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01/11/2005
Hindu leaders criticise Christmas stamp
Hindu leaders in the UK have criticised a new Christmas stamp, depicting a Hindu couple worshipping baby Jesus.
The Hindu Forum of Britain said that the stamp was “disrespectful” and “inappropriate” and has called on the Royal Mail to re-design or withdraw the stamp.
However, although the Royal Mail said that it could not amend or withdraw the stamp - part of a collection of six special Christmas stamps – they apologised for any “unintentional offence” caused.
The Royal Mail said that the stamp collection depicted images of the Madonna and Child from around the World. The collection includes images from European, Haitian, Italian, Native American and Aboriginal Australian backgrounds, as well as the Indian depiction, which is believed to come from a 17th century painting.
The stamp shows a man with a ‘tilak’ marking on his forehead, identifying him as a Vaishnava Hindu, while the woman has the traditional ‘kumkum’ mark on her forehead, identifying her as a married Hindu lady.
Ramesh Kallidai, Secretary General of the Hindu Forum of Britain, said: “The stamp in question is priced at 0.68 p, which is usually the price of stamps on letters sent to India. 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.
“Even if we accept that an artist in 1620 AD took the artistic license to portray practising Hindus worshipping the Baby Christ, we should be asking if this is politically and sensitively correct in the 21st century.”
Mr Kallidai continued: “Use of Hindu images in an appropriate manner has never been an issue. It is only when images are used in a disrespectful or inappropriate way resulting in offence and hurt that we become concerned.”
(KMcA/SP)
The Hindu Forum of Britain said that the stamp was “disrespectful” and “inappropriate” and has called on the Royal Mail to re-design or withdraw the stamp.
However, although the Royal Mail said that it could not amend or withdraw the stamp - part of a collection of six special Christmas stamps – they apologised for any “unintentional offence” caused.
The Royal Mail said that the stamp collection depicted images of the Madonna and Child from around the World. The collection includes images from European, Haitian, Italian, Native American and Aboriginal Australian backgrounds, as well as the Indian depiction, which is believed to come from a 17th century painting.
The stamp shows a man with a ‘tilak’ marking on his forehead, identifying him as a Vaishnava Hindu, while the woman has the traditional ‘kumkum’ mark on her forehead, identifying her as a married Hindu lady.
Ramesh Kallidai, Secretary General of the Hindu Forum of Britain, said: “The stamp in question is priced at 0.68 p, which is usually the price of stamps on letters sent to India. 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.
“Even if we accept that an artist in 1620 AD took the artistic license to portray practising Hindus worshipping the Baby Christ, we should be asking if this is politically and sensitively correct in the 21st century.”
Mr Kallidai continued: “Use of Hindu images in an appropriate manner has never been an issue. It is only when images are used in a disrespectful or inappropriate way resulting in offence and hurt that we become concerned.”
(KMcA/SP)
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