Sheffield (England) based Neepsend Brew Co. has apologized after Hindus protested over its “Hanuman” Beer; calling it “highly inappropriate”.
Gavin Martin, Director/Head Brewer of Neepsend Brew Co., in an email to Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, who spearheaded the protest, wrote: “Thank you for bringing this to our attention and we of course apologise for any offence we have caused. Though ignorance isn’t an excuse we certainly didn’t mean any deliberate insult or disrespect by using the name…we’ll be sure to research beer names more thoroughly in the future to avoid something like this happening again”.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, thanked Neepsend Brew Co. and Martin for understanding the concerns of Hindu community, which thought name of Lord Hanuman on such a product was insensitive.
Rajan Zed suggested that companies should send their senior executives for training in religious and cultural sensitivity so that they had an understanding of the feelings of customers and communities when introducing new products or launching advertising campaigns.
Zed had said that inappropriate usage of sacred Hindu deities or concepts or symbols or icons for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it hurt the devotees.
Rajan Zed had indicated that Lord Hanuman was highly revered in Hinduism and was meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to be used in selling beer for mercantile intent. Moreover, linking Lord Hanuman with an alcoholic beverage was very disrespectful.
Hinduism was the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about 1.1 billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be taken frivolously. Symbols of any faith, larger or smaller, should not be mishandled, Zed had noted.
In Hinduism, Lord Hanuman is known for incredible strength and was perfect grammarian.
This “Hanuman” beer (ABV 8%, DIPA) was claimed to be “our most heavily hopped beer” backed up by a “hefty bitterness”.
The idea behind the independent microbrewery Neepsend Brew Co. is stated to be “simple: no hype, no hard sell, just quietly brew the kind of beer we enjoy”. It lays “emphasis on hops” and its products are also said to be available in alehouses in Heeley, Upperthorpe, Shalesmoor areas of Sheffield; and other outlets nationwide.