Mocking Aryabhata: Legal Notice Served to Amazon India
MUMBAI / NEW DELHI : A sharp legal notice has been served to e-commerce giant Amazon India for mocking ancient India’s legendary mathematician and astronomer, Aryabhata, in its latest commercial advertisement. Issued by Supreme Court Advocate Amita Sachdeva, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS), the notice demands that Amazon tender a public apology to the citizens of India and immediately withdraw the controversial advertisement within 48 hours. The notice warns that failure to comply will result in criminal and civil lawsuits. Meanwhile, public outrage has intensified across the country, with the hashtag #Boycott_Amazon trending massively on social media platforms.
Amazon Insults Aryabhata
Aryabhata gave the world ZERO.
Amazon gave him ZERO respect.Turning Bharat's greatest mathematician into a marketing prop for "zero fees" is not creativity, it's cultural insult.@amazonIN Apologise. Withdraw the ad. Respect India's civilisational… pic.twitter.com/htr0HluRxi
— HinduJagrutiOrg (@HinduJagrutiOrg) June 12, 2026
The controversy stems from a promotional campaign for ‘Amazon Now’, which features an actor dressed as Aryabhata depicted as a comedic corporate mascot desperately “searching for zero delivery charges.” The notice states that reducing a revered saint-scholar, who gave the world the concept of ‘Zero’ and held India’s scientific banner high globally, to a commercial joke is a deliberate insult to India’s great knowledge-heritage and national pride.
The notice emphasizes that this is not an isolated incident for Amazon. The platform has previously hosted from products insulting Hindu deities (such as Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi on doormats and toilet seat covers) and faced severe backlash for the web series ‘Tandav’ which hurt religious sentiments, forcing the company to apologize. The notice highlights that deliberately insulting national icons for commercial greed attracts direct criminal and civil liabilities under Sections 299 (outraging religious feelings), 196 & 197 (promoting enmity and harming national integration), and 302 (deliberate intent to wound religious feelings) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
🛑 LEGAL NOTICE,
To,
The Chief Executive Officer / Managing Directorhttps://t.co/an0kuix5ot, Inc. & Amazon Seller Services Private Limited (Amazon India)
Corporate Office:
8th Floor, World Trade Centre, Plot No. C-1, Sector 16,
Noida, Uttar Pradesh – 201301
Also to:
Amazon… pic.twitter.com/6QiuVJRGWS— Amita Sachdeva, Advocate (@SachdevaAmita) June 12, 2026
Consequently, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti has given a 48-hour ultimatum to Amazon to fulfill the demands. The company must permanently remove the controversial ‘Aryabhata – Amazon Now’ advertisement from all digital platforms, including YouTube, Instagram, X (Twitter), its official website, and television. Furthermore, Amazon India must publish an unconditional apology on its official social media handles, homepage, and leading national newspapers, along with a written undertaking pledging never to demean national symbols or historical figures in the future. Advocate Amita Sachdeva warned that legal lawsuits will be filed immediately if the company fails to act within the stipulated time.
Legendary scientist disrespected with clownish dialogues!
Mumbai, Maharashtra – The ‘Amazon India’ company has faced fierce criticism for using the likeness of the great Indian mathematician and astronomer Aryabhatta, who gave the priceless gift of ‘zero’ to the world, to commercially promote its services. In a newly released advertisement for ‘Amazon Now’, the ancient genius is subjected to disrespectful presentation and clownish dialogues for corporate gain, triggering strong reactions from patriots and history enthusiasts.
Citizens are demanding swift action. “This advertisement trivialises Indian culture, history, and our greatest minds for cheap commercial benefit. Amazon must immediately withdraw the advertisement and apologise, and the Central Government must take swift action against it,” a protestor stated.
The reality of the advertisement
In the commercial, Aryabhatta is depicted time-traveling to the modern era, carrying his ancient scrolls. Upon his arrival, modern youth completely fail to recognise the legendary scientist. Showing a severe lack of respect, one youth mocks his traditional appearance and asks, “Uncle, where is this delivery for?”
While Aryabhatta tries to correct them by proudly declaring his identity, the commercial portrays him wandering through modern schools and watching rocket launches, deeply anxious and despondent that humanity has forgotten the profound spiritual and mathematical value of ‘zero’.
The ultimate insult, however, comes at the end of the advertisement. Amazon links this monumental, world-changing mathematical discovery to trivial e-commerce metrics. A great scientist, Aryabhatta, is shown suddenly becoming overjoyed, only when he discovers that Amazon is using his invention to advertise ‘zero additional fees’, ‘zero search fees’, and ‘zero handling fee’. Reducing Aryabhatta’s eternal legacy to a corporate marketing gimmick for a delivery app is highly reprehensible.
