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Ajit Solanki / AP
Indians walk past a shop named "Hitler" in Ahmedabad, India, on Wednesday.
The owner of an Indian men's clothing store whose name has sparked a row in Ahmedabad city in the western state of Gujarat said he only recently learned why the name Hitler would disturb people, the AFP news agency reported.
"I didn't know how much the name would disturb people," Rajesh Shah told AFP. "It was only when the store opened I learned Hitler had killed six million people."
The store opened 10 days ago, boasting a storefront that spells out "Hitler" in big letters and a swastika as the dot on the "i."
"We had put up a cloth banner for over a month saying, 'Hitler opening shortly,' no one objected to the name then," Shah told The Times of India.
He added that to him Hitler was just the nickname given to his business partner's grandfather, who was known for his "strict nature."
"Frankly, till the time we applied for the trademark permission, I had only heard that Hitler was a strict man. It was only recently that we read about Hitler on the internet," Shah told The Times of India.
Shah said he cannot afford to change the name after spending his money on the original branding effort, but said he'd be willing to change it if he were compensated.
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The city's small Jewish community has condemned the name, AFP reported.
"In the city of Mahatma Gandhi and non-violence, how can anyone celebrate a person like Hitler who is known to have murdered millions of unarmed ordinary civilians?" Nikitin Contractor, convener of the Friends of Israel organization from Vadodara told The Times of India.
"Youngsters need to be told of the atrocities that [Adolf] Hitler committed and the millions who were killed in gas chambers more than 70 years ago," he added.
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According to a BBC report, Hitler memorabilia has become a growing business in India, attracting particularly younger Indians. Many reportedly admire Hitler's discipline.
Prayag Thakkar, a 19-year-old student in Gujarat state, told the BBC: "I have idolized Hitler ever since I have had a sense of history. I admire his leadership qualities and his discipline."
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Leave a Comment:
You guys do understand that people in japan have little girls shirts that say Like My Lips or boy shirt that says Lets do it tonight.... or the american wearing the chinese symbol shirt that says Fragile Cow Cloud. Or the indian guy who named his store hitler.... most people around the world dont know how to read english.... 600m out of 7 billion only!!! I am of jewish decent and i can see how this man could get it wrong, he learned of his mistake and dealt with it. Next time you are wearing a chinese character shirt ask a chinese person to read it for you. It might say hitler in chinese, if you get what i mean.
I once came across a beautiful girl who had a T-shirt on which had the words "Fuhk me if you can" in Chinese. Aparently she was not Chinese and was totally ignorant of what was written on her T-shirt.
This just shows what the World has come to. When half of it can't even write their own name and know absolutely nothing about History. I mean what rock have you been hiding under for all these years. The only thing they have been taught is Religion. Sick World.
The guy is a moron however you have to understand that most people in Asia understand as little about western history as we understand about eastern history. More than two million Indians fought and died in world war II but were mainly defending their British overlords and their colonial possessions.
To most folks in India, Germany, Italy and Japan were the good guys fighting against the evil British who had been systematically exploiting their country for over 200 years.
Its quite similar to folks walking around in Che t-shirts without understanding his horrible atrocities.
Fundamentalist Hindus know Hitler and world history very well. In fact there is a bit of ignorance on your part, because Indians are fairly well read especially about world history. I don't mean to ruffle any feathers here, but it is a fact that an average Indian has a better knowledge of world history compared to an average American who knows not much of the world other than America.
I had posted a comment earlier and it is so appropriate to answer your comment that I copy pasted it here below:-
"To tell you the truth, some fundamentalist Hindus are so enamoured by the Swastika as a symbol that is shared by them and Hitler, they feel privileged to share it with someone of such notoriety even though Hitler's description of an Aryan is totally different from the Indian version. Hitler's swastika too was shaped slightly different so as to not be an exact replica of the Indian swastika but these stupid fundamentalist Hindus overlook the fact and also the fact that Hitler did not care for them or include them in his view of the true race. "
No offense taken.
I am referring to what is taught in indian schools and what regular school kids learn. Since I studied "world" history in India, I think I am qualified to comment on that.
Basically we had 1 year of "world" history in 10th grade which starts somewhere around the Renaissance era and sweeps through to the modern day (all with a very India centric bent). Everything before that was focussed on India/Asia.
However I do agree with you that Hindu fundamentalists do identify closely with fascist ideologies. They have wet dreams about starting their own pogrom on non hindus in India.
But thats not to paint the entire country or continent for that matter with the same brush stroke. If you ask an average Chinese or Malaysian about world war II or Hitler, I bet their knowledge will be pretty spotty. Asians have had enough tragedies of their own to focus on.
