"When I was a schoolboy in England, the old bound volumes of Kipling in the library had gilt swastikas embossed on their covers. The symbol's 'hooks' were left-handed, as opposed to the right-handed ones of the Nazi hakenkreuz, but for a boy growing up after 1945 the shock of encountering the emblem at all was a memorable one. I later learned that in the mid-1930s Kipling had caused this 'signature' to be removed from all his future editions. Having initially sympathized with some of the early European fascist movements, he wanted to express his repudiation of Hitlerism (or 'the Hun,' as he would perhaps have preferred to say), and wanted no part in tainting the ancient Indian rune by association. In its origin it is a Hindu and Jainas symbol for light, and well worth rescuing."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Christopher Hitchens, in Love, Poverty, and War: Journeys and Essays, p. 40
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jainism
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Jainism
66 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Jainism →
Related Quotes
"The basic principle of Jainism is ahimsa (non-violence), which is also the principle of Vaishanavism that was followe…"
"Gandhi’s adherence to the philosophy of non-violence, non-possession, community welfare throughout his life can direc…"
"He who harms animals has not understood or renounced deeds of sin...Those who are at peace and who are free from pass…"
"Propagate the religion which is a blessing to all creatures in the world."
"Some slay (animals) for sacrificial purposes, some kill (animals) for the sake of their skin, some kill (them) for th…"
"(He thinks) I have to provide for a mother, for a father, for a sister, for a wife, for sons, for daughters, for a da…"
"All beings are fond of life, like pleasure, hate pain, shun destruction, like life, long to live. To all life is dear."
"Having acquired it (i.e. wealth), employing bipeds and quadrupeds, gathering riches in the three ways, whatever his p…"
"The Arhats and Bhagavats of the past, present, and future, all say thus, speak thus, declare thus, explain thus: All …"
"...the true nature of this great religion can be understood only if we emphasize not so much the broad divisions into…"