‘Om’ on a tobacco packet removed after HJS protest

Original packet

Changed packet

Mumbai:  ‘Om’, the auspicious symbol of Hindus, revered by millions was on the packaging of tobacco manufactured by Patel products and labelled as ‘Om Special Pandharpuri Tobacco No1’. After 2 years of untiring efforts of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) and later joint efforts of HJS with Mr Arvind Sawant (MLC), Mr Pandurang Fundkar (Leader of opposition in the Legislative Council) and Mr Naresh Raghani (a builder), the ‘Om’ sign was removed from the tobacco packets. Members of the HJS corresponded with the Food and Drug Controller, Home and Industries departments of the Government of Maharashtra and the ‘Commercial Trademark registration department’ of the Government of India and found out that the use of ‘Om’ on packaging is illegal. In the 2 years of this agitation by the HJS, Dr Uday Dhuri, a Mumbai district representative of the HJS, repeatedly requested Mr Patel to remove ‘Om’ from the packaging of his tobacco.

Though the manufacturer promised that he would replace the ‘Om’ with his father’s photo, he insisted on retaining the name of the tobacco brand on the packet. He also refused to withdraw the packets already in the market. HJS passed on the information on this denigration to MLC Mr Arvind Sawant and Mr Pandurang Fundkar. It was at the monsoon session of the Assembly in July 2006 that Mr Arvind Sawant demanded the removal of ‘Om’ from the tobacco packaging. Mr Fundkar raised this issue in the winter session of the assembly in December 2006. Thereafter, Deputy Speaker of the Assembly Mr Dawkhare ordered that a criminal offence be registered against the manufacturer within 24 hours. However, later it was learnt that these orders were not executed.

Meanwhile, a Hindu builder from Ulhasnagar, Mr Naresh Raghani filed a complaint in this regard with the Ulhasnagar Police Station and also sent a copy to the Thane Police Commissioner asking for immediate action against ‘Patel Products’. Conceding to the plea made by Mr Sawant, the Industries Minister Mr Ashok Chauhan issued a notice to the manufacturer that as per the Commercial Trademark Act of 1999, Clause 9 (2) (B) ‘Om’ is a religious symbol and cannot be registered as a trademark; hence it cannot be used by ‘Patel products’ on its packing of tobacco.

Complying to the notice, ‘Patel Products’ removed ‘Om’ from their tobacco packing. Though Mr Patel was made to remove ‘Om’ from his product, tobacco packets with ‘Om’ are still being sold in the market on a large scale. In this regard Mr Ramesh Shinde, spokesperson of HJS for Maharashtra said that the agitation will continue since Mr Patel has refused to withdraw the old packets from the market, which amounts to disobeying Government’s directives.

(Congratulations to Hindu protagonists for making an attempt to remove an auspicious Hindu symbol from the packaging of a product. What alternative does one have but to revolt against an anti-Hindu Congress government that disobeys orders even from the Deputy Speaker?

Source: ‘Dainik Sanatan Prabhat’

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