June 26, 2005
Faux-pas ahoy!
GOLD Coast Indian takeaway Handi Ghandi has changed its logo after a fiery response from the family of iconic Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi.
His great-grandson Tushar was outraged that the Gandhi name had been used to sell curries, even though it had been misspelled.
This week, the Southport business changed its logo from a drawing of Gandhi holding an American-style Chinese takeaway box to a caricature of a more generic Indian man.
"As no offence was ever intended and to show respect to the Gandhi family and foundation, our company has decided to alter its corporate logo," the Handi Ghandi website said.
The alteration came after The Sunday Mail last week reported Tushar Gandhi's disgust with the use of his great-grandfather's name to sell takeaway food.
Come on, can't have been all that bad.
Mr Gandhi described the act as offensive, saying it went against all the renowned vegetarian's beliefs.
Whoops!
Especially offensive was the sale of beef curries by Handi Ghandi, as beef is considered sacred to Hindus.
Double Whoops!
But he was so worried by the business's use of the name that he had even been pleading with the Indian Government to get it to take up the matter with the Australian Government.
Look I can see how this can offend people of Indian descent. But I've seen worse.
For example: Near me there is a Chinese food place called "Chairman Mao's". I hope I'm not the only one who finds it a little distasteful to name a restaurant after a guy who was responsible for over 20 million deaths.
What's next? "Josef Stalin's Goulash"? "Uncle Adolf's Bratwurst?"
(Additionally speaking of faux pas - this one really worries me - "Eating with your left hand. Throughout most of the Middle East the left hand is reserved for bodily hygiene. Thus, the right hand should be used for eating." What, you can't wash it?)
Posted by Quentin George at June 26, 2005 11:00 AMHow about Uncle Saddam's Kebabs?
And eating with the right hand is actually a Muslim thing, not solely Middle Eastern. You won't catch any Muslim eating with their left hands...except me. Then again, I also go skinny-dipping. Hardly a Muslim thing to do. Oh, well...
Posted by: Jan at June 26, 2005 12:36 PMReally? That is interesting. Is this a Koranic commandment or just some cultural thing linked to Islam?
Posted by: Aidan at June 26, 2005 01:20 PMOr
Pol Pot's Portable Pea Pods
And yeah, wash up for Christ's sake...ooops, there's another one.
And what kind of hygenic method leaves one of a persons appendages covered in feces anyway?
Posted by: Thomas at June 26, 2005 01:34 PMI believe it's a commandment. At the very least, it must be something the Prophet Muhammad decreed. Muslims aren't allowed to eat using their left hands unless they're left-handed. For that matter, they're not supposed to receive anything with their left hands either. It's considered rude for the same reason stated in your entry.
Posted by: Jan at June 26, 2005 01:37 PMI know for Europeans, you generally shake with your right, allegedly because in Medieval times you held your weapon in that hand and it would show you were unarmed.
Of course, that could be a load of crap.
Posted by: Aidan at June 26, 2005 01:43 PMPS: Are you allowed to hit someone with your left hand?
Posted by: Aidan at June 26, 2005 01:48 PMOoh! How about "Trotsky's Terrific Ice-Tea"
Posted by: Aidan at June 26, 2005 01:48 PM"Are you allowed to hit someone with your left hand?"
I'm going to allow that.
Posted by: Jan at June 26, 2005 02:16 PM"Trotsky's Terrific Ice-Tea"?
It's laced with rat poison, ain't it?
Posted by: Jan at June 26, 2005 02:17 PMOr
Caligula's Gyros To Go
Come to think of it, we actually have a "Khan's Mongolian Barbeque" chain here in the U.S.
Posted by: Thomas at June 26, 2005 02:19 PM"Nero's Nutrious Nosh"
Posted by: Aidan at June 26, 2005 02:33 PM"I'm going to allow that."
I think that makes you a Prophet. Now you need to write a religious text.
Posted by: Aidan at June 26, 2005 02:34 PM"Now you need to write a religious text."
I did...It's called The Papple.
Posted by: Jan at June 26, 2005 02:46 PMThe Papple? Never catch on with a name like that, dear.
Posted by: Aidan at June 26, 2005 02:50 PMThat's the most blasphemous thing ever said next to the corny dialogues of "Batman and Robin".
Posted by: Jan at June 26, 2005 02:52 PMHey, all I have to say is "Stay cool."
Posted by: Aidan at June 26, 2005 03:09 PM*shakes fist* One of these days, Aidan. Pow! Straight to the moon!
Posted by: Jan at June 26, 2005 03:14 PMAaaahahaha...excellent..
Posted by: Aidan at June 26, 2005 03:16 PM