There are almost 1 Billion Indian people. Imagine if just a fraction of those people idolize Hitler to a point where they want to be just like him.. Oh man, millions of little Hitlers running around.. Not a good thought.
Isn't the plural of Hitler, Hitli? ........ Ok maybe not.
ooh do not tease me dude...that is my dream...i hope we get to see something like that..would be EPIC
Hitler fans are to be found in the USA republican party
D O P E
hmm
This is such a fun story. Everyone insulting one another in the comments. LOL!
I think you have an odd idea of "fun". Sure, people admiring a man who authorized the murder of millions is downright hilarious.
Somewhat ironic that Gandhi and Superman shirts are on display in the window of the Hitler store. The Indian ''man of peace'' and the super crime-fighter in the same store with their antithesis.
To tell you the truth, some fundamentalist Hindus are so enamoured by the Swastika as symbol that is shared by them and Hitler, they feel privileged to share it with someone ofsuch notoriety even though Hitler's description of an Aryan is totally different from the Indian version. Hitler's swastika too was shaped slightly different so as to not be an exact replica of the Indian swastika but these stupid fundamentalist Hindus overlook the fact and also the fact that Hitler did not care for them or include them in his view of the true race.
Hitler's swastika I believe was inspired by the Viking Norse mythology's swastika. I doubt it had to do with India. Otherwise Hitler might as well have taken a Black Zulu nation symbol and slap that on his flags, tanks or where-not.
And this is where our jobs are going...
EXACTLY Shadow2000! Ironic isn't it?
I think Jews have played the holocaust card long enough and more than adequately compensated for it, there were far worse crimes against other humans in the last century that have been forgotten. This century belongs to sensitivity to gays.
Although it has nothing to do with the topic at hand; speaking of ''strict men,'' the dynamic duo of Romney and esp. his running mate Ryan, with their collective views on abortion;marriage;environmental ''rape'' and so on would give credence to the term ''strict men.''
Only six million? Wow that's a low value. Hitler was responsible for more than 50 millions deaths--25 miliion in Russia alone. Many estimates are more than 60 million--ten times higher than this ignorant Indian. Which is exactly why America has such a problem with reality in the Muslim world--ignorance by Muslims as America doesn't do a good job of getting facts out.
It goes both ways. How much do Americans know about the Muslim world? Most can't even find Iraq or Saudi Arabia on the map.
Muslims suffered and still suffering all over the world and for what? for being just a Muslim...Jews had that coming as they were greedy and sneaky to get power! Hitler did NOT do that for nothing..he has a reason...and do NoT overestimate it was 6 mil as said and maybe even less...and now look what the Jews are doing to the world? ... As Hitler said,i could've exterminated all Jews in the world but i deliberately left a few for others to know why i exterminated them! and he is right...they are EVIL.
Remember that wars are the elite's way of population control
The Truth-3235374you are a pathetic piece of garbage distorting facts. Muslims are the ones who are creating all the misery in this world. The common denominator in nearly all the hot spots in the world - Philippines, Indonesia, Xingiang, India (especially Kashmir), Pakistan, Afghanistan, Palestine, Nigeria, Sudan, Somalia, Chechnya, Bosnia, Kosovo etc. - are the Muslims. Muslims have absolutely no respect for people who do not share their faith. You guys are most uneducated, uncultured, uncivilized and uncouth people on the face of this earth and you have the audacity to say Muslims are being ill treated. Learn to behave, respect and love people who are not Muslims like your own. Learn to integrate with the rest of the world and you will see how well it will work not just for you but the whole world.
The truth, it's not the truth. Hitler went after the Jews because Germany was poor and they had some wealth. So he figured taking it would be good for the economy, and killing the Jews would be a good outlet for natural human hatred and blaming of others for their problems. The Jews are wealthier than average because they have been persecuted since Roman times and before in Egypt, so to make a living they got into money loaning because that's a quick shop wrap-up when the forks and nooses are coming. they had to get smart to survive and only the smart one survived. I personally have never met a dumb Jew. I found them leading math, sciences, finance, music and arts in general. you can hate them out of jealousy if you want, but that is all it is: jealousy.
