Chaitra Pournima, Kaliyug Varsha 5117
On Nov 8th, 2014 alert Hindus notified Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) regarding T-shirts displayed on an online shopping portal Bewakoof.com. This online shopping portal was selling T-shirts having pictures of Hindu Deities and saints. HJS promptly sent an email to Bewakoof.com, explaining how these T-shirts amount to denigration. It was requested to remove such T-shirts from their portal and was also urged to visit the HJS website to learn about Dharma and Spirituality. They agreed with the points suggested by HJS and removed the offending T-shirts (all the relevant links have been removed from the website). They also said they will send us an apology letter but after that there has been no response from them. HJS is still waiting for their apology letter. HJS commends the owners of the website on their prompt action in stopping this denigration once they were informed about it. It shows their open mindedness towards learning about preservation and protection of Dharma.
Please see below the correspondence between HJS and the Bewakoof.com
From: HJS Protest team
Date: Nov 18, 2014
Subject: To stop advertisement/sale of products with Hindu Deities and Symbols
To: [email protected], [email protected]
To,
Bewakoof Brands Pvt Ltd
#319, Hill View Ind. Premises Co-op Soc. Ltd.,
Amrut Nagar Road, Off L.B.S.Marg,
Ghatkopar (W), Mumbai-86
Phone : +91-022-42105420
Email : [email protected]
Website : www.bewakoof.com
Dear Sir / Madam,
Sub: Request to stop advertisement/sale of products with Hindu Deities and Saints on clothing
Hindu Janajagruti Samiti is a registered NGO engaged in social, religious and national welfare work. The Samiti is active throughout the world, educating people about Dharma in scientific way, campaigning against malpractices that have been attached to religious practices while also solving issues of national, social and religious importance. For further details please refer to our website www.HinduJagruti.org
We appreciate your efforts to glorify Hindu Dharma by showcasing Hindu Deities on your products. We understand that accordingly you might have used Deities’ pictures and religious symbols on your products. But we have received many complaints about your product. As per Dharmashastra and spiritual science, the word, touch, form, taste, fragrance and the energy associated with them coexist. Whenever any image of a Deity (like Shiva or Shri Ganesh) or a divine symbol (like Om or Swastik) is produced, the divine energy is present in that. However, when such products are used they are touched with dirty hands, may get splattered with mud, washed with other dirty clothes, get thrown around and once old eventually turn up in the waste bin or drains etc. This amounts to denigration of revered Deities, which is hurtful to the religious sentiments of Hindus. In turn this increases your destiny and SIN. Deities’
images should be in Temples and the hearts of devotees and not on T-shirts / trousers. We feel that manufacturers use Hindu Deities’ images to increase sales, but actually it is denigration and an offense as per Indian Penal Code section 295A. Further please note that using religious symbols on products is an offense as per the Indian Trade Practice Act 1999. Besides this we have also noticed clothes which trivialized Hindu Sages and Saints. India has a rich tradition
with numerous Sages who have guided society and mankind on the path of righteousness. Depicting them as addicts, will not only be glorifying substance abuse but also send out wrong message about Hindu Saints and Sages. In view of above we request you to stop advertisement / manufacture / sale of products with Hindu Deities symbols / pictures. We have listed a few items from your websites that have designs that denigrate Hindu Deities.
1. Boom Shiva Full Sleeve T Shirts
(http://www.bewakoof.com/product/boom-shiva-white-full-sleeve-guys-t-shirt-india)
2. Babaji Sweatshirts and Hoodies
(http://www.bewakoof.com/product/babaji-sweatshirt-india)
3. Boom Shiva (Flip Up) T Shirt
(http://www.bewakoof.com/product/boom-shiva-turkish-blue-round-neck-guys-tee-india)
This is not a comprehensive list, so we request (ask) you to remove any other item that we may have missed from this list, if it is likely to hurt feelings of Hindus. Please note that if you continue to produce products having religious symbols/pictures people will boycott your products in future which will affect financial operation of your firm. Please acknowledge the letter and inform us in writing about the action taken by you in this regard.
Response from Hindu Janajagruti Samiti after Bewakoof.com removed denigrating products
From: HJS Protest team
Date: Thu, Jan 8, 2015 at 3:53 PM
Subject: To stop advertisement/sale of products with Hindu Deities and Symbols
To: [email protected], [email protected]
SUB : Request to stop advertisement/sale of products with Hindu Deities and Symbols on clothing,
Namaskar,
Kindly note that ours is an NGO dedicated for Nation building and Dharmjagruti mission. We had received lot of complaints about your denigrating products e.g. Boom Shiva T shirts, Babaji Sweatshirts etc. Accordingly we had written you letter and started protest campaign.This refers to our protest letter dated 18.11.2014 for which your reply is awaited. Meantime it is observed that you have removed these items from your website. We appreciate and thank you for your cooperation and respecting our religious sentiments. We wish success to your products and Company. We once again request you to sent reply to this email confirming that you have stopped displaying these items on your website and sell of such products. This letter will help us in withdrawing our protest campaign.
Kind Regards,
For Hindu Janajagruti Samiti,
(Shivaji Vatkar)
