New Delhi: Social media users have slammed certain Raksha Bandhan gift products available on Amazon, calling them “insensitive” and asking for a boycott.
Activist Shabnam Hashmi took to Twitter to call out ‘The Gift Maker Adopted Mug’ available on Amazon, on which the inscription reads: “You’re adopted, But we love you.”
Apart from the yellow mug, there are a couple of other products bearing similar inscriptions — one is ‘Anand Souvenir Tea and Coffee Ceramic Mug’, which says “tu toh adopted hai”, while another is a printed cushion cover that reads the same.
“Absolutely shocking and disgusting that you are selling these products. What is the meaning of “but we love you” and “tu toh adopted hai”? Is it an abuse to be adopted? Strongly object and request you to take it off your list,” Hashmi wrote.
Hashmi even tagged the Central Adoption Resource Authority, CARA, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India.
@amazonIN
Absolutely shocking and disgusting that you are selling these products. What is the meaning of "but we love you" and tu to adopted hai? is it an abuse to be adopted? Strongly object and request you to take it off your list . @raza_seher @CARAWCD
intervene @NCPCR_ pic.twitter.com/gPrcIOQy4k— Shabnam Hashmi (@ShabnamHashmi) July 31, 2020
She said the products were insensitive to adopted children: “The abandonment by biological parents leaves a deep scar for life. This is rubbing it in.”
If you had an adopted sister you would know how it affects the psyche. This is insensitive. The abandonment by biological parents leaves a deep scar for life. This is rubbing it in.
— Shabnam Hashmi (@ShabnamHashmi) July 31, 2020
Economist Jayati Ghosh also called the products “insensitive” and “appalling”, and said the company producing them should be “boycotted”.
This is appalling! The company producing these insensitive products should be boycotted. https://t.co/MhZAwKRgbY
— Jayati Ghosh (@Jayati1609) July 31, 2020
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‘Wide usage of adopted among siblings’
ThePrint emailed Amazon’s corporate communications team but there was no response until the time of publishing this report..
Meanwhile, the e-commerce giant’s website states the concept behind the products is the “wide” usage of the line “you are adopted” among siblings.
“‘You are adopted’ is a widely used line among siblings worldwide! It is a fad to tease your sibling and enjoy the irritation on his or her face! This mug celebrated the tease bond between them! Gift it to your brother or sister as it makes a perfect Rakhi gift which is something different,” reads the yellow mug’s product description on Amazon.in.
For the other two products with the ‘tu toh adopted hai’ message, the description states: “This coffee mug and cushion is printed with the unique inspirational & loving quote.”
Earlier this month, netizens had taken to social media to report cultural “misappropriation” of Assamese and Naga traditional outfits on both Amazon and Flipkart.
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