and more attuned to the global audience they serve.  Evidently, they remain as tone-deaf as they were twenty-five years ago, and perhaps as prejudicial towards Hindus as the colonialists who ruled India for a thousand years. We call up on the producers and United Pictures to remove the offending scene immediately. “

    (News item about the “Eyes Wide Shut” protest is available here)

    As consumers and supporters of the entertainment industry, we call on the producers of “Oppenheimer” to uphold the principles of cultural sensitivity and religious respect by promptly removing the shloka from the movie.  AHAD is launching an online campaign to advocate for the removal of the scene. 

  • Press Release: AHAD Statement and Petition Requests Universities to Prevent Targeting Hindus and Disavow Hate Event “Dismantling Global Hindutva”

    Press Release: AHAD Statement and Petition Requests Universities to Prevent Targeting Hindus and Disavow Hate Event “Dismantling Global Hindutva”

    August 19, 2021

     

    Over Two Thousand People Have Already Signed the Petition

     In response to the event “Dismantling Global Hindutva” purportedly cosponsored the Departments and Institutes at forty prominent Universities in the US in September 2021, American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD) has initiated an online petition and issued the following statement.  This petition has already garnered 2000 signatures.  These signatures and associated comments are being sent to all the Universities co-sponsoring the event requesting them to disassociate themselves from this Hinduphobic event.

     

    “Dismantling Global Hindutva” yet another attempt by some of the best known Hinduphobic academicians and their allies to systematically delegitimize Hindu dharma at the academic institutions in the US.  We request the sponsoring universities to take immediate action to prevent vilification and intimidation of students, faculty of Hindu heritage as well as those of Indian origin under the guise of an event titled, “Dismantling Hindutva,” supposedly cosponsored by your institution.

     

    The word Hindutva, as defined by the Supreme Court of India (Ramesh Yeshwant Prabhoo case [1996 SCC (1) 130]) means:

     

    “The words ‘Hinduism’ or ‘Hindutva’ are not necessarily to be understood and construed narrowly, confined only to the strict Hindu religious practices unrelated to the culture and ethos of the people of India, depicting the way of life of the Indian people.”

    […]

    “Considering the terms ‘Hinduism’ or ‘Hindutva’ per se as depicting hostility, enmity or intolerance towards other religious faiths or professing communalism, proceeds form an improper appreciation and perception of the true meaning of these expressions emerging from the detailed discussion in earlier judgments of this court. Misuse of these expressions to promote communalism cannot alter the true meaning of these terms. The mischief resulting from the misuse of the terms by anyone in his speech has to be checked and not its permissible use.”

    […]

    “It is a fallacy and an error of law to proceed on the assumption that any reference to Hindutva or Hinduism in a speech makes it automatically a speech based on the Hindu religion as opposed to other religions or that the use of words ‘Hindutva’ or ‘Hinduism’ per se depicts an attitude hostile to all persons practising any religion other than the Hindu religion.”

    We believe that this event is being timed to take attention away from the tragic events unfolding in Afghanistan and the larger region.  At a time when many Hindus in America are working hard to address the issue of persecuted religious minorities, facing an existential threat in Afghanistan, this event targeting Hindus is aimed to distract from the critical humanitarian work that is the need of the hour.

     

    American Hindus are also focused on highlighting the plight of Hindu girls in Sindh, Pakistan.  For decades, on an average, three girls a day, some as young as 12-years of age are abducted, forcibly converted and married off to Muslim men decades older than them.  This campaign named CHINGARI, Coalition for Hindu Girls Abducted and their Rights has been gaining tremendous momentum.  We believe that many of the organizers of “Dismantling Hindutva” are aligned with the perpetrators of these heinous acts and their enablers, who want to divert the attention from increasing awareness about this human rights issue.

     

    We expect that purportedly co-sponsoring institutions will immediately disassociate themselves from this event and reassure the Hindu students, faculty and staff that their institutions are safe spaces for all religious minorities.

