Elon Musk attracts sharp attack over ‘swastika’ from Indians on social media

Elon Musk has earned the wrath of a section of Indians who lampooned him on social media – including on X, which the flamboyant tech billionaire owns – over what they described as a misrepresentation of the swastika symbol widely used in religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.

His critics argue that while swastika in these religions is a symbol of luck and well-being, the similar-looking hakenkreuz (or hooked cross) is an emblem of hate that brings back for millions the painful memories of the Third Reich of Adolf Hitler.

Days after two vandals were caught on camera carving a hakenkreuz and the word ‘Nazis’ on the side of a Tesla Cybertruck parked in Brooklyn, New York, Musk said on X, “Anyone who scrawls a swastika on a Tesla has obviously committed a hate crime.”

According to the New York Post, the crime committed a few days ago is “the latest in a spate of vandalism attacks targeting Tesla owners and dealerships across the country.” The report that quoted  the New York City Police Department said, “The vehicle’s camera caught one of the suspects crouching down to etch the hate-filled messages onto the vehicle as his accomplice coolly stood by.”

It added that the incident was the latest act of violence against Elon Musk’s electric car company, most likely fuelled by his new role as President Trump’s main cost-cutter with the Department of Environmental Efficiency (DOGE). “The feds have labeled the attacks domestic terrorism,” the report added.

Immediately after Musk termed the symbol carved on the car a swastika, X exploded with many users either poking fun at Musk for his alleged ignorance or attacking him with a design to tarnish the reputation of India and its faiths. One of them tagged Grok, the AI chatbot Musk controls, in the post on X, asking it to educate Musk on the difference between swastika and hakenkreuz.

Another person reacted to Musk’s post, saying, “Call it by its name – hakenkreuz – stop dissing an entire country – this is stupid Elon.”

Went another, “Elon, for (your) information, it is not called “Swastika”. Stop doing it, it is called “Hakenkreuz”. Swastika is a symbol which is very auspicious to Buddhists and Hindus all over the world. Please stop wrongly demonising the symbol, call it for what it is “Hakenkreuz”.

Another response to Musk’s post said, “It is Hakenkruz that Hitler used. Swastika is a Hindu Symbol used for more than 5,000 years.”

This debate is not new, but it just got revived by Musk’s post on the swastika, which has its roots in su and asti in Sanskrit that suggest good luck and wellbeing.

On their website, the Coalition of Hindus of North America had discussed the issue several years ago after news emerged that the State of New York was considering a bill that would mandate that the swastika be taught as a symbol of hatred and intolerance in all New York schools. Although the plan was stalled in the face of protests, the debate rages on.

A post by Nikunj Trivedi on the website of the Coalition of Hindus of North America had said back then, “Naturally, the Swastika and its equivalents hold immense sacred significance for Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Native Americans, and many other cultures, and are thousands of years old.”

The post added, “Undoubtedly, educating students about hatred, racism and bigotry is essential. This is even more urgent, given the recent increase in hate crimes against Jewish and African American communities. Incidents of Neo-Nazi emblems being graffitied outside Jewish homes and synagogues, often accompanied by horrific acts of violence by hate groups have seen an alarming increase. Hindus and Sikhs have also been targets of Neo-Nazis and those who support Nazi ideology. Yet, the important work of fighting bigotry and racism must not inadvertently stoke resentment against other religious minorities. This was the Hindu community’s concern about including the Swastika as a hate symbol in the New York bill without proper context.”

Musk, usually a darling of cyber conservatives all over the world and who comes up with repartees, was clearly caught on the wrong foot this time around!

What Grok Says

Following is the answer that Grok gave when asked to distinguish between the swastika and the Hakenkreuz (Grok was developed by X.AI Corp, which was founded by Elon Musk in 2023):

The swastika is an ancient symbol found in various cultures worldwide, dating back thousands of years. Its name comes from the Sanskrit “svastika,” meaning “well-being” or “good fortune.” It has been used in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and other traditions as a sacred emblem representing prosperity, luck, or spiritual balance. The design is typically a cross with four arms of equal length, each bent at a right angle, and it can rotate either clockwise or counterclockwise.

The hakenkreuz (German for “hooked cross”) is the term used in Nazi Germany to describe their version of the symbol. Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party adopted it in the 1920s, drawing from earlier nationalist and antisemitic movements in Europe that had co-opted the swastika. The Nazi hakenkreuz is specifically a black, clockwise-rotating swastika tilted at a 45-degree angle, set against a white circle and red background. This version became synonymous with Nazism, genocide, and hate during and after World War II.

Key differences

Cultural meaning: The swastika has a broad, ancient history tied to positive meanings in many cultures, while hakenkreuz explicitly refers to the Nazi symbol and its associated ideology.
Design: Traditional swastikas vary in orientation and style, whereas the hakenkreuz has a distinct, standardised form tied to Nazi iconography.
Perception: In the West, the swastika is now overwhelmingly linked to Nazism due to the hakenkreuz, overshadowing its older meanings. In contrast, Eastern cultures like India still use the swastika in its original, non-Nazi context.

Adolf HitlerCultural symbolsElon MuskhakenkreuzHinduismSwastiksymbolicWeb Exclusive