What does the swastika mean? Imagine a new family is moving in
next door to you, and as a friendly gesture you put a poster on
their door with the word “Welcome” and a drawing of a smiley
face. When the neighbors arrive and see your sign, however, the
woman faints, the man looks around suspiciously and the son
stomps around, shouting curses into the air. You quickly run
outside to see what is the matter. The family’s young but
sensible-looking daughter then explains that in their home
country, a picture of a disembodied head with a smile means “May
you soon rest peacefully in your grave!” and is a universally
hated symbol, reserved for only the most detested of enemies.
How might you feel? Disturbed? Angry? Embarrassed? Whatever your
reaction, it is no doubt similar to what someone from pre-World
War II India would feel upon seeing most modern people’s
reactions to another symbol: the infamous swastika. The Sanskrit
word svasti means “blessings” or “fortune” or “auspiciousness.”
It represents the utmost in go