[INDOLOGY] Fwd: Hitler and MLBD

[Jean-Luc Chevillard]

Dear Veeranarayana Pandurangi,

leaving aside for the time being the "MLBD controversy",
I wish to draw your attention on the fact that many of the members of 
this list are from Europe and that for 99% of the inhabitants of Europe,
Hitler is not a "hero" (or a "national hero") but a *monster*,
which is why the choice of words in your statement (reproduced below) 
probably appears to many as "maladroit" (I am at a loss for words if I 
do not use my mother tongue, which is French, as you know)

We are told as children, at school, about what happened during the 
Holocaust and for many a European child it is a traumatic experience, to 
hear about this segment of the past.

I remember having nightmares when I was 12 or 13, after being told at 
school about that episode in European history

Although the INDOLOGY mailing list has mostly for its topic CLASSICAL 
INDIA, India is not the only country in the world and the very strong 
TABOO that exist (and for good reason) in other countries or continents 
must not be forgotten.

You are more likely to reach an understanding with your fellow human 
beings (who share professional interests with you) if you avoid 
expressions such as "national heroes".

Kindly understand that I am not criticizing you but only trying to help 
you understanding the sensitivities of those who grew up under 
circumstances different from the ones you grew under

Yours with every good wish

-- Jean-Luc Chevillard (Paris-Pondicherry-Hamburg)
  [currently in Paris]

"https://twitter.com/JLC1956"



On 18/05/2014 10:54, Veeranarayana Pandurangi wrote:
> I am neither against your decision to cut ties with MLBD  (it is your
> decision anyway) nor a fan of hitler.
> hitler has nothing to do in india. there are more national heroes in
> india to follow.