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I wasn’t surprised to read this BBC article about the popularity of Hitler and his Mein Kampf amongst the youth in India. In fact, I think Indians have a rather balanced view of people – because while they despise Hitler’s massacres and racism, they admire his nationalism and ambition. Similarly, many Indian youth also hold a balanced view of Mahatma Gandhi – they admire his perseverance and simplicity but dislike his extreme non-violence during India’s freedom struggle as well as the way he imposed his principles on others through ‘satyagraha’. This contrasts with a Westerner’s black-and-white view of things: hating Hitler for the holocaust and loving Mahatma Gandhi for his peaceful non-violent tactics.
India is apparently buzzing with Hitler’s books and memorabilia.
Latest reports say Bollywood is now planning to cash in. A film – Dear Friend Hitler – is due to be released by the end of the year, focusing on the dictator’s relationship with his mistress Eva Braun.
It’s hard to narrow down what makes the dictator popular in India, but some young people say they are attracted by his “discipline and patriotism”.
Most of them are, however, quick to add that they do not approve of his racial prejudices and the Holocaust in which millions of Jews were killed.
But the truth is that books, T-shirts, bags and key-rings with his photo or name on do sell in India. And his autobiography, Mein Kampf, sells the most.
As to why Indian youth like Hitler, this is what some of them had to say to the BBC:
Prayag Thakkar, a 19-year-old student in Gujarat state, is one of them: “I have idolised Hitler ever since I have had a sense of history. I admire his leadership qualities and his discipline.”
The Holocaust was bad, he says, but that is not his concern. “He mesmerised the whole nation with his leadership and iron discipline. India needs his discipline.”
Dimple Kumari, a research associate in Pune, has not read Mein Kampf but she would wear the Hitler T-shirt out of admiration for him. She calls him “a legend” and tries to put her admiration for him in perspective: “The killing of Jews was not good, but everybody has a positive and negative side.”
Shilpi Guha says she started reading the book but could not finish it and she wouldn’t like to dwell on the dictator’s negative side.
But not to worry, the obsession with Hitler’s positive or negative qualities is not unique to Indians. The Americans, Turkish and Bangladeshis also share it.
Global sales figures for Mein Kampf are hard to come by, but the book sells well in other parts of the world too.
In the US, it sold 26,000 copies last year 2009. In 2005 it sold 100,000 copies in Turkey in just a few months. The Arabic imprint is popular in the Palestinian territories.
What’s your view of Hitler? What do you think of Indian youth’s admiration for Hitler? Do tell us in the comments below.
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Aakrit Chauhan says: First of all most of the Indian youth are wannabes and they like all the people in the history who had power. Also they like Hitler because these bunch of fools are so fu**kin ignorants that i can bet that they even dont know the spelling of third Reich and they dont know or have never read the history properly (cuz they lack interest in humanities and history ,all they r good in are computers because that has the most money and abroad going opportunity). In WW2 70 MILLION LIVES WERE LOST only because of that Indian youth hero Hitler. And the above comment explains how brainless and selfish indian youth is. I feel so ashamed of being an Indian.
Hitler Fan says: Really? I doubt if your personality matches with your screen name. I bet, you must be a Zionist or at least a supporter of its cause.
How dare you say Indian Youth are ignorant. Indian youth in fact has a better sense of history. They must have read a better historical point of view. Unlike the youth in America, they could not appreciate Hitler’s good qualities because they have been brainwashed by Zionist US mainstream media (Fox News, CNBC, New York Times … the list goes on). This brainwashing have been made rigid from the moment of their birth. The Zionist media wouldn’t take chances for Hitler to be appreciated by any American.
In fact, I see that even you won’t admit it, you are certainly one of those brainwashed.
At least in this part of the world, there youth who see the other side of Hitler.
Praveen Anand Raj says: Hi guys,
Please don’t generalize the statements about Indian youth. Not all are for Hitler. Neither all who admire Hitler are for the Holocaust. All have a right to believe anything they want BUT everything they believe need not be right.
Ppl who admire the leadership of Hitler : please think about the cause it was used for. If someone adopts a underprivileged girl and brings her up to abuse her. You cannot admire their adoption and generous nature for that. When we say that you admire their discipline. You need to know that everyone who is involved in killing business have tremendous discipline in their life that they are ready to be killed in that. Leadership can be abused. You bloggers are the leaders yourself as you make an impact on the readers. Please choose your words properly.
I am an indian and I am proud to be born here because we are diverse in our thinking but stand united for a cause.
Vishnu Sharma says: One cannot help admiring certain aspects of Hitler’s rule: His massive public works programs and his restoration of German honor and pride.
His tackling the massive unemployment that was rampant in Germany from 1929-1933.
We Indians also admire his fight against the world scourge that is Marxism. Marxism is an ideology which is an anathema to mankind.
Nazis were always way better and less oppressive than communists who did not allow you to practice your religion or own private property.
Hitler failed only because he did not know how to bring WWII to a successful conclusion having started it. So we Indians view him as a great man who failed strategically.
We Indians understand very well that had Hitler defeated Russia in 1941 or 1942 he would have been seen differently. He overstretched his armed forces and had a far better chance of evicting the Brits out of the middle east in 1941 than beating Russia.
We Indians also know fully well that the English were no less racist and barbaric than the Germans when it came to dealing with subject populations in their dominions. British atrocities in India, Australia and Africa outnumber Nazi atrocities in Europe by a scale of 1000:1
Also Hitler did India no harm and only helped us by weakening the dastardly British to an extent that they had to abandon their empire after WWII.
We wish fervently that we have a leader of similar caliber who can unite all Indians under one platform, modernize India, expel the Marxist influence in India and put an end to Islamic fundamentalism in the subcontinent so that all Indians live powerfully and in plenty, in the subcontinent they have always known as home.
Aham: I am – Hinduism
yes,. its right. i am also indian youth.
i love Hitler. thought we know his masscre and other racism.
First thing who doesnt want hitlership in the world?
What America doiung since last decade?
Try to remember from Regan
And hitler not done any thing wrong as that of the era want.England was governing ove entire world , what was reason to destroy their rights? Brithis has killed sevreal lacks and crored all over the world within their rule. then why to blame hitler.
He was ambitious and winner till his death.