HFB CAMPAIGN TO RECLAIM SWASTIKA
(19 January 2005)

The Hindu Forum of Britain, the largest umbrella body for British Hindus, today launched a national campaign to reclaim the Swastika, regarded as a holy symbol by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains from its Nazi connection. The campaign has been started as a result of German members of the European parliament calling for a Europe-wide ban on the symbol, which has been the subject of much debate after Prince Harry wore the Swastika on a Nazi uniform to a fancy dress party.

"We want to restore it to as the symbol of universal goodness, fortune and life that it originally stood for," commented Ramesh Kallidai, Secretary General of the Hindu Forum of Britain. "A symbol we have used for more than 5,000 years is now on the verge of being banned because of association with the Nazis over which we had no control. Hindus wish to continue to use this symbol as part of their religion, but they risk being labelled a Nazi or, in the case of a ban, risk breaking the law. We need to educate people about the historical context of the symbol, its wrong use by the Nazis and its importance to Hindus."

Hindus in Britain expressed alarm after Franco Frattini, the European Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security, had indicated earlier in the week that he was considering the possibility of a ban. Nazi symbols including the swastika are already banned in Germany.

Explaining the scope of the national campaign to reclaim the Swastika, Ramesh Kallidai, explained that they were appealing to the national media to help spread awareness of the importance of the symbol to Hindus worldwide. "We are planning meetings across the country and a major conference in London to promote awareness about why Hindus use Swastika," he explained. "We will also be writing to every MP in Parliament and printing information booklets that can be distributed to faith communities and other stakeholders."

Hindus use the Swastika in a number of ways during religious ceremonies - it is often used on the doorway to bring good luck, used on colourful patterns drawn on the floor during festivals like Diwali, worn as a pendant, painted on portraits of Hindu Gods, and even painted on the head of child who has gone through the sacrament of the first hair cutting ceremony. "It is ironic that a symbol depicting the wheel of life and good fortune had become a symbol of racism, torture and war," added Kallidai.

"There are two types of Swastikas," commented Swami Nirliptananda, Spiritual Commissioner of the Hindu Forum. "The right-handed one depicts life and good fortune, while the left-handed one denotes death and illusion. Although the Nazis initially used the right-handed one, later they started using the left-handed version. It is necessary to educate people about what the Swastika is and to differentiate between the two. The one used by the Hindus is quite different from the one used by the Nazis."

"It is unfortunate that a symbol of life has been tainted as a representation of greed and evil in the last century," said Mahesh Bhatt, President of the Federation pf Brahmin Associations of Europe. "It is time that this latter view is corrected for the millions of people around the world who regard the Swastika as an important symbolism."

SWASTIKA - ANCIENT SYMBOL OF LIFE & FORTUNE

One of the oldest known swastikas was painted on a Palaeolithic cave 10,000 years ago and swastikas have been found on pottery and coins from ancient India, China and Greece. Swastika is derived from the Sanskrit word svastikah, "being fortunate". Swastika is made up of two Sanskrit words, "su" meaning good and "asti" meaning to exist, which together means "let good prevail"

According to Buddhist texts, the Buddha left footprints in the shape of swastikas. The symbol is formed from the shape of a cross, with the arms bent to the right symbolising health and life, or to the left, which came to symbolise ill fortune

The original designer of the Nazi emblem was Dr Freidrich Krohn, a dentist and a member of several German nationalist groups. The swastika was popularised in Germany after the archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann found many objects with swastikas on them when directing the excavation of Troy and Mycenae. He linked the symbol to the Aryan people.

For the Hindus it remains one of the most auspicious symbols, only next to OM. It is shaped like a Greek cross with its arms bent at right angles. There are two Swastikas, male and female. The arms of the female Swastika are bent anti-clockwise. Most people are not aware that there are two different Swastikas.

ABOUT THE HINDU FORUM OF BRITAIN

The Hindu Forum of Britain is the largest umbrella body with a broad-based membership of over 240 Hindu organisations from different regions and cultural backgrounds in Britain. At the core of the Forum's activities is a strong belief in the richness and diversity of the Hindu culture, its value system that encompasses respect for all beings and faiths, and a cultural heritage that facilitates community cohesion and coexistence.

Further information can be secured from HFB Website- www.hinduforum.org

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