Huff Post: Deepak Sarma.
Another good question to ask concerns the propriety of appropriating or merely utilizing purportedly proprietary Hindu symbols, practices, clothing, images and so on.
The question — basically, “Who owns Hinduism?” — revolves around a number of separate, but related questions: First, who speaks on behalf of, or represents the sentiment of, (all?) Hindus? Second, which items and practices are decidedly “Hindu”? And who determines this? Third, among these Hindu items/artifacts, which are untouchable and can only be appropriated or applied with appropriate approval? And who determines this? Fourth, and significant in the American context, how should courts and sensitive citizens balance the sentiments of individual communities with freedom of speech, blasphemy laws and censorship?