That's it Bimbo! Now you've made a strong, cogent point that I can relate to. AND you are right as rain about those 'hot spots'. Now that I can afford to travel, I DON'T because of ALL the terrorism, kidnapping, rape, and murder I'd be subjecting myself to ANYWHERE in the world that has a sizable Muslim population. I ENJOY being single, wear sleeveless EVERYTHING, eat pork, am NOT deferential to men, don't take beatings etc; Since Arabic IS the MOST spoken language in the world, THEY'RE EVERYWHERE! I wouldn't have much fun ALWAYS looking over my shoulder for Al-Queda or the Taliban cause THOSE sick $@#$ of &%#@+S DECAPITATE women for sport! Or because a woman wants to control her OWN life, go to school, or earn her OWN money. I'm STARTING to see certain Muslim men come to America and attempt to CHANGE American women with their misogynist, EVIL backlash to make ALL women doormats, kleenex, children, punching bags, slaves, etc; HONOR KILLINGS??!! When they murder their wives & daughters in cold blood, WHO are they 'honoring?' SATAN!!!
Press 1 for tech support,press 2 for billing issues,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Press 3 for issues with the name of the company
Good one. Thanks. There's my job.
While we are at it, screw Little Caesars too...
Obviously it was meant to create publicity and possibly gain $$ from that publicity, which it looks might be a successful gamble on the owners part.
What did you expect They are Aryans too, albeit w/ good sun tans
I'd shop there. I love anything that gets the politically correct leftists' panties in a bunch.
Fen (stupid name btw:), you'd shop there because you're a demonic pee-bagger and YOUR candidates got a two inch penis. Think about it, he WONT reveal his taxes, but we should TRUST that he WONT finish off the American economy? How CLOSE can YOU ACTUALLY GET to Ann and Mitt (without their security goons putting you in traction)? Even though all pee-baggers think he's the Second coming of Christ. Mitt Romney wouldn't urinate on his AVERAGE constituent if he/she were on fire. Barack Obama is NOT EVEN my candidate, but I've met him and shook his hand, even took a picture. YOU'D have to work four jobs, sell everything of value you own and probably have to get plastic surgery too, (wouldn't surprise me, they got ALL kinds of petty criteria) just to sit at their FEET! Plus, NEWT GINGRICH CAN'T STAND ROMNEY! Hahahahahahahaha!!!!
Ah, ah. Great,
The 1,000 years Reich lives on...with colored skin Indians. And Hitler's retained quality is that he was disciplined. Spot on.
I admire his leadership qualities and his discipline." <~~ Strange you admire losers. His "leadership" lead him to the cowardly act of suicide.
are, YOU ARE my hero! You put Mr. Stupid in his place. TY!
Agreed, it took a great deal of "leadrship" to declear war on Soviet Uniton AND the United States. Yeh that man was smarter than the everage bear.
all of you talking about Hitler do NOT know @!$%#...and yup Jews made a big scene out of it cuz what Hitler did was serving them asses right! look at the Jews now...look what they are doing to the world in the name of peace? Get lost and just STFU...and plus i hope someone would rise like Hitler and remake history better by adding to the 6 millions cuz its nothing!
It was only when the store opened I learned Hitler had killed six million people. - NOT true. Even Jewish records can only support the killing of two million Jewish people. Of course, this number is nothing compared to the number of people killed by the USA or numerous other regimes. And don't forget, Germany gave several years of warnings to Jews that they were not welcome in Germany.
hang this bastard he knew exactally who hitler was and what he did and was just glorifing him
and that a reason enough to get rid of him? ... how sad... i love Hitler to death and i actually glorify him for what he did... does this mean i should be hanged? . Grow up and look around to see the real suffering...Jews have been focusing on their tragedy( if it is a tragedy) only to get money out of Germany...no more no less...this is really sad!
The Truth-3235374 if you love Hitler then you should be hanged. Scroll up and read my comment in reply to your pathetic one. You cannot fool the world with your foolish rhetoric. Jews are hard working, intelligent and smart people who contribute to the world much more than 1.5 billion (or whatever you claim) people of your kind.
The Truth-3235374,
You're an Arabian and you glorify and love Hitler? The only reason the Nazis didn't kill off the Arabians was because Germany needed your resorces and labor, otherwise the likes of you would be hanging with the Jews you mutually hate and likely would have if they won the second World War. You're no better than the al Qaida terrorists or the Neo Nazis and give the Middle East a bad name.
Youngsters need to be told of the atrocities that Hitler committed - as long as you include the hundreds of thousands of Palestine people held captive and starving by Israel. If Israel lost the Hitler thing their fundraising efforts would grid to a halt. That's why they keep this one aspect of Hitler alive, even after 70 years. It's time Jews put this to rest and get on with the modern world. The first act would be to give back the land they stole from Palestine... using Hitler's own formula for conquering other people. Plus today's Jewish religious zealot leaders should be replaced as soon as possible.
Indeed, the swastika is an ancient Indian symbol, but what is the significance behind naming his store Hitler? Is that an ancient Indian name as well? Come on people!!!!