     

    Key Leader Statements:

     

    Ajay Shah, the President of VHPA and Convenor of AHAD said:

    Dismantling Global Hindutva event has been organized from September 10 to September 12.  It is no coincidence that the event has been timed to take place on Anniversary of September 11 terror attack, the largest on the American soil by the radical Islamic terrorists.  It should be clear that the organizers of this event have a nefarious motive of deflecting the attention away from the radical Islamic terrorism to the peaceful Hindu community by vilifying the essence of Hindu spiritual practices, culture and way of life, embodied in Hindutva.  At a time when thousands of Muslims from Afghanistan are seeking refuge from Islamic terrorism to predominantly Hindu India, to label Hindutva as a radical extremist philosophy is not just ironic but malevolent

    Commenting on the event, Utsav Chakrabarti, Executive Director, HinduPACT stated:

    At a time when radical Islamists in the Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, are emboldened by Taliban’s victory in Afghanistan, and are openly threatening India and its Hindu population, this event by Taliban apologists targeting Hindus, is worrisome. It shows that many Universities in the United States have become de-facto platform for the promotion of intolerance and violent extremism.

    Amitabh Mittal, General Secretary of VHPA said:

    How one can uproot that which is eternal? What threat is Hindutva, an expression of Hindu dharma, the all-encompassing religion and philosophy that ever existed? Why do the Marxist-Leninists and their allies feel threatened by the most accepting religion that has always stood for freedom?  It is a shame that these misguided people are talking about dismantling the faith that has survived the onslaught of invaders and colonialist for many millennia. These neo-detractors of the Hindu dharma will be another footnote in history.  We welcome their assault, Santana Dharma that is Hindu is the soul of humanity as said in the Bhagwad Gita “No weapon can harm it, fire cannot burn it, air cannot dry it and water cannot wet it”

     

    About American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD)

     

    American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD) is the first and the most prominent Hindu organization against defamation in the USA.  An initiative of World Hindu Council of America (VHPA), AHAD has been actively monitoring mass media, products, public places etc. to ensure respectful and accurate representation of Hindu dharma, culture, images and icons.  Active since 1997, hundreds of thousands of Hindus have participated in various advocacy activities led by AHAD. 

     

    About HinduPACT USA

     

    Hindu Policy Research and Advocacy Collective, USA – HinduPACT USA is an initiative of the World Hindu Council of America (VHPA). HinduPACT (hindupact.org) aims to bring Hindu ethos and dharmic values of unity in diversity, plurality, compassion and, mutual respect amongst religions to policy and advocacy for human rights, environmental protection, racial and gender equality, and, interfaith dialog.  HinduPACT activities include voter education (hinduvote.org), CHINGARI (Coalition for HINdu Girls Abducted and their RIghts), HAHRI (Hindus Advancing Human Rights Internationally) and weekly live show on contemporary American Hindu issues The HinduLounge

     

    About World Hindu Council of America (VHPA)

     

    World Hindu Council of America (VHPA) is the most prominent organization of Hindus in the USA.  Founded in 1970, it has chapters across the country.   VHPA runs educational programs for Hindu children and youth in addition to community service (Seva) activities, and initiatives such as Hindu Mandir Executives’ Conference (HMEC), Hindu Womens’ Network, American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD), Hindu Policy Research and Advocacy Collective (HinduPACT).

  • AHAD Stand on Kamala Harris Debated

    BOSTON—Readers of INDIA New England News blasted INE for publishing an article in which the World Hindu Council of America, known as VHPA, questioned the Hindu heritage of US Senator Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

    The article entitled “World Hindu Council of America Leaders Question Hindu Heritage of Senator and Democratic VP Candidate Kamala Harris” was published on Oct. 20, 2020.

    Here are some readers’ reaction to the article:

    “Shame on you all for printing this racist diatribe on your website. I am disgusted to read this on your website. It offends me enormously. To  print this only 12 days before election is nothing but irresponsible.

    Is this what you think Hindu religion is? Kamala Harris is Hindu by birth. Her mother was Hindu. What makes you believe these racist Hindu Council writers?

    I ask you to remove this blasphemy from your website and apologize to all the readers.”

