As seen on Sepia Mutiny.

On several occasions in the past, during discussions of the holocaust or Nazism, I've mentioned to my friends that the Swastika is an ancient and sacred symbol of Hinduism whose peaceful origins far outdate the coopting of the symbol by the Nazi Party of Adolf Hitler. Anyone who has visited India in recent or non-recent times can attest to its display (usually with dots in each of the four quadrants) in temples across the country. None of this is done with any approval of or tribute to Nazi Germany or the killing of millions of Jews across Europe. "Swastika" is a Sanskrit word. It originated in India and the Nazis stole it, un-fair and un-square.

In the past few weeks however, it has been appearing in Navi Mumbai (see: Bombay's suburbs) in its newer, more genocidal connotation in the form of a new restaurant known as "Hitler's Cross." Here's what the owner had to say to Reuters:

"We wanted to be different. This is one name that will stay in
people's minds," owner Punit Shablok said.

"We are not promoting Hitler. But we want to tell people we
are different in the way he was different."

Hmm.... While it's true that establishing authoritarian control over Germany and carrying out a genocide of Jews and other minorities is one way to be different, I'm not sure it's the specific path I'd take as a Bombay restaurant owner in 2006.

Understandably, the Jewish community in India is a little miffed. What I'm miffed about, however, is the total lack of outrage being shown by other communities in India. Indian politics is about balancing the (hyper)sensitivities of members of all of its religions. This is, for better or for worse, how its definition of secularism is advanced. While I was in India a few months ago, I remember Muslim groups backing very vocal Christian groups to get the DaVinci Code banned from theaters in several states (aww, religions working together for the advancement of unncessary censorship!). And yet, all of the outrage directed at this restaurant owner is being shown by a handful of bloggers instead of the Indian media or its normally obnoxious Christian, Hindu, or Muslim groups.
I would like to see at least one Hindu group express outrage, if not for the injuring of the sentiments of their Jewish brethren (no matter how small their numbers), then at least at the desecration of its own ancient, sacred, peaceful symbol.