An advertisement in Australia shows the Deity Ganapati eating mutton. The Indian High Commission in Australia has protested this and demanded action against the culprits. The Indian community in Australia has protested this vociferously. The action of both the High commission and the community is appropriate. To prevent future similar activity it is necessary to protest this immediately in a law abiding manner. Then only similar incidents will not be repeated in the future. India should take concrete steps to persuade the UN to make denigration of Hindu Gods and Goddesses showing them doing objectionable activities is contemptable and illegal. Many foreign companies use Hindu Gods and Goddesses to advertise their products. They put their pictures on slippers, commodes, lingerie, alcohol bottles etc. This must stop. The Indian Community in these places protest these actions but the Embassy takes an observers role. Now they should follow the example of the High Commission in Australia and take up this issue promptly and alertly.
Manasi Joshi
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
