10/29/97-1145

Apology for "Krishna" Shoes

United Kingdom (VNN) - The Asian Age reports of the shoe manufacturer Clarks getting in trouble with the british Hindu community over naming one of their shoe models after Krishna:

International footwear giant Clarks have apologized to Britain's Hindu community for any offense that may have been caused to them after the firm used names of Hindu gods to advertise particular ranges of footwear.

The names of two, of Hinduism's most important deities. Vishnu and Krishna, were used on store display stands and on shoe boxes. The manufacturer-cum-wholesaler's Spring-Summer catalogue also referred to a pair of leather sandals as Vishnu. A long-legged leather boot was called Krishna.

Clarks customer services manager in Somerset, Ms Kit Coles, said the company was deeply distressed about the whole incident. "We are completely embarrassed and realize we have made a terrible mistake. We sincerely apologize that the religious significance of these names was overlooked. Names are randomly selected from a computer and would never have been used if we kneel the Hindu community would be upset or offended."

Clarks said an internal document has been, sent to all 600 Clarks stores in the UK, ordering them to rectify the mistake. "We have asked store managers to black out or stick a label over the name Krishna on boxes in the stock rooms, and remove the name from any boots displayed by the stores. The summer-sandals displayed as Vishnu are no longer in circulation in UK stores as they are out of season,' Ms Coles said.

The incident raised an outcry among Hindu bodies in Britain, with one of them even offering to supply Clarks with Hindu names in future.

National Council of Hindu Temples secretary Vipin Aery said the Hindu community was deeply distressed by what had happened. "Lord Vishnu and Krishna are prominent deities worshipped in the Hindu religion by millions throughout the world. Every Hindu will find the association of these spiritual names with the shoes to be extremely offensive."

Hindu Council UK president Om Prakash Sharma said the Hindu community was shocked. "The Hindu Council are completely devastated at such labeling and urge Clarks to take appropriate action to remedy the situation immediately," Mr Sharma said.

International Society for Krishna Consciousness spokesperson in Hertfordshire, Bimal Krishna Das, said the use of Hindu religious names in such a manner was totally distasteful. "Vishnu and Krishna are aspects of one Supreme Personality of Godhead worshipped by nine million Hindus worldwide. It is highly offensive to. relate the sacred names of Vishnu and Krishna with shoes and we hope Clarks will undergo measures to remove the names from their stores," Bimal Krishna Das said.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad, UK secretary Kishor Ruparelia said he was deeply perturbed by the incident.

"The occurrence has injured the sentiments of the over one million British Hindu residents in the United Kingdom. Clarks action amounts to denigration and derision of Hindu spiritual understanding and philosophy.

"We informed Clarks that we could supply them with many other Hindu names or words to replace the, religious names of Vishnu and Krishna," Mr Ruparelia said.

On the issue of catalogues, Clarks said that they were printed for store-reference only and the enclosed products would be out-of-date within the next few weeks. Clarks would be unable to withdraw them from the stores