Hitler’s Strange Afterlife in India

The Daily Beast ^ | 3rd December 2012 | Dilip D’Souza

[the scotsman]

'Hated and mocked in much of the world, the Nazi leader has developed a strange following among schoolchildren and readers of Mein Kampf in India. Dilip D’Souza on how political leader Bal Thackeray influenced Indians to admire Hitler and despise Gandhi.'

[Cincinatus]

"Sieg Heil, Ganesh!"

[cripplecreek]

Bal Thackeray influenced Indians to admire Hitler and despise Gandhi.

Why not admire both? After all, Gandhi saw more evil in fighting back than he did in laying down to be slaughtered.

"I appeal for cessation of hostilities ... because war is bad in essence. You want to kill Nazism. Your soldiers are doing the same work of destruction as the Germans. The only difference is that perhaps yours are not as thorough as the Germans ... I venture to present you with a nobler and a braver way, worthy of the bravest soldiers. I want you to fight Nazism without arms or ... with non-violent arms. I would like you to lay down the arms you have as being useless for saving you or humanity. You will invite Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini to take what they want of the countries you call your possessions. Let them take possession of your beautiful island, with your many beautiful buildings. You will give all these but neither your souls, nor your minds. If these gentlemen choose to occupy your homes, you will vacate them. If they do not give you free passage out, you will allow yourself, man, woman and child, to be slaughtered, but you will refuse to owe allegiance to them ... I am telling His Excellency the Viceroy that my services are at the disposal of His Majesty's Government, should they consider them of any practical use in advancing the object of my appeal."

-Gandhi

[Trapped Behind Enemy Lines]

Hitler is also very popular in much of the Arab world. Hostility towards Jews and Israel runs deep in the Third World, hence much of Hitler’s appeal.

[2banana]

Don’t mistake a fondness for the “Swastika” for a fondness of Hitler.

The “Swastika” in Europe and India has been around for thousands of years.

[ohioman]

I despise Hitler, but I could also care less about Gandhi. His methods have empowered idiot hippies since the 1960s.

[elcid1970]

In Vietnam I saw the swastika on Buddhist temples & pagodas.

It’s analagous to the Wheel of Life, IIRC.

[Safetgiver]

The swastika is on Iroquois carvings here in PA.

[11th Commandment]

It is not incomprehensible that students raised and educated in a highly socialist country would gravitate to Fascism. The level of despair that still exist in India due to statist that run the government is mindbogglingly. They refuse to implement reforms that have worked in certain areas on a country wide basis. They continue with a highly bureaucratic system that keep the very people it is suppose to protect in poverty.

[DustyMoment]

Gotta give the indians credit. I tried to read Mein Kampf many years ago out of curiosity, but got bored with the whining and poor me of Hitler after about 50 pages.

[elcid1970]

Americans once flew warplanes bearing the swastika.

In WW1 the LaFayette Escadrille’s insignia was an Indian head wearing a feather war bonnet with a swastika earpiece.

Too bad the Nazis ruined it for everyone else.

[Little Ray]

Why does that scare heck out of me?
Hitler came into power in a Republic and manuevered his way to being a dictator. I can see that happening in India - with over a billion Indians to use as cannon fodder...

[Mercat]

The largest oldest Catholic Church in Topeka Kansas has carved swastikas all around the sanctuary.

[YHAOS]

A Hitler after-life as a dung beetle?

[jagusafr]

Comes with a medal for exercising restraint, no doubt...

[llevrok]

In India?

Hitler was found recently in Chile. The press asked him if he could live life over would he do anything differently. He replied, “Yes indeed. Next time, no more Mr Nice Guy!”

[jesseam]

There are swastika’s on the entry floor of the Montana Club here in Helena.

[Amberdawn]

Was that “BAAL” Thackeray.....?