05-10-2005, 07:58 PM
came via email..
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->As long as Hinduism is viewed as a mere 'Cultural phenomenon' ( and not as a powerful world religion that is not going to tolerate such poor portrayals), we will continue to get this treatment. We as Vivekananda Centre London have registered a diplomatically worded protest with Minelli the shoe manufacturers. We congratulate HHR for being watchful on such issues. (Vivekananda would have said, "These youngsters have some fire in their bellies they do not just talk, but act for the Hindu cause.
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Vivekananda Centre LondonÂ
Copy of our email to Minelli
For the attention of the Chief Executive
Siège social Minelli
9th May 2005
Dear Sir
We have just been sent an image of one of your designer shoes that show the image of a very important deity in the Hindu religion.
This deity is called Sri Rama. This ancient king preached and practised the idea of living for high ideals and not for material possessions. No king ancient or modern has lived up to such high ideals as did this ancient Hindu king. You may check with the French historians to confirm this. In order not to damage the moral fabric of his nation this king was prepared to abandon his beloved wife. Compare this with the modern would-be king of England. For the sake of gaining a wife he was prepared to risk damaging the ethical code of Church of England! Can you now appreciate how important this king is for Hindus and why he should be respected not only by Hindus but by whole of mankind?
We hope common sense will prevail and you will immediately withdraw these designer shoes depicting the image of Sri Rama.
We await to hear from you.
xxxxxxxxxx
Vivekananda Centre London
http://www.vivekananda.co.uk
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Sahara TV interview HCUK on Hindu Human Rights campaign against use of images of Hindu Gods</b>Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Sahara TV of India, called Hindu Council UK for comments on the Campaign Hindu Human Rights have launched against Minelli, for the degrading use of images of Hindu Gods and Deities.
Anuja Prashar affirmed that Hindu Council UK support this campaign, because we think the thoughtless use of images of Hindu dieties is reflective of the dichotomous positioning of Eastern and Western philosophy in an intolerant society.
Â
Hindu images, in the fashion and retail industry, are always presented to perpetuate the idea of Hinduism as a regressive and immature ideology which is not worthy of being taken seriously. Other religions, do not merit the same treatment because they may be the dominant religion of that particular society or other religions may be less tolerant or even violent in their reactions to derogatory representations of their ideology.
Hindu passivity & tolerance, which are our greatest strength, in this instance are seen to be our weakness and is taken for granted. Hindu ideology and it's depiction are therefore easily used for the marketing gimmicks which incite antagonism towards symbols denoting ethical or moral values. This antagonism and need to challenge morality is symptomatic, of an immature and intolerant society, such as prevailed in the West during the 60's. This behaviour is in direct contrast to the pluralism and tolerance of the Hindu and Universal Vedantic philosophy, which demands respect for all religions and their practises.
HCUK Executive
Hindu Council UK<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->As long as Hinduism is viewed as a mere 'Cultural phenomenon' ( and not as a powerful world religion that is not going to tolerate such poor portrayals), we will continue to get this treatment. We as Vivekananda Centre London have registered a diplomatically worded protest with Minelli the shoe manufacturers. We congratulate HHR for being watchful on such issues. (Vivekananda would have said, "These youngsters have some fire in their bellies they do not just talk, but act for the Hindu cause.
xxxxxxxx
Vivekananda Centre LondonÂ
Copy of our email to Minelli
For the attention of the Chief Executive
Siège social Minelli
9th May 2005
Dear Sir
We have just been sent an image of one of your designer shoes that show the image of a very important deity in the Hindu religion.
This deity is called Sri Rama. This ancient king preached and practised the idea of living for high ideals and not for material possessions. No king ancient or modern has lived up to such high ideals as did this ancient Hindu king. You may check with the French historians to confirm this. In order not to damage the moral fabric of his nation this king was prepared to abandon his beloved wife. Compare this with the modern would-be king of England. For the sake of gaining a wife he was prepared to risk damaging the ethical code of Church of England! Can you now appreciate how important this king is for Hindus and why he should be respected not only by Hindus but by whole of mankind?
We hope common sense will prevail and you will immediately withdraw these designer shoes depicting the image of Sri Rama.
We await to hear from you.
xxxxxxxxxx
Vivekananda Centre London
http://www.vivekananda.co.uk
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Sahara TV interview HCUK on Hindu Human Rights campaign against use of images of Hindu Gods</b>Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Sahara TV of India, called Hindu Council UK for comments on the Campaign Hindu Human Rights have launched against Minelli, for the degrading use of images of Hindu Gods and Deities.
Anuja Prashar affirmed that Hindu Council UK support this campaign, because we think the thoughtless use of images of Hindu dieties is reflective of the dichotomous positioning of Eastern and Western philosophy in an intolerant society.
Â
Hindu images, in the fashion and retail industry, are always presented to perpetuate the idea of Hinduism as a regressive and immature ideology which is not worthy of being taken seriously. Other religions, do not merit the same treatment because they may be the dominant religion of that particular society or other religions may be less tolerant or even violent in their reactions to derogatory representations of their ideology.
Hindu passivity & tolerance, which are our greatest strength, in this instance are seen to be our weakness and is taken for granted. Hindu ideology and it's depiction are therefore easily used for the marketing gimmicks which incite antagonism towards symbols denoting ethical or moral values. This antagonism and need to challenge morality is symptomatic, of an immature and intolerant society, such as prevailed in the West during the 60's. This behaviour is in direct contrast to the pluralism and tolerance of the Hindu and Universal Vedantic philosophy, which demands respect for all religions and their practises.
HCUK Executive
Hindu Council UK<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->