A movement against Swastika has begun in Europe. This has been sparked-off subsequent to the incident of wearing a dress by Prince Harry, of the British Empire, which had the Red Swastika symbol on the armband. There was an outcry "Harry the Nazi", in the British press and consequently prince Harry apologized in writing. British MPs have started movement against Swastika.
The conflict is due to Swastika being linked with Hitler and his Nazism. In August' 1920, Hitler made Swastika the symbol of his National Socialist Workers Party and also used the same for the National Flag too. But the fact remains that the Indian Religious symbol Swastika, is being used religiously and incessantly for the last more than ten thousand years, in every walk of life by every Indian household for universal wellbeing, peace, brotherhood and harmony. Since India was under British rule, Hitler never bothered for permission from any of the Indian Socio-Religious or Political organizations. And as such, as per his nature, it was unauthorized acquisition of Swastika, which too was subjected to brutality like everything, including himself.
Our morality and sanity dictates us to condemn Hitler & Nazism and not the Swastika. The Swastika was used by arrogant Hitler, notorious for acquiring everything unethically and by force and had terrorized the world through his antics, till he took his own life by force i.e., by killing the self. It is principally and ethically right so far as condemning Hitler and Nazism is concerned. But certainly not the Swastika, which is a symbol of humanity and well-being of the human civilization for the last more than ten thousand years.
The list of opponents of humanity is endless. Since Ravana, Hiranakashyap, Kansa, Duryodhana, Babar, Aurangjeb, Nadirshah to Saddam Hussain and Bin Laden etc., a countless number of people have acted brutally against humanity. Would it be right to ban the religions, faith and symbols used by them? It never happened in the history of the mankind.
Swastika is a Sanskrit word, meaning "Shubh" or "being auspicious", while "Su" means auspicious and "asti" means "being", Swastika represents being a symbol of all-round good-luck, prosperity, purity of thought, action and results. It is mentioned in Rigveda that Swastika, the symbol so vital representing the Sun & Soul-energy having been gifted by Lord Ganesha to the humankind. The markings of Swastika & recitations at the very beginning of every auspicious event signify the importance and respect the Hindu Rishis, sages and the common man has given to the Swastika.
Besides Hindus, the Buddhists & Jains too have given great importance to Swastika, as also other religions. Swastika is worshipped during the worship of symbols of footprints of Buddha. And also the seventh Jain "Tirthankar" namely, "Shuparshavnath", His symbol too is Swastika. Directionally, while the right-facing Swastika represents "generation", the left-facing represents "regeneration". The "Shaiv-Tantra" books represent the right-sided Swastika to "Purush" or male, and the "Shaakt-Tantra" books represent it as left-sided to "Prakriti" or nature. In fact, right is attached to male and left to female. Hindus use right-sided Swastika and Buddhists use left-sided. However, being even-balanced in all four directions, it is a symbol of stability. The earliest Swastika dates back to more than ten thousand years in the caves of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bali, Malaysia, Maldives, China, Myanmar, Egypt, Afghanistan and Russia.
In Europe, the Churches too used Swastika and in Britain, it's marked at the thirteenth century church at Garve. The "Holy-Cross" is considered to be a version of Swastika. The civilizations of Troy and Sumeria too had Swastika as holy symbols. And also the artifacts during "Vejentine Empire", the Swastika used was known as "Gemedian Cross". The Scouts of Britain too used Swastika. The Maya civilization of South & Central America too used Swastika as their auspicious symbols.
In USA in 1920s, the soldiers of the 45th Infantry division were using Swastika in Pitambar. Yellow colored armbands. The Air-force of Finland used Swastika as its symbol in the Second World War. The author, Thomas Wilson, in his popular book, "The Earliest Known Symbol and its Migration", has described in detail the Swastika found in different parts of the world in pictorial and authentic ways. This Swastika symbol is used so widely since the early civilizations that Thomas Wilson wrote, "It is impossible to anticipate the origin and beginning of Swastika.
It is indeed illogical, unethical and unjustified to ban Swastika, and against the people at large having faith in Swastika, the symbol of well-being and progress of humanity, that someone like Hitler used it in unauthorized manner. The inauspicious use of Swastika by violent Hitler caused his own violent death and that of Nazism. Instead of Swastika; we must vehemently condemn "Hitler & Nazism".