Understanding Hitler's Aryan Theory and its Impact on India

Understanding Hitler's Aryan Theory and its Impact on India ===========================================================

Introduction ------------ In the early 20th century, the world witnessed the rise of a man whose obsession, stubbornness, and pride defined his character. Adolf Hitler, the cruel dictator of the 20th century, was someone we have all read and heard about since childhood. He could be a hero for some, while a villain for others. However, in reality, he was a deranged individual who believed in Nazi ideology. In simple terms, he believed in the Aryan theory. But what was Hitler's Aryan theory? Was Hitler an Aryan himself? What were his thoughts about the people of India? And what is the similarity between the Nazi Swastika and the Indian Swastika? Let's try to understand the answers to these questions. Hitler's Aryan Theory --------------------- On April 20, 1889, Hitler was born. After the end of the First World War, in January 1920, he was appointed as the propaganda chief of the German Workers' Party, which was later renamed as the National Socialist German Workers' Party or the Nazi Party. In April 1920, during a party meeting in Munich, Hitler asked the party workers how a handful of Britishers managed to establish control over half the world. Before anyone could answer the question, Hitler stated that they should do the same. However, during a previous meeting, Hitler had mentioned India's support to a party worker, stating that the British rule in India was established by exploiting India's export of cotton and rubber, leaving the Indians starving. Both statements were completely contradictory, leaving the party workers confused about what he meant. Then, he answered both of his questions in one word - power. He said the whole matter is about power. The British had power, which is why they ruled over India and had the right to do so. According to him, those who do not possess power have no right to talk about rights. In another meeting in Munich, Hitler questioned how the British acquired power. The answer was that the British were a superior race, and it was their superior race which allowed them to establish their rule over India. Hitler believed that the Aryan race was superior, and therefore, they had the right to establish their dominance over the world. This ideology of Hitler was based on the principles of Charles Darwin and Herbert Spencer. Darwin was a naturalist who explained the origin of plants and animals through evolution and natural selection. Later, Herbert Spencer introduced the theory of the survival of the fittest. According to this theory, the most capable would survive. It means that the species which can adapt with nature would survive. Hitler drew parallels between his Aryan ideology and the concepts put forth by Darwin and Spencer. He believed that the Aryan race, being the most superior, had the right to dominate the world and that the weaker races would perish. Hitler's ideology can be understood by studying the thoughts of his two associates, Houston Stewart Chamberlain and Alfred Rosenberg. Influence of Houston Stewart Chamberlain ---------------------------------------- Houston Stewart Chamberlain was a British-German philosopher and also Hitler's intellectual guru. He believed in racial superiority. The concept of racial superiority influenced Hitler. Chamberlain's idea was that the Aryan people were responsible for the creation of great scriptures like the Vedas and the Upanishads and for imparting a pathway to the world to progress beyond materialism. Chamberlain's thoughts were aligned with the concept of the caste system, which he believed was a logical system. According to him, the superior Aryan people wrote the Vedas and Upanishads and provided the world with the knowledge to move ahead of materialism. Hitler was heavily influenced by these thoughts, and he believed that those who possess power are superior. Hence, those who are inferior have no right to assert their rights. After these thoughts, Hitler concluded that the people of India were inferior, and therefore, the violence used by the British to suppress them was justifiable. Hitler considered Indians to be inferior, but he used Hindu symbols to represent his party. Why did he do that? The Difference between the Hindu Swastika and the Nazi Swastika --------------------------------------------------------------- The Swastika is a symbol that represents auspiciousness, divinity, spirituality, and good fortune, and it is commonly used by Indians, Sri Lankans, Chinese, Japanese, and other South-East Asian countries. The Swastika was first used by the people of the Indus Valley Civilization. It is considered a symbol of purity, and it is associated with the four Vedas. The Swastika used in Hindu households has four dots in all four corners. These dots represent the four Vedas. On the other hand, the Swastika used in the Nazi flag has a circular band in white color with a black Swastika in the center. The Nazi Swastika was designed by the Nazis to represent their Aryan ideology and the mass genocide that occurred during the Second World War. In conclusion, Hitler believed that the people of India were inferior. According to his book Mein Kampf, he said, "As a German, I would like to see India under the dominion of England. India is an example of how a lower race has managed to dominate a superior race. The Indian freedom struggle, in my opinion, was a rebellion of the lower race against the superior race." Hitler's thoughts on Indians can be understood through his racist ideology. However, it is important to note that the Indian Swastika and the Nazi Swastika have different meanings and symbolism.