It is consumers decision of what to buy or what not.
The purchase of a product is a simple commercial transaction between buyer and seller wherein the purchaser buys the product of choice, and the seller delivers the product or service in exchange for money. For example, a movie, a cab service, a restaurant, or a box of cornflakes are a simple product or a service accepted or rejected on consumer behavior.
If a product is not suitable, no one can force a consumer to buy it. For over five decades, General Motors world’s biggest corporation, came close to bankruptcy and had to be bailed out due to failure to adapt to consumer preference. You can see the result of Ford in India and the adaptation by Macdonald in offering a veg burger and no beef products in the Indian market.
When Comedians attack Indic Sentiments, the movies disrespect and make fun of Indic religions. When wokes start giving a selective lecture on Hindu festivals, these are information warfare to destroy Indic cultures and have to be treated as such. These actions make the product or service unsuitable for Indic consumers. For much too long, much too many people have got away with it. The attacks today are sophisticated and not always by guns or swords like in earlier periods.
A crucial part of this information warfare is to present incorrect and whitewashed history. Another critical factor is to attack traditions and take away the joy attached or hijack the practices. An example is the morphing of the Roman feast of Saturnalia.
Hindus are under unfair attack for their festivals. Banning crackers and fireworks, calling Kanyadan, Kanyaman, and disrespecting Mangal sutra, making fun of Gods and Goddesses. The incidents are much too numerous.
These are getting to be simply too many to be ignored or laughed at. The only way to stop this sustained attack is by speaking with our collective wallets. The economic cost must be so high that a movie that makes fun of Indic religions flops, a product that makes fun, does not sell. A company that does this loses its sales so much that it has to shut shop. When we do not hurt others, why hurt us? We must learn to impose an economic cost on the offender, and our choice is our right.
Let no one tell us this is economic terrorism. It is not. A product is to be bought or not to be bought is a consumer’s right. If the seller or seller’s product offends the purchaser, you cannot force a purchase.
Not buying a product is a consumer right. It is her money, after all.
People of Indic faiths have not been appreciative of their economic power.
But they have the power, and it is time they exercise it or stay a punching bag forever.
The campaign by Shefali Vaidyaji and its impact is there for all to see. Let this not be wasted and become a movement. She has started a fire that must be carried forward by each and every one of Indic faith.
Even in the United States, where Hindus are barely 2% of the population, special promotions for Deepawali and recognition by stores like Target, Costco, Etsy, and BJ’s make every Hindu cognizant of their ability to influence policy. The retailers in the US recognize economic power and have ears to the ground.Brands/Stores in India need to learn they cannot get away by disrespecting or hurting Indic sentiments.
Let us decide this Deepawali that no one rides rough over our sentiments and feelings anymore. If you want our money, do as we wish. But, if you do not respect us, we do not patronize you. Period.
