U.K. Stamp

[Guest guest]

Dear Bhatas,

Sorry for the digressionl this is not relevant to any Ramanuja Sampradaya topic!

However I thought I will pass on this information so that those in the U.K can

lodge a formal protest with the authorities concerned.

adiYEn rAmAnuja dAsan

aravind rAman

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Hindu groups up in arms against UK stamp

London, UNI:

One of the country's leading Hindu organisations has on Tuesday demanded that

the Royal Mail withdraw a new Christmas stamp which depicts a Hindu man and

woman worshipping baby Jesus.

The Hindu Forum of Britain, an umbrella body representing more than 250 Hindu

organisations, has reacted with anger to the “disrespectful” stamp

which has been launched as part of the Royal Mail's Christmas 2005 collection.

Featured on the stamp is a man with a “tilak” on his forehead,

identifying him as a Vaishnava Hindu, and the woman with the traditional

“kumkum” mark on her forehead identifying her as a married Hindu

Secretary General of the Hindu Forum Ramesh Kallidai said, “Royal Mail

sources claim that the original painting printed on the face of the stamp is

dated 1620. While many people doubt the authenticity of the age of the

painting, we believe that even if this were true, it would be insensitive to

use it at a time when the issue of conversions in India has been a subject of

heated debate.”

Artistic license

“Even if we accept that an artist in 1620 AD took the artistic license to

portray practising Hindus worshipping baby Christ, we should be asking if this

is politically and sensitively correct in the 21st century. We, therefore, urge

Royal Mail to withdraw the stamp immediately or issue a redesigned version that

does not have the Hindu markings on the foreheads of the two characters in the

stamp,” he said.

The Royal Mail said the stamp featured a “Mughal” painting which

dates back between 1620 and 1630 AD and originates from Mumbai in India.

“It is striking to see that Royal Mail thinks it prudent to issue

Christmas stamps that can cause resentment in the worldwide Hindu community but

remain silent on the issue of stamps for Diwali,” said Ishwer Tailor,

president of the Hindu Forum of Britain.

“Would the worldwide Christian community feel comfortable if the

Government of India issued a Diwali stamp with a Christian priest worshipping

baby Krishna?”

However, a spokesperson for the Royal Mail confirmed on Tuesday they would not

withdraw the stamp or amend it saying it was “not possible.” The

spokesperson added, “It was common for Hindu artists during that period

to paint images that depicted western culture, including paintings about

Christianity. The stamp simply features a Hindu artists interpretation of

Christianity's Madonna and Child scene. However, the Royal Mail does apologise

for any unintentional offence caused to the Hindu community.”

Copyright: 2004 The Printers (Mysore) Private Ltd., 75, M.G. Road, Post Box No

5331, Bangalore - 560001

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