    –Anoop Desai

    “I am writing to fully endorse the expressions of horror and shame of Mr. Anoop Desai on your reporting on Sen. Kamala Harris. The intent of the writer, including the deliberate misinterpretation of the Hindu influences on Sen. Harris’ life, are highly suspect.

    The innuendo, sarcasm and gutter level writing style are unbecoming of any publication or of any truly philosophically Hindu association. The substantial influences of Indian culture and the Hindu religion on Ms. Harris have been unquestionably established and your motivated article will not tarnish that in the minds of any real Hindu.

    Incidentally, there are countless people in India who embrace both Hinduism and Christianity, having beliefs in the strengths and best practices of both faiths. The sudden spewing of so much intolerance against a person of Indian origin, who is possibly on the verge of attaining the second highest office in the land, insults the aspirations of all Indian origin Americans. In the hope that you will see some light and apologize.”

    –B. Ravindra Rao

    Thank you for publishing our press release on Kamala Harris as Goddess Durga meme. I have seen the headlines where some of your users have blasted India New England News for publishing the article based on our press release.

    Those who have criticized you, have neither bothered to read Sen. Harris’s biography or heard her speak about her faith. Senator Harris has always claimed to be Baptist. She has NEVER claimed to be a Hindu. So it is not blasphemous of us to call her non-Hindu. We challenge anyone to find a statement where Sen. Harris has said that she is a Hindu. Therefore, it is not VHPA that is questioning Sen. Harris’s Hindu faith. We are merely respecting Sen. Harris’s wishes to declare a faith of her choosing.

    American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD) is an organization that is devoted to fighting the denigration of Hindu culture, customs, and icons. Rest assured that if Pres. Trump had portrayed himself as Krishna in Vishwaswaroop Darshan, we would have had a similar response.

  • World Hindu Council of America Leaders Question Hindu Heritage of Senator and Democratic VP Candidate Kamala Harris

    Source: https://indianewengland.com/2020/10/world-hindu-council-of-america-leaders-question-hindu-heritage-of-senator-and-democratic-vp-candidate-kamala-harris/

    BOSTON—A group of Hindu Americans belonging to World Hindu Council of America, known as VHPA, American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD) and HinduPACT are questioning the Hindu heritage of US Senator and Democratic Party Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

    “It seems to us that Sen. Harris, a self-acknowledged on-Hindu has now realized that in the battleground states, the Hindu votes matter. So, Senator Harris is now rapidly discovering her Hindu roots,” Ajay Shah, executive vice president of VHPA and convener of AHAD and HinduPACT, said in a statement. “Welcome home, Senator, you have now moved on from masala dosas and cleverly inserted reference to “chitti” to donning the dress of Goddess Durga. Do you want to know what those who practice Hindu dharma think about this cartoonish portrayal of you as Durga Mata?”

    “Before assuming the form of Durga Mata, through your niece, did you bother picking up a book on Hindu Dharma 101 or at least talk to your “chitti?” said Mr. Shah. “Hindus are offended, and Hindus are outraged, because you have insulted Hindu Goddess and while you continue to claim to be a non-Hindu, you have the audacity to assume the form of a revered Hindu Goddess during one of the most auspicious Hindu festivals, Navaratri for scoring political points.”

    Born in the US to immigrants, cancer researcher Shyamala Gopalan from India and economics professor Donald Harris from Jamaica, Harris has leaped in a generation to running for a position that could put her a heartbeat away from the US presidency.

    After her parents divorced when she was only seven, Harris was brought up by her mother, whom she has described as “tough and fierce and protective” yet “generous and loyal and funny,” and credits her for her success.

    In her memoir, “The Truths We Hold,” Harris wrote that the lesson “it was service to others that gave life purpose and meaning” that she inherited from her mother came from her grandmother Rajam, who had not completed high school but was a fiery protector of victims of domestic abuse.

    Moving from New Delhi to Berkeley for her PhD in the tumultuous era of the 1960s civil rights movements, Shyamala Gopalan joined the protests “with a sense of justice imprinted on her soul,” Harris wrote.

