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Hitler Mania - Just Disturbing !

Today I want to write about something which I really did never expect I would ever write about while being in India : Adolf HITLER. In India there is a phenomenon most Europeans (including me!) will probably never understand.

Some months back, maybe during my second month in India, I had a discussion with three people of the higher leaders of my office. They had read an article in a local magazine about Hitler and were talking about it. I quickly realised that the article, which unfortunately I couldn’t read myself because it was in Gujarati, was highlighting Hitler as an admirable person. Quite surprised of this fact I was eager to join the discussion. Soon I understood that my colleagues were all defending the point of the article, that Hitler actually wasn’t such a bad guy but that he had been treated very badly in his childhood and youth, which made him commit some cruel acts. On the contrary, he was described as a great leader which in spite of these bad experiences was able to lead a whole country and fight against those mean countries aggressing him from all sides. I couldn’t believe my ears. Even less I could believe that I wasn’t able at all to convince those three leaders that not every person with a difficult childhood turns insane and gets millions of people killed. A bit disturbed by that whole conversation I turned back to my desk and forgot about it.

Some weeks later I moved into my new flat and when I looked at the lock of our door, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Not because the look is hung on the door from the outside to close the apartment and therefore you can get locked in if your flat-mate doesn't notice that you are still sleeping. No, the true surprise was the logo. The brand was “HITLER Star” and a little sticker “Hitler tested ok” should prove the high quality of the lock. So, now Hitler was not only privileged of an admiring pity but his name was also standing for quality and security. Starting to wonder a bit, I took the opportunity to talk on that topic whenever there was a chance. You’ll hear things like “he was an extraordinary man and leader” or “I really admire the power he had” or “sure, he killed many, this is bad, but he actually was able to lead a great country to its deserved grandeur” etc. I realized that people admire Hitler for his strong leadership, despite his insaneness. They are very aware that he killed millions but just seem to neglect it when talking about him. Maybe it’s because there are one billion of people in this country. Maybe it's because I live in a small conservative city here in Baroda. Maybe it’s because they feel proud that a European Leader took Indian symbols for his ideology. The “swastika” is an Indian symbol for good luck which you will find on the door of every house and in every temple. “Aryan” comes from Sanskrit and refers to the speaker of Indian languages. Maybe it is just because this is what is being taught in the history book of every Indian child in school. You’ll be able to find “Mein Kampf” in every bookstore in India; even the smallest airport bookstore would have it. Many people have told me that they have or would really want to read that book. So now, it doesn’t surprise me anymore when I see a guy passing me on a bicycle with a T-shirt with a Swastika design and a slogan saying “SS – German power”. But what did shock me today when I was talking to a dear friend of mine is that husbands call their wife Hitler to show that she’s the boss in the house. “Let me check with Hitler if I can join you for the cricket match on Sunday”

What can I say more… surprising, shocking, absurdly incomprehensible!!!

One good news at the end: a dear friend of mine today told me that he saw the WW2 movie "Inglorious Bastards" and was totally shocked to see in pictures what Hitler actually did. Admiration turned into anger and interest to know the "real story". ...maybe reason just takes some more time to come to India in those terms.

Posted by Nadja at 10:13 PM Ravaka said...

Excellent!! You didn't tell me all the details ("Hitler tested ok", "SS-German power" on the T-shirt...), it's unbelievable!! Btw, I don't think it has to do with the fact that Baroda is a small conservative city; in fact, I would not be surprised to find the same article on Hitler in national magazines or magazine from Bangalore (a big non conservative city)...as I told you, few days ago, I read an article wondering if homesexuality was just a difference or rather, I quote, a "disability"...
Keep posting girl, it's so good to read!!
Your unemployed/housewife friend :-D

February 26, 2010 at 8:23 AM 
Wow, I didn't know this, Nadja!
Thanks for posting! Would be interesting to hear of other people who have experienced this in India.. am really intrigued!

March 1, 2010 at 6:44 PM MAVERICK said...

hey swi'ss' miss,
I see tht u loathe Hitler...ditto here...i have never admired him but this can't change the fact tht he has wielded power more efficiently and effectively than his counter parts during tht era though he has used it for extremely disgusting purposes..and tht may be a reason why people like him...i have seen enuf moviejs showing his atrocities to despise him for all my future births :-)

Nice write up...

March 11, 2010 at 8:13 PM SMF said...

just got back from Hampi and noticed the same thing. Took photos of the lock just to show folks back home.

Went online to search for some info on the company and came across your blog. Guess other people have also found it a bit odd to have locks named after Hitler ... and my scooter's name was "Aryan", swastikas everywhere ... pretty bizarre this whole nazi thing and india

March 12, 2010 at 2:30 AM Prabhu Guptara said...

"Jeremy" draws my attention to your post. Please see my response at: http://www.blogger.com/publish-confirmation.g?blogID=9010116423893922613&postID=2847685679270317162&timestamp=1274167058885&javascriptEnabled=true
 Silinde said...

I am very sad to see you had to see that in India. I am from India and live in US now. Let me tell you some facts:

1) Most small newspapers just publish random stuff to increase sale to less educated public. They just publish interviews they could never have conducted. They publish pictures they have no copyrights of. But its nothing new, even in US, they have so many tabloids that publish senseless news (like Clintons are separating and Bill has cancer.. blah blah). That role is played by local newspapers in India. You would never see these kind of articles in national newspapers (especially English papers).

2) T-shirts and Locks are again made by small businessmen who really didn't really study History that well. I mean why anybody in a small town of India should care what Hitler did 60 years ago. They are more concerned with everyday things. Moreover, it is difficult for people to relate to European history. You care because you are from there. How much you relate to "Dandi March"?

3) When a husband calls his wife "Hitler", it exactly means what it sounds like. He's making fun of teh fact that she is a dictator and very cruel. Again, since people don't relate to it, they don't know what's appropriate.

I am sorry to hear about your colleagues being supportive of what was said in paper. People are entitled to their opinions, but it doesn't necessarily mean they represent average Indian citizen.

October 19, 2010 at 2:35 AM This is a blog about my experience as a Swiss girl working with Tata Consultancy Services in India. Welcome to my world! Take your time, browse through my reports and pictures and make sure you COMMENT on them !!! Thanks. Enjoy yourself!
