Hitler and Frankenstein run for office in India
By JPOST.COM STAFF
02/20/2013 15:05
State level elections in Meghalaya have shone a light on the most unusual list of candidates.
Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's monster Photo: Courtesy
This week's local elections in India have brought into the spotlight an unusual
practice left over from colonial days, according to AFP, with some of the
candidates sporting somewhat distinctive names.
For Hitler and Frankenstein are
apparently among the 343 political wannabes hoping snag one of 60 spots open on
the state legislative assembly in Meghalaya.
History professor Sanjeeb Kakoty of
the Indian Institute of Management in Shillong, the capital of the northeastern
state of Meghalaya, told AFP that the outlandish names are a throwback to
British colonial rule, and new parents often name their offspring at random,
