PS2 title Hanuman: Boy Warrior has angered several Hindus living in New Zealand, who say the game—which features the god as the protagonist—is offensive and belittling to the deity and to the Hindu faith.The Universal Society of Hinduism complained to publisher Sony, who promised to review the game. While this once again questions the medium’s role in representing sacred or sensitive images, it also raises issues of cultural awareness and mutual respect. Hindu spiritual leader Swami Vigyananand doubts the Western attitude toward Hinduism:
“I don’t think people will turn Jesus or Allah into a computer game character. Young people may be playing the game out of ignorance, but I don’t think that is the case for the older people who designed the game,” Swami Vigyananand said.
Well…maybe not so much.
–Lana Polansky