Hitler on Indian ballot? Frankenstein, Hitler among those running for election in Indian state
| GAUHATI, India
Adolf聽Hitler聽is running for election in聽India. So is Frankenstein.
The tiny northeast Indian state of Meghalaya has a special fascination for interesting and sometimes controversial names, and the ballot for state elections Saturday is proof.
Among the 345 contestants running for the state assembly are Frankenstein Momin, Billykid Sangma, Field Marshal Mawphniang and Romeo Rani. Some, like Kenedy Marak, Kennedy Cornelius Khyriem and Jhim Carter Sangma, are clearly hoping for the electoral success of their namesake American presidents.
Then there is聽Hitler.
This 54-year-old father of three has won three elections to the state assembly with little controversy over being named after the Nazi dictator.
His father had worked with the British army, but apparently developed enough of a fascination with Great Britain's archenemy to name his son Adolf聽Hitler聽鈥� though he also gave him the middle name Lu,聽Hitler聽said.
"I am aware at one point of time Adolf聽Hitler聽was the most hated person on Earth for the genocide of the Jews. But my father added 'Lu' in between, naming me Adolf Lu聽Hitler, and that's why I am different,"聽Hitler聽told The Associated Press from the small village of Mansingre, 200 kilometers (125 miles) west of Gauhati, the capital of the nearby state of Assam.
Hitler聽said his name has not stopped him from traveling the world, including to the United States and Germany.
"I never had problems obtaining a visa but I was asked many times during immigration as to why I should have such a name. I told the immigration staff I possibly didn't have a role in my naming," he said.
India聽played little role in World War II, and many Indians view聽Hitler聽not as the personification of evil but as a figure of fascination.聽Hitler's聽book "Mein Kampf" is prominently displayed at many Indian bookstores. The owner of a menswear shop named his store "Hitler," then expressed puzzlement last year after Israel complained.
Musfika Haq, a teacher in Meghalaya's capital, Shillong, said such names are common in the state.
"Parents obviously get fascinated by names of well-known or great leaders, but must be unaware that some of them, like聽Hitler, had been highly controversial," he said.
