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ross Culturalross Culturalisapprehensions overisapprehensions overwastika in the Westwastika in the WestBy

Pankaj Rathore

Ratika Kapoor

Saurav Tibrewal

Sunil K.Bhatia

Vilok Parekh

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AgendaIntroduction

Cross Cultural Comparison of Swastika

Use of Swastika by the NazisCauses for Change in Perception

Proposed Ban on Swastika CommercialProducts

Recommendations

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IntroductionEvolution of Swastika

Said to have originated in the upperPaleothic Period i.e. 10000 BC

In Neolithic Period i.e. 5000 BC, it wasgiven the rotational symmetry

It was first worshipped in the Bronze Age

as a Suns Wheel

Early Indian Swastika symbols were found

in Lothal and Harrappa in the IndusValley Civilization

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Contd..

It was used in ancient Greek, Baltic and Celticarchitecture

For the First time used in Christianity in theCross Victory of Christ over death

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Cross Cultural Comparison

of Swastika EastIt is used as a symbol of religion and well being

I. HinduismRepresents the form of BrahmaFound all over Hindu Temples in the form of

signs, altars, picture, iconographyMost Commonly used Religious Symbol in Indian

Households

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II. Buddhism

Swastika was brought from India to the orientalcountries in 5th Century BC

It was called manji or wan in mandarin, man in

Korea and van in Japan & VietnamMeaning All EternitiesThe symbol of philanthropic association in China

called Red Swastik Society

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III. Jainism

More prominently used than in HinduismSymbol of the 7th Jina or Saint

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Cross Cultural Comparison

of Swastika West

Period before NazisIt was mostly used as a good luck charm, worn

on medals

Swastika greetings were sent for best wishes

and good luck

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After Nazi

Change in perception

Due to popular usage, adopted by Hitler on thenew Nazi flag

Became a symbol of the Ancient Aryan Race

Created concept of racial purityPeople in the West immediately started

connecting Swastika with the Nazi leading toanti Nazism

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Use of Swastika by the

NazisAdopted by the Nazi Party as the officialemblem

Represented the struggle for victory by the

pure Aryan race which made the Swastika thesymbol of racism.

High investment in Military beliefs

Became a symbol of rise of Fascism( alienatingdemocracy, liberalism and Marxism).

Nazi flags bearing the Swastika was used inJewish concentration camps and all areas of

Nazi invasion

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Causes for Change in

PerceptionSwastika was the symbol of Facism which

rejected ideologies of democracy, liberalismand marxism

Swastika became the symbol of Hitlersambition who was against capitalism andsocialism. Hence, alienating the countriesfollowing these beliefs

The Nazis were responsible for death of 11million men, women and children; thusSwastika became the death symbol

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Contd..

The activities of Nazis led to the break up ofGermany in 1945 causing great

embarrasment to a once great country

This changed the German perception towards itsown political party

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Proposed Ban on Swastika

Commercial ProductsOur Views

Swastika being the symbol of the Nazi powerbrings back bad memories of World War II inthe west

Swastika has been the religion symbol for thelast 12000 years in the east

Keeping cultural view points, ban on Swastikaproducts is both justified and unjustified,depending on the cultural context

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RecommendationsTry to avoid the Swastika symbols whileexporting to the West, keeping the culturalsensitivity in the mind

Prevailing laws shall also be kept in mindThe 12000th year old true meaning of Swastika

has been overshadowed by the 60 year oldmemory

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Thankyou