Letter from HJS to SBI

To,
The General Manager,
SBI & Societe Generale of Asset Management

Sir,

Sub: Immediate withdrawal of your advertisement of ‘SBI Mutual Fund’ denigrating ‘Ramayana’ and tendering public apology therefor.

With reference to the subject, we have come across your advertisement denigrating Hindu deities, on the SBI website at the following link
http://www.sbimf.com/advtcampaign/sip/html/learning_SIP.asp?sip,ndtv,sip_lanka_ndtv_fixedbanner190x200.
This is highly objectionable.
The said advertisement is a depiction of a part of the Ramayana, which is one of the greatest epics of India. Ramayana is a sacred text, which guides mankind by imparting values that are very useful for conducting their lives. You have used one of the concepts of Ramayana to promote your Mutual Fund. This amounts to commercial usage of a holy text of Hindus, which is highly deplorable.
Your advertisement seems to portray that Lord Hanuman is writing Rs. 500/- on a rock and placing it in the sea to build a bridge (‘Setu’). To imply that, money grows in this manner. In reality, the story associated with the above said theme is that, when Lord Rama had to go to Lanka, all the ‘Vanars’ (monkeys) led by Lord Hanuman came forward to build a ‘Setu’. When they started placing rocks on the seawater, these rocks drowned. Later, they wrote the name of ‘Shree Rama’ on each rock and the rocks began to float on water. Thus, the ‘Setu’ was built. From this incident narrated in the Ramayana, the entire Hindu community derives that the name of the Lord is the most powerful thing in the universe. It also emphasises upon the high level of devotion that Lord Hanuman and the ‘Vanars’ had for Lord Rama! Your advertisement has made a mockery of both, namely, the Lord’s Name and his disciple’s devotion as well as this incident from the holy text of Hindus. How can you compare Lord Rama’s name with ‘Rs. 500/-’? Lord Hanuman and the ‘Vanars’, who had no other desire except Lord Rama’s worship, is shown to be accumulating wealth in your advertisement! How dare you insult Hindu deities in this manner!
This is demeaning of the holy epic ‘Ramayana’ and the devaluation of the devotion of Lord Hanuman and the ‘Vanars’ so also a insult to the Bhaktimarga (Path of Devotion) and the ‘Naamsankirtanyog’ (The Path of Chanting).So also as this advertisement is placed on the internet it is spread all over the world and thus has caused great insult to the image of Hindu religion and hurt religious sentiments of Hindus all over the world as evident from the complaints received by us.

Would you dare to use deities of other faiths, namely Allah or Jesus in the above said manner to advertise your product?
You have hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus. We strongly protest against your anti-Hindu attitude of denigrating Hindu deities, viz. Lord Rama, Lord Hanuman and the holy text of Ramayana. This is a very shocking act on behalf of a reputed Nationalised bank in Hindu predominant country with ‘Secular’ principles. We appeal that you immediately withdraw this advertisement from your website and furnish a public apology for denigrating our beloved deities and holy texts, in order to avoid further inconvenience! If you do not act promptly, it may affect your business! We also appeal that you furnish a written assurance that such acts will not recur in future, from your side.

Yours faithfully,
For Hindu Janajagruti Samiti