Protest: Newsweek has Obama in Sri Nataraja pose on its cover

Kartik Shuddha Chaturdashi, Kaliyug Varsha 5112

Appeal to devout Hindus

Newsweek has denigrated Sri Nataraja by depicting USA President Obama as Sri Nataraj in its 22 November 2010 issue. It is duty of all Hindus worldwide to protest lawfully against it. So that Newsweek should remove this picture from its cover and apologise to all Hindus for hurting their religious sentiments. It should not also repeat such mistake in the future.

Devout Hindus are protesting lawfully on following contact details: E-mail – [email protected] Mailing Address – Newsweek, 395 Hudson St. New York, NY 10014

The Main News

WASHINGTON: The latest issue of popular American news magazine Newsweek has on its cover page US President Barack Obama in the pose of Lord Nataraja.

In its November 22, 2010 issue, Obama has been shown by Newsweek on its cover page with multiple arms balancing several policy issues while raising his left leg mimicking the cosmic dance of the Hindu deity; considered a manifestation of Lord Shiva.

Hindu leaders in the US maintained that they did not believe editors at Newsweek sought to offend Hindus but they did articulate concerns over the trend of caricaturing Hindu symbols and deities.

Newsweek has named Obama “god of all things” on its cover.

“Hinduism’s sacred images are too often appropriated in popular culture without understanding their spiritual relevance to Hindus,” said Suhag Shukla, managing director and legal counsel of Washington-based Hindu American Foundation (HAF).

“For Hindus, the iconography gives insight into the divine realm, and each aspect of representation is replete with profound symbolism that is lost and even debased by such attempts at humour,” Shukla said.

“Hindus have long wondered whether the incorporation of their sacred deities, whether in Burger King advertisements, Indiana Jones movies or this latest Newsweek cover, is a result of a gaping ignorance of Hinduism or an effort to demean their tradition as exotic,” added Jay Kansara, HAF’s Associate Director.

“In an era where religious literacy is an imperative, we hope that the media will respect sacred imagery and apply the same consideration given to Abrahamic faiths, for example,” Kansara said.

A picture of the Newsweek’s cover page has been posted on the Kauai’s Hindu Monastery.

Source: The Times Of India

Protest from devout Hindus

1) Protest by a devout Hindu Mr. Shashi Daswani

From: shashi daswani
Date: Mon, Nov 22, 2010 at 1:18 PM
Subject: How dare you compare Obama to God in Hinduism ?
To: [email protected]

Dear editor of Newsweek,
I am appalled at the cover of your 22 November 2010 issue showing Obama as the God in  Hinduism.

Do you have the balls to show Obama as Jesus Christ on your cover ?
I respected your magazine, however I have completely changed my opinion. Your magazine is biased  missionary propoganda whose main aim is to defame other religions and show the arrogance and hatred extreme missionaries are known for.

Indignantly yours,
Shashi Daswani

2) Protest E-mail sent by a devout Hindu – Vijayalakshmi G

From: Vijayalakshmi G
Date: Mon, Nov 22, 2010 at 12:59 PM
Subject: Denigration of Lord Nataraja by Newsweek.
To: [email protected]

This is to convey our strong protest at your despicable act of portraying President Obama  as our revered Lord Nataraja. It is preposterous that christists and islamists, who are over-sensitive to any slight denigration to their religion, are making it a habit to provoke peaceful hindus by deliberately denigrating their deities. My family and I strongly condemn this unethical trend. You are hereby
requested to tender an unconditional apology to the religious Hindus for hurting their sentiments.

Vijayalakshmi & family,
Chennai, Tamilnadu,
India.