We had earlier written how Washington Post had not only written a biased piece on journalism in India based on half-baked data but their India bureau chief, Annie Gowen, had even shifted the blame to the news agency Associated Press (AP) and tried to absolve themselves of responsibility of any journalistic duties. Recently, Washington Post’s India chief Annie Gowen again kicked up a storm by her racist comment on the ‘Militant Hanuman’ or ‘Angry Hanuman’ image that seem to have sent the ‘liberals’ of India into a state of fear and frenzy.
Following the Twitter purge, which saw many accounts, including that of politicians, lose followers, Washington Post Bureau Chief Annie Gowen requested Twitter to ‘delete’ all her ‘Angry Hanuman’ followers as well.
Can @Twitter also delete all my Angry Hanuman followers also..k… thanks pic.twitter.com/MNA6KmOj6B
— Annie Gowen (@anniegowen) July 11, 2018
Many on Social Media lashed out at Annie Gowen and pointed out that while her tweet displayed blatant Hinduphobia, it certainly also reeked of white supremacy.
Can the Western media also stop sending correspondents to #India who are hostile to Indic culture…k…thanks https://t.co/kXow4cgsmj
— David B. Cohen (@DavidBCohen1) July 13, 2018
The level of Hindu hate and that tone of supremacy. Exactly why India loves its ‘angry Hanuman’ and needs it today 🙂 https://t.co/b71p2tbnFT
— Abhijit Majumder (@abhijitmajumder) July 13, 2018
A great example of white supremacy. The white woman doesn’t want it, hence it should be deleted. Just wow ! https://t.co/5iinM1UB2h
— mayurwrites (@freentglty) July 13, 2018
On being called out on her Hindu-hate, Annie, instead of apologising, brazened it out and claimed how she feels people with ‘Angry Hanuman’ profile picture are a ‘threat’.
I find many of those who embrace the “Angry Hanuman” meme to be virulent and threatening on social media https://t.co/lda4Rq4NRV
— Annie Gowen (@anniegowen) July 13, 2018
She proceeded to make a rather bizarre claim in order to defend herself from the ‘white supremacist’ charge. She foolishly asserted that she “doesn’t want to be cut up into pieces” implying that is something people with “Angry Hanuman” accounts advocate.
It’s not “white supremacy” to say you don’t want to be cut up into little pieces. “Angry Hanuman” meme accounts often advocate violence. https://t.co/LU9CCY6XZ1
— Annie Gowen (@anniegowen) July 13, 2018
Annie, it is indeed ‘white supremacy’ to assume that everyone with this profile picture wants to cut you up into little pieces when clearly, there is no evidence of the same. She again got a lesson on how Ku Klux Klan, which advocates white supremacy, also claims it is not racist.
Such a stupid drama queen.
Who threatened this?Does seeing a hanuman pic communicate this message to her?
That Annie is called RACISM. Even KKK doesn’t admit they’re racist.
Does black guy in elevator scare you? That’s racism. Kapisch?(she didn’t get the kapi reference) https://t.co/9kAzxoZT9e
— Madhusudhan (@mchellap) July 13, 2018
People were also upset that an artwork of one of the most beloved Hindu gods was reduced to a ‘meme’ by Washington Post Bureau Chief.
It’s not a ‘meme’, you racist moron! It’s a caricature of Lord Hanuman who is worshipped by every Hindu. https://t.co/8M8Yz0cSgc
— वरदा मराठे (@Varada_M) July 13, 2018
1) It is not meme.
2) Just because u don’t like , it should be deleted. What happened to freedom of expression ?
3) Being racist doesn’t allow you make sweeping generalisations. https://t.co/uh7bFaxlyw— Suresh Nakhua (@sureshnakhua) July 13, 2018
It is almost as if the “unwashed Hindus” who don’t subscribe to what the white world’s interpretation of existence is, doesn’t deserve to be treated with dignity and respect even in their own land and Annie Gowen perfectly represents that mentality.
Annie Gowen’s blatant Hinduphobia and racist behaviour makes one wonder whether Washington Post subscribes and endorses her views. Lord Hanuman has also been described as a fierce warrior in Hinduism. To reduce him to a ‘meme’ is rather unfortunate. Having said that, to quote a verse from a very popular hymn:
भूत पिशाच निकट नहिं आवै।
महाबीर जब नाम सुनावै॥
