In a fresh wave of anger, Hindus are once again demanding the global removal of Kali Ma: A Collection of Short Stories—a book whose cover depicts Maa Kali in a vulgar and distorted form. The outrage isn’t new. The book was removed from Amazon India following sustained protests in 2023, yet nearly two years later, it remains available on Amazon US.
The fight to protect Hindu sentiments from global platforms is longstanding. But what makes the current controversy particularly infuriating is the timeline, and the selective action taken.
For almost two full years, Hindu voices have called for the removal of a cover they describe as blasphemous and deeply offensive. And yet, Amazon acted only partially. The book was delisted in India under pressure, but still remains live on Amazon.com in 2025, leaving many to question whether Hindu sentiments matter only within Indian borders.
The First Wave: Mid-2023
The original controversy began in mid-2023, when the cover of the book, showing Maa Kali in a grotesque and degrading visual, sparked backlash from Hindu groups and social media users. Influential accounts like @Randomsena tagged Amazon, condemning the book for crossing the line of religious sensitivity.
The author, E.L.T. Fullah, further fueled outrage during an Instagram Live where he said:
“If I was Hindu, I would worship only dark brown skin versions of Rama and Krishna, which they probably actually were.”
“The irony of calling yourself a Hindu nationalist yet all the images of the Gods you worship have white skin.”
These statements, paired with the book cover, were seen by many as deliberate provocation. Under pressure, Amazon India delisted the book, seemingly closing the matter.
The Second Wave: June 2025
However, on June 11, 2025, the outrage returned when Users on X revealed that the book was still available on Amazon’s US platform.
“Amazon is selling ‘Kali Ma’ with a vile, insulting image of Maa Kali on the cover. There should be strict action against this!” The Jaipur Dialogues post said.
Screenshots quickly went viral. Users again demanded action. The Jaipur Dialogues and others reactivated the #BoycottAmazon call, tagging diplomats, ministry officials, and Amazon’s global CEO, Andy Jassy, urging immediate removal.
The book remains live on Amazon.com as of this writing, despite being pulled from Indian listings nearly two years ago.
Western Double Standards: Silence for Hindus, Outrage for Others
The core of the backlash now isn’t just the image, it’s the hypocrisy.
Had this cover featured other religious figures in grotesque form, the global media would have erupted. Lawsuits, bans, apologies, and firings would have followed within days. But because it’s Maa Kali, because it’s Hinduism, and because it’s India, platforms like Amazon feel emboldened to ignore it—or worse, continue to profit from it.
This isn’t ignorance. It’s a pattern, a system that enables Western corporations to mock Hindu deities without consequence.
Hindu Voices Are Rising, But Is It Enough?
Despite strong objections in 2023 and fresh protests in 2025, the book remains available abroad. The platform has ignored renewed calls for global removal.
“Requesting @DrSJaishankar & Indian embassies to summon Amazon’s CEO… Remove the book or we will #BoycottAmazon,” posted one User.
Yet the silence from Amazon leadership, particularly CEO Andy Jassy, has been telling.
NRIs Must Wake Up, Silence Is Not Neutrality
The fact that this cover has remained online for two full years, despite organized protest and partial action, is a wake-up call for Hindus, especially the NRI community.
Western corporations will not act unless forced to. Hindu voices abroad must raise complaints, file petitions, and demand accountability—not just within India but across the global platforms profiting from their silence.
This isn’t just about one book. It’s about respect. And the systematic denial of that respect. If Hindus won’t defend their gods globally, no one else will.