Upset Indo-Americans urge withdrawal of Gandhi beer in Connecticut

Upset Indo-Americans have urged Woodbridge (Connecticut, USA) based New England Brewing Company to immediately withdraw its “Gandhi” beer, calling it highly inappropriate.

Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that peace icon Mahatma Gandhi abhorred drinking. Selling beer named after him was highly damaging to his legacy and hurt the feelings of Indo-Americans and Indians.

Zed, who is Chairperson of Indo-American Leadership Confederation, pointed out the marketing beer for mercantile greed using Gandhi was trivialization of Gandhian principles and belittling of the Indo-American community and Indians.

Mahatma Gandhi was one of the few men in history to fight simultaneously on moral, religious, political, social, economic, and cultural fronts, and he continues to be widely respected as one of the greatest moral and political leaders of the twentieth century, Rajan Zed noted.

New England Brewing Company, whose tagline is “Drink it. It’s good.”, is a craft brewery launched in 2003 which claims to be listed as one of the top 20 breweries in the country, only second craft brewery on the entire  East Coast to have its beer for sale in cans, and “bring passion for flavor”. Rob Leonard is founder/owner while Matt Westfall is the head brewer who created Gandhi-Bot beer. Its brews are claimed to be “loaded into over 300 bars and restaurants”.

Company website states: “Gandhi-Bot is an intensely hopped double India pale ale with a blend of three varieties of American Hops. Aromatic and fully vegetarian, Gandhi-Bot is an ideal aid for self-purification and the seeking of truth and love.” Beer can shows Gandhi’s sketch with one hand raised as in blessing.