India’s Hitler-themed eatery to get new name

updated 10:58 a.m. ET Aug. 24, 2006

BOMBAY, India - The owner of a restaurant named after Adolf Hitler said Thursday he will change its name because it angered so many people.

Puneet Sablok said he would remove Hitler’s name and the Nazi swastika from billboards and the menu. He had said the restaurant’s name — “Hitler’s Cross” — and symbols were only meant to attract attention.

Sablok made the decision after meeting with members of Bombay’s small Jewish community.

“Once they told me how upset they were with the name, I decided to change it,” he said. “I don’t want to do business by hurting people.”

Sablok said he had not yet decided on a new name.

Hitler’s Cross opened five days ago and serves pizza, salad and pastries in Navi Mumbai, a suburb of Bombay, also known as Mumbai.

On Thursday, Bombay’s Jewish community welcomed Sablok’s decision to rename his restaurant.

“He realized he made a mistake and listened to reason,” said Elijah Jacob, a community leader. “Some people have wrong conceptions of history and he realized it was not appropriate.”

Bombay’s Jews had called the theme of the restaurant offensive and demanded a name change. There are about 5,500 Jews in India, with about 4,500 of them living in Bombay.

“I never wanted to hurt people’s feelings,” said Sablok.

Some Indians regard Hitler as just another historical figure and have little knowledge about the Holocaust, in which 6 million European Jews were systematically killed during World War II.

The swastika symbol, which was appropriated by the Nazis, was originally an ancient Hindu symbol and it is displayed all over India to bring luck.

MORE FROM WEIRD NEWS

Weird news Section Front

S. Africa's baboon gangs get more aggressive Kangaroo slashes man in dog-rescue attempt Woman loses benefits over Facebook pics Life in prison for scaring woman to death Strange ancient crocodiles swam the Sahara Mad science? Growing meat without animals Utah teen to fight citation for McDonald's rap 'Geezer Bandit' sought in Calif. bank heists $40,000 left at holy site — for safekeeping Lawmaker apologizes for insulting rival on Twitter Weird news Section Front   Add Weird news headlines to your news reader: