TAMPA, U.S.A., June 2, 2003: A rather astounding article appeared in the Florida Tampa Tribune of June 2 supposedly on the Aghoris, a radical group of sadhus living beyond the norms of society, but really about one crazy American, Gary Stevenson, claiming to their reporter (George Coryell) that he was an Aghori. The reporter considered the American insane, and indeed the fellow is now in a psychiatric institute in India. You’ll have to go to “source” to read the article, as it is too disgusting to quote at any length. For example, “Cannibalism, Yon said, was taken as a part of Indian culture.” Among its assertions is that tourists in India may be kidnapped, sacrificed and eaten by Aghoris.
The Hindu and Asian community in Tampa were shocked at the newspaper’s gross misrepresentation and opprobrious information regarding Hinduism and India. Over 50 Hindu, Jain and professional organizations with members from Asia signed the following response: “We the Hindu and Indian-American community of Tampa Bay numbering well over 10,000 and represented by the undersigned organizations is deeply hurt and offended by the subject article and its portrayal of Hinduism and India. The article has done gross injustice to the Hindus, India and offended their sensibilities. Hinduism, the world’s third largest but oldest practiced religion by well over 850 million, and with history well over 5,000 year old, is known for nonviolence, vegetarianism, love, compassion and peace. To portray and defame Hindu Gods and Goddesses and the entire religion with cannibalism because of stories collected by a writer in search of a book of sensational stories to write, with selfish motive for personal gain, displays personal biases and lack of quality journalism.”
The response goes on to make these points about the article:
” [It is] Attempted defamation of Hinduism by portraying Hindus and their gods with acts of certain deviant individuals. The Aghoris do not constitute even a measurable fraction of the main stream Hindus 850 million worldwide. This is akin to equating Catholicism and Christianity with child molestation, suicidal acts, violence, and such, due to the acts of certain deviant individuals such as Charles Mansion, Jim Jones, David Kuresh and a few Catholic priests.
“Attempt to malign India and her people as a place where foreigners disappear. Thus attempt to cause financial harm to India by reducing tourism to India. In our numerous travels to India we have not encountered posters showing pictures of lost foreigners, if any. There are no advisories by any governmental agency against travel to India due to any loss of foreigners.
“Did not consider the sensibilities of the Hindu and Indian-American population or show a modicum of respect that Tampa Tribune shows for other religions and communities.”
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