    In this environment, she wrote, “My mother understood very well that she was raising two Black daughters. She knew that her adopted homeland would see Maya as Black girls, and she was determined to make sure we would grow into confident, proud black women.”

    Her sister Maya is also a lawyer.

    While the African American identity became the dominant one – and, in fact, the one that boosted her chances to the get the vice presidential nomination – Harris wrote, “Our classical Indian names harked back to our heritage and we were raised with a strong awareness of and appreciation for Indian culture.”

    She wrote, “My mother, grandparents, aunts and uncle instilled us with pride in our South Asian roots.”

    “I was also very close to my mother’s brother, Balu, and her two sisters, Sarala and Chinni (whom I called Chittis, which means ‘younger mother’ [in Tamil]),” she recalled.

    Utsav Chakrabarty, executive director of HinduPACT, said in a the statement that the caricature of Hindu deities wreaks is tokenism that has become a hallmark of Biden-Harris ticket.

    “At best it is cheap and hurtful and at its worst, creates tank Hinduphobia in communities that already have very little knowledge about Hindu Dharma,” Chakrabarty said.

    Rakhi Israni, executive director-legal of HinduPACT, said that it is quite telling that Joe Biden-Kamala Harris campaign that won’t even put out an agenda for the Hindu American community when they have done so for other religious communities is misappropriating the religious symbols and pictures of this same community for their own purposes.

    “In other words, it seems that what the Biden/Harris Campaign is saying is don’t ask what we will do for you, but continue giving your all to us. It’s about time Hindu Americans wake up,” Israni said. “We can’t afford to be emotionally tied to one party or another lest we are taken for granted.”

    Founded in 1970, World Hindu Council of America (VHPA) is a prominent organization of Hindus in the United States. An initiative of VHPA, AHAD is a Hindu organization against defamation in the USA.  HinduPACT USA, or Hindu Policy Research and Advocacy Collective, USA, is also an initiative of VHPA.

  • AHAD Statement on Kamala Harris Durga Meme

    The following statements were issued by American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD) and HinduPACT (initiatives of World Hindu Council of America) on Kamala Harris as Goddess Durga meme:

    Statement by Ajay Shah, Executive Vice President, VHPA, Convener AHAD and HinduPACT:

    “It seems to us that Sen. Harris, a self-acknowledged non-Hindu has now realized that in the battleground states, the Hindu votes matter.  So, Senator Harris is now rapidly discovering her Hindu roots.  Welcome home, Senator, you have now moved on from masala dosas and cleverly inserted reference to “chitti” to donning the dress of Goddess Durga.  Do you want to know what those who practice Hindu dharma think about this cartoonish portrayal of you as Durga Mata?  Before assuming the form of Durga Mata, through your niece, did you bother picking up a book on Hindu Dharma 101 or at least talk to your “chitti?” Hindus are offended, and Hindus are outraged, because you have insulted Hindu Goddess and while you continue to claim to be a non-Hindu, you have the audacity to assume the form of a revered Hindu Goddess during one of the most auspicious Hindu festivals, Navaratri for scoring political points.”

    Statement by Utsav Chakrabarty Executive Director, HinduPACT:

    “The caricature of Hindu deities wreaks is tokenism that has become a hallmark of Biden-Harris ticket. At best it is cheap and hurtful and at its worst, creates tank Hinduphobia in communities that already have very little knowledge about Hindu Dharma.”

    Statement by Rakhi Israni, Executive Director, Legal, HinduPACT

    “It’s quite telling that a campaign that won’t even put out an agenda for the Hindu American community when they have done so for other religious communities is misappropriating the religious symbols and pictures of this same community for their own purposes.  In other words, it seems that what the Biden/Harris Campaign is saying is don’t ask what we will do for you, but continue giving your all to us.  It’s about time Hindu Americans wake up.  We can’t afford to be emotionally tied to one party or another lest we are taken for granted.” 

