Why Hindus not happy with Victoria banning Nazi symbols

HINDU, Jain and Buddhist community leaders in the Australian territory of Victoria have expressed concerns after its government decided to make public display of Nazi symbols, which include ‘Swastika’, illegal.

‘Swastika’ in Sanskrit means ‘well-being’ and it has been used as an auspicious symbol by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains for over centuries. Hindus even use the symbol on new houses, vehicles and other valuables as a sign of prosperity and abundance.

But they have now found the auspicious symbol coming under the lens of the Victorian government. According to a statement by the state’s Andrews Labor government, it will extend the state’s anti-vilification protections beyond religion and race and that would cover areas like sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, HIV/AIDS status, etc.

Hindu religious men from the Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan Maninagar in Ahmedabad in the Indian state of Gujarat give final touches to a huge piece of folk art, a Rangoli, in the shape of the Hindu Swastika, considered a symbol of progress under the religion. (Photo credit should read SAM PANTHAKY/AFP via Getty Images)

Hindu bodies try to prove Hindu Swastika is different from Nazi symbol

The local Hindu bodies have tried to prove that the Hindu Swastika is different from the Nazi symbol.

Makarand Bhagwat, the president of Hindu Council of Australia’s Victoria chapter, told Australia Today, “We want a legalised assurance from the Victorian government that the religious interests of Hindu, Jain and Buddhist communities will be protected.”

The council has sought an urgent meeting of Hindu organisations and community leaders to discuss the future strategy to engage with the government of Victoria.

Karthik Arasu, convener of Temples Council, which represents Hindu temples in Australia, told The Australia Today that Swastika has been the community’s sacred symbol for thousands of years.

“Victorian Government should first understand the difference between the Nazi symbol “Hakenkreuz” meaning Hooked-Cross & Swastika. Hitler or Nazi’s never referred to their symbol anywhere as Swastika. This horrendous wrongful association of the Swastika with the Hakenkreuz is due to mistranslation,” he said.

“We are engaging with domain experts who are able to explain how [The Nazi] symbol is completely different.”

Victorian politicians, legal experts are elated

Politicians, legal experts and those combating anti-semitism in Australia are, however, ecstatic about the ban.

Ros Spence, Victoria’s minister for multicultural affairs said Nazi symbols glorify one of the most hateful ideologies in human history and they must confront it, prevent it and give it no space to grow.

Shadow police minister David Southwick told The Age newspaper in Melbourne, the capital of Victoria, that the announcement was an important step forward. “For too long, frontline police and local communities have been powerless to stop the Nazi swastika being used as a tool to spread hate,” he said.

This year, the Victorian parliament’s legal and social issues committee came up with a report on the effectiveness of the state’s anti-vilification laws and therein, it was found that vilification is something too common for many in the state. People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders, those who identify as LGBTIQ+ and people with a disability are among those who face the problem often.

Victoria attorney-general Jaclyn Symes said, “All forms of hate are unacceptable and have no place in Victoria – expanding our anti-vilification laws to protect more Victorians sends a clear message that this vile behaviour will not be tolerated.”

Dvir Abramovich, the chairperson of Anti-Defamation Commission, which was set up to combat antisemitism in Australia, praised the decision to tell The Age, “This is a day for the history book, a joyful and profound moment. Bravo to the government for rising to the challenge and declaring in a clear and unmistakable voice that the ultimate emblems of inhumanity and racism, that are meant to break our spirit and instil fear, will never find a refuge in our state.”

Groups such as the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, Equality Australia and the Victorian Pride Lobby have welcomed the idea of ban.

The Hindu community in Victoria is also in favour of banning the Nazi symbol. However, the community leaders feel that if the Victorian authorities banned ‘Swastika’, it will do a disservice to hundreds of thousands of Hindus living peacefully across Australia.