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    IMM Swastika

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    Arjun Sharma
    This document discusses the cross-cultural misapprehensions around the swastika symbol in the West. It provides historical context on the swastika's origins in ancient cultures like India and its changing meaning. The Nazis appropriated the swastika in the early 20th century and used it as the symbol for their fascist ideology, which led Western cultures to associate it primarily with Nazism and racism. While the swastika remains a religious symbol of well-being in Eastern cultures for over 12,000 years, its use in the West is now controversial and some propose banning it from commercial products to avoid offending cultural sensitivities around its Nazi history.

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    IMM Swastika

    Uploaded by

    Arjun Sharma
    561 views33 pages
    This document discusses the cross-cultural misapprehensions around the swastika symbol in the West. It provides historical context on the swastika's origins in ancient cultures like India and its changing meaning. The Nazis appropriated the swastika in the early 20th century and used it as the symbol for their fascist ideology, which led Western cultures to associate it primarily with Nazism and racism. While the swastika remains a religious symbol of well-being in Eastern cultures for over 12,000 years, its use in the West is now controversial and some propose banning it from commercial products to avoid offending cultural sensitivities around its Nazi history.

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    23678254 IMM Swastika

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    This document discusses the cross-cultural misapprehensions around the swastika symbol in the West. It provides historical context on the swastika's origins in ancient cultures like India and its changing meaning. The Nazis appropriated the swastika in the early 20th century and used it as the symbol for their fascist ideology, which led Western cultures to associate it primarily with Nazism and racism. While the swastika remains a religious symbol of well-being in Eastern cultures for over 12,000 years, its use in the West is now controversial and some propose banning it from commercial products to avoid offending cultural sensitivities around its Nazi history.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    561 views33 pages

    IMM Swastika

    Uploaded by

    Arjun Sharma
    This document discusses the cross-cultural misapprehensions around the swastika symbol in the West. It provides historical context on the swastika's origins in ancient cultures like India and its changing meaning. The Nazis appropriated the swastika in the early 20th century and used it as the symbol for their fascist ideology, which led Western cultures to associate it primarily with Nazism and racism. While the swastika remains a religious symbol of well-being in Eastern cultures for over 12,000 years, its use in the West is now controversial and some propose banning it from commercial products to avoid offending cultural sensitivities around its Nazi history.

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    Cross Cultural Misapprehensions over Swastika in the West

    By Pankaj Rathore Ratika Kapoor Saurav Tibrewal Sunil K.Bhatia Vilok Parekh

    Agenda
    Introduction Cross Cultural Comparison of Swastika Use of Swastika by the Nazis Causes for Change in Perception Proposed Ban on Swastika Commercial

    Products Recommendations

    Introduction
    Evolution of Swastika Said to have originated in the upper Paleothic Period i.e. 10000 BC In Neolithic Period i.e. 5000 BC, it was given 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 Indus Valley Civilization

    Contd..

    It was used in ancient Greek, Baltic and Celtic

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

    Cross Cultural Comparison of Swastika

    East

    It is used as a symbol of religion and well being

    I. Hinduism Represents the form of Brahma Found all over Hindu Temples in the form of signs, altars, picture, iconography Most Commonly used Religious Symbol in Indian Households

    II. Buddhism Swastika was brought from India to the oriental countries in 5th Century BC

    It was called manji or wan in mandarin, man in Korea and van in Japan & Vietnam Meaning All Eternities The symbol of philanthropic association in China called Red Swastik Society

    III. Jainism

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

    Cross Cultural Comparison of Swastika

    West

    Period before Nazis It was mostly used as a good luck charm, worn on medals Swastika greetings were sent for best wishes and good luck

    After Nazi

    Change in perception Due to popular usage, adopted by Hitler on the

    new Nazi flag Became a symbol of the Ancient Aryan Race Created concept of racial purity People in the West immediately started connecting Swastika with the Nazi leading to anti Nazism

    Use of Swastika by the Nazis


    Adopted by the Nazi Party as the official

    emblem Represented the struggle for victory by the pure Aryan race which made the Swastika the symbol of racism. High investment in Military beliefs Became a symbol of rise of Fascism( alienating democracy, liberalism and Marxism). Nazi flags bearing the Swastika was used in Jewish concentration camps and all areas of Nazi invasion

    Causes for Change in Perception


    Swastika was the symbol of Facism which

    rejected ideologies of democracy, liberalism and marxism Swastika became the symbol of Hitlers ambition who was against capitalism and socialism. Hence, alienating the countries following these beliefs The Nazis were responsible for death of 11 million men, women and children; thus Swastika became the death symbol

    Contd.. The activities of Nazis led to the break up of Germany in 1945 causing great embarrasment to a once great country

    This changed the German perception towards its own political party

    Proposed Ban on Swastika Commercial Products


    Our Views

    Swastika being the symbol of the Nazi power brings back bad memories of World War II in the west Swastika has been the religion symbol for the last 12000 years in the east Keeping cultural view points, ban on Swastika products is both justified and unjustified, depending on the cultural context

    Recommendations
    Try to avoid the Swastika symbols while

    exporting to the West, keeping the cultural sensitivity in the mind Prevailing laws shall also be kept in mind The 12000th year old true meaning of Swastika has been overshadowed by the 60 year old memory

    Thank you

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