  • AHAD Adds Global Hindu Voice to Protest Against Crass Australian Meat and Livestock Advertisement Depicting Lord Ganesha

    AHAD Adds Global Hindu Voice to Protest Against Crass Australian Meat and Livestock Advertisement Depicting Lord Ganesha

    For Immediate Release

    9/21/2017

    The following statement was issued by Ajay Shah, Convenor, American Hindus Against Defamation and Utsav Chakrabarty, Public Relations Coordinator, World Hindu Council of America (VHPA)

    AHAD Adds Global Hindu Voice to Protest Against Crass Australian Meat and Livestock Advertisement Depicting Lord Ganesha

    American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD), the most prominent Hindu organization against Hindu defamation joins the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of Australia’s protest against Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) advertisement depicting beloved Hindu God Shree Ganesha for promotion of lamb meat (https://youtu.be/f8kuoFGgj8s).  The commercial further insults Lord Ganesha eating lamb meat, as “the elephant in the room.”  Additionally, dharmic saints wearing saffron are shown eating lamb meat.

    Ganesha, holds a special place in the hearts of Hindus around the world.  Lord Ganesha is also revered by other dharmic traditions around the world, including Jains Sikhs, and Buddhists.  Buddhists, worship Lord Ganesha as the Buddhist God Vinayaka throughout Asia, including China and Japan.  In fact, many Buddhist traditions believe that Buddha himself was an avatar of Ganesha.

    Ajay Shah, the Convenor of AHAD said, “To use the symbol of nonviolent faiths to promote a product that that represents the ultimate violence against innocent animals is abhorrent.  It is ironic that, Lord Ganesha is used to promote meat, whereas, millions of Hindus celebrate the festival attributed to Lord Ganesha, by fasting and abstaining from food.  Today, American Hindus stand united in their opposition to MLA’s  advertisement and demand that it be withdrawn immediately.“

    AHAD is registering its strong protest against MLA with the Australian Advertising Standards Bureau.  The Bureau has apparently judged the advertisement to be non-offensive.  AHAD contends that Australian Advertising Standards Bureau has absolutely no expertise or right to judge what is offensive and non-offensive to Hindus.  The Bureau should have consulted credible Hindu organizations like VHP- Australia (akilaramarathinam@gmail.com) before making its determination.  AHAD requests the Australian Minister for Multicultural Affairs to take note of this advertisement and take take action against its further propagation.

    AHAD will also reach out to Buddhist communities across Asia and urge them to boycott Australian lamb based product until AMC withdraws its advertisement depicting Lord Ganesha and saffron clad Hindu priest and tenders an apology to the Hindu community.  AHAD has also launched an online protest against AMC advertisement (http://indiapetitions.com/protest-meat-and-livestock-australias-portrayal-of-lord-ganesha-eating-lamb-in-advertisement/) where the global community can sign a petition and let their voice be heard.

    About American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD)

    American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD) is the first and the most prominent Hindu organization in USA.  A project of World Hindu Council of America (VHPA), AHAD has been actively monitoring media and products to ensure accurate representation of Hindu dharma, culture, images and icons.

    For further information, please contact:

    Ajay Shah
    Convener, American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD)
    http://www.hindunet.org/ahad
    ajay@hindunet.org
    Phone: (858) 866-9661

    About World Hindu Council of America (VHPA)

    World Hindu Council of America (VHPA) is the most prominent organization of Hindus in USA.  Founded in 1970, it has branches across the country.  For more information, please contact:

    Utsav Chakrabarti

    Public Relations Coordinator
    World Hindu Council of America (VHPA)
    P.O. Box 600
    460 Boston Rd, Billerica, MA 01821

    http://www.vhp-america.org/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vishwa.sampark
    Twitter: @VHPANews

  • ‘Om’ on thongs invite Hindu ire

    ‘Om’ on thongs invite Hindu ire

    ‘Om’ on thongs invite Hindu ire

    PTI | Feb 7, 2005, 02.41 PM IST

    Original URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/Om-on-thongs-invite-Hindu-ire/articleshow/1013700.cms

    WASHINGTON: An American online store selling womens’ undergarments featuring images of Hindu Gods and religious icons has angered members of the community who have demanded their immediate withdrawal from the website.

    In an ad for womens’ thongs, Cafe-Press.com has on display hundred per cent cotton ‘Hindu God Shiva classic thong’ priced at USD 12.99 with the religious deity’s face, another called ‘iGod Shiva Classic thong’ for USD 15 makes a statement “Namaste it loud. Your’re Hindu and you’re proud.”

    The ‘Om Classic Thong’ priced at USD 8.99 explains “Om or rather aum is a sacred Hindu symbol that represents the absolute.”

    Leading the protest for the products withdrawal is the American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD), the largest Hindu anti-defamation group in North America comprising several Hindu organisations.

    “We have recently come across two sets of products -thongs and boxer shorts with the images of Hindu deities and symbols imprinted on them…AHAD finds the depiction of universally revered Hindu deities and symbols on the undergarments extremely offensive,” it said in a statement.

    The website Cafe-Press.com last week had offended the Sikh community by displaying a range of thongs with the Khanda emblem representing the four pillars of the Sikh faith.

    Sikh organisations under the World Sikh Council America Region (WSC-AR) had objected to the display of the thongs and had written to CafePress asking it to withdraw the offensive garment.
    “We are very disappointed to know that CafePress is selling an item offensive to the Sikh faith..the underwear with the Sikh symbol and the accompanying language is racist and demeans the Sikh faith. This is especially hurtful because the Sikh community has been prefentially victimised after 9/11,” the WSC-AR complaint said.
    The protests had borne fruit with CafePress withdrawing the product line from its site.

    There have also been instances of western companies imprinting images of Lord Ganesha and Aum on the sole of flip flop sandals, God Rama’s image on sniff tissues and lunch boxes with images of goddess Kali and Durga.

  • Nataraja – Lord Shiva as a Scantly Clad Woman Hawks Shower Fixtures

    Nataraja – Lord Shiva as a Scantly Clad Woman Hawks Shower Fixtures

    Does this Offend You?

    Kohler, one of the most prominent plumbing supply companies is using Lord Nataraja (a form of Lord Shiva) in the form of a scantly clad woman and taking a shower to hawk its new shower products.

    The image in the Kohler advertisement appeared in The New York Times on Sunday. Oct 13, 2002. This image is unmistakably that of Lord Shiva as Nataraja. The dancing pose, multiple hands, the hand gestures, the metaphor of water from shower too, resembles the flow of river Ganga (Ganges) usually depicted as flowing through Lord Shiva.

     

     

    Traditional Nataraja Representation

    The tag line for the advertisement “There is a Goddess”, clearly indicates that the advertisement is no coincidence, it is an unequivocal indication that the image of Lord Shiva was distorted and adopted for the advertisement purpose.

    AHAD is disgusted by the abuse of the image of Lord Shiva in such a derogatory manner. Just as the scantly clad image of Christ in shower selling shower fixtures would be offensive and evoke strong resentment in the Christian community, this advertisement image has enraged the Hindu community. Hindu deities are worshipped, they are not exotic images to be distorted, mutilated and abused.

    The Kohler Company’s insensitivity towards Hindus has been compounded by the fact that several calls placed to the PR department of the company by AHAD have gone unanswered.

    AHAD demands that the Kohler Company immediately withdraw all the advertisements with Hindu images, and tender a sincere apology to the Hindu community.

    AHAD reminds the Kohler Company that Lord Shiva is revered by Hindus around the world – major Shiva temples are found in India, Nepal, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, UK, USA and many other countries – and these countries, Kohler has significant commercial interest.

    AHAD requests the Hindu community to visit the AHAD web site and sign the protest book at http://www.hindunet.org/ahad/kohler/

    AHAD has taken a lead role in countering the abuse of Hindu images by major corporation and media. AHAD led successful action of the Hindu community and procured apologies from Sony/Aerosmith, Universal Studios, Warner Brothers, Fortune Dynamics, Sittin Pretty Designs and others for abusing Hindu images and symbols.