Surendra Ullal
CHICAGO: The world-renowned Chicago Field Museum has agreed to suspend the sale of Lord Shiva doll after a strong protest by members of the Indian community in Chicago and across the country
The protest was spearheaded by Rajan Zed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism and was backed by other bodies like NRI Press Club, Chicago.
It was argued that Lord Shiva is highly revered in Hinduism and meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and any inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts for commercial or other agenda would hurt the devotees.
The Museum CEO Richard Lariviere was told that it would be highly insensitive to trivialize Lord Shiva as a plush doll/animal like the alligator, bat, cat, chameleon, crab, giraffe, lizard, owl, skunk, sloth, squid, squirrel, turkey, turtle, etc.; which the Museum sold.
In the wake of this protest, the Museum authorities decided to suspend the sale respecting the demand from Indian community across the country
Opened in 1894, the collection of The Field Museum includes nearly 40 million artifacts and specimens and it claims to be working “to ensure that our planet thrives for generations to come”. The 11” tall Lord Shiva plush doll was priced at $22 on its online store.
