The Indian corporate sector has often been seen promoting Hinduphobes and donating millions to bodies that actively propagate anti-Hindu and anti-Bharat propaganda. The recent instance of Swiggy’s Hinduphobic post is just a reminder about the Hinduphobic nature of these corporates who have no particular allegiance towards Bharat or its culture, and all they care about is monetary benefits.

On Tuesday (9 July), the Food delivery app Swiggy landed itself in a fresh controversy after it uploaded a post regarding the Hindu religious forehead marker, Tika or Tilak. The controversial post sparked outrage on social media as many X users accused the food delivery portal of mocking the sentiments of the Hindu community and their traditions and sharing Hinduphobic social media content. 

This article lists some such instances when Bharatiya corporates showed their Hinduphobic face through their social media posts and advertisements.

1. On 9 July 2024, Swiggy shared a picture of a bowl with paneer pieces inside it. The paneer cubes had a broad red mark resembling Tika or Tilak. Along with the picture, the caption of the post read, “Screw it, Paneer Tika”. Facing massive backlash for its post, Swiggy deleted the controversial post. However, it did not feel necessary to apologise to Hindus.

2. In April, Kuku FM, an Indian audiobook app, ran a Hinduphobic ad on social media. Some users highlighted this issue on Twitter.

3. In February, a less-known beauty, cosmetic, and personal care brand called PlushForHer ran an advertisement in Instagram on contraceptives with a women dressed like a Hindu Devi (Goddess). Notably, the post has still not been deleted.

4. In November 2023, the National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) ran a newspaper advertisement showcasing a Hindu wearing a tilak and kalawa as fraudsters.

5. In October 2023, HDFC Bank published a newspaper ad showing a woman sporting a bindi designed as the universal prohibition sign (the ‘no’ symbol), which was deeply offensive to Hindus.

6. On 7 March 2023, Bharat Matrimony, a matrimonial website, made an advertisement for Holi, calling it a festival of sexual harassment, under the garb of giving out a message on International Women’s Day, which coincided with Holi. Bharat Matrimony’s obnoxious Hinduphobic Holi ad was unmistakably aimed at demonizing Hindu festivals rather than speaking against physical assault or sexual harassment of women. Bharat Matrimony uses Hindu money to run anti-Hindu campaigns on Hindu festivals while eulogizing Bakra Eid as a peaceful festival.

Notably, the ad post remains in their Twitter profile, showing contempt towards Hindu religious practices.

7. In March 2023, JK Paper India, a paper manufacturing company, ran an ad demeaning Holi by painting it as a wasteful activity.

8. In September 2021, the clothing brand Manyavar took to hurting Hindu religious sentiments through their commercial. With Alia Bhatt as the brand ambassador of the festive wear brand, the ad took a dig at the sacred Hindu marriage ritual of Kanyadaan.

9. In October 2020, Tata Group’s jewellery brand, Tanishq, ran an advertisement that promoted inter-religious marriage between a Hindu girl and a Muslim boy by wrapping it with superficial notions of ‘Ekatvam’. While several cases of brutalities and sexual harassment (Love Jihad) undergone by Hindu girls are reported every day, the ad painted a rosy picture of such marriages, thereby trying to give a wrong idea to impressionable girls.

Indian corporate sector is as Hinduphobic as the state mechanism. Hindus must be vigilant and not fall for media tropes and propaganda that create delusional notions. Especially the Hindu youth need to be educated about such subtle as well explicit attacks against Hindu dharma.

(Featured Image Source: OpIndia)