HINDU nationalists have worked themselves into a lather over a plan to erect a 67-foot-high statue of Charlie Chaplin on a beach in India.
Their objection to the statue – brainchild of filmmaker Hemanth Hegde – stems from their belief that the celebrated silent-movie comedian was a “Christian”, according to this report.
Charlie Chaplin, a Christian in name only
Though baptised into the Anglican faith, Chaplin really had no time for “religious folderol”. His mother, though, was deeply religious, and wound up in a nuthouse.
Film and theatre artistes who support Hedge are now planning a protest against the Hindu zealots in Bangalore on March 20.
Hegde was planning to erect the Chaplin Chaplin statue on a beach, for his film House Full. If built, the statue could find itself in the Guinness Book of World Records, and become a tourist attraction.
The first inkling the filmmaker had that trouble was brewing occurred when group of unidentified people, suspected of being Hindu nationalists, raised objections to it three days ago. They said it was a “Christian” statue, and that there was a temple near the spot.
Said Hegde:
I hope to get permission from the state government to install the statue at either Bhatkal Beach or Karwar beach in Uttara Canara district. If I don’t get permission, I will be unable to realise my ambition. This film has to release on time to recover costs.
Private news channel NDTV 24X7 quoted Dhananjay Kumar, spokesperson of the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, as saying:
I would like to make it very clear that the BJP has absolutely no objection for putting up the statue of Charlie Chaplin. But we would like to remind everybody that we in India have our own heritage, our culture, our tradition.
The southern area of India has been in the national news for attacks on churches and violent moral policing by Hindu nationalist groups, such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council), its youth wing Bajrang Dal and Sri Ram Sene since September 2008.
Members of the last group – the Army of Ram – were made to look like a right bunch of Charlies after they objected to St Valentine’s day celebrations this year.
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
March 19th, 2009 at 1:24 am
Christianity, Islam, hinduism…all pools of intolerancy and bigotry
March 19th, 2009 at 1:58 am
Wondering where the picture came from. It’s not the genuine article but a modern impersonator. Surely you didn’t have a superstitious fear of the real thing?
March 19th, 2009 at 9:16 am
I wonder that these people don’t have more important things to worry about. “We would like to remind everybody that we in India have our own heritage, our culture, our tradition” Agreed, and your point is?
March 19th, 2009 at 9:31 am
“…We would like to remind everybody that we in India have our own heritage, our culture, our tradition…”, beggars, nuclear weapons, corruption, suicide bombers…
Oops, nearly forgot, on the positive side, they also make excellent repro Meccano parts. (Do you think that might be a little off topic?)
March 19th, 2009 at 9:47 am
Come to think about it, this could also describe the USA, but then again, no, the Americans can’t make good Meccano replica parts.
March 19th, 2009 at 10:04 am
Right after we sort out the Charlie Chaplin Statue, we’ll get round to transforming the slums into a suitable living area fit for human beings and then we’ll be kicking out the exploitative sweatshops!
JUST KIDDING!
March 19th, 2009 at 10:26 am
@ Stewart: If that is an impersonator, I apologise. I was searching Google images for a high resolution, black and white photo of Charlie when I clocked that one. Remind me to do searches BEFORE I hit the vodka!
March 19th, 2009 at 11:34 am
Charlie Chaplin once came second in a Charlie Chaplin lookalike competition but I guess everyone knew that.
March 19th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Hitler – with his frequent references to God and his traditional Catholic anti-semitism etc – was a much better Christian than Chaplin. Indeed, given the obvious resemblance, the statue could simply be equipped with two different suits of clothing and they could alternate – Charlie, Adolf, Charlie, Adolf…
I’ll get me coat.
March 21st, 2009 at 11:41 pm
Could this possibly be a communication problem?
What if they really wanted a 67′ foot high statue of Carole Caplin?
You know Cherie’s mate. The mental one.
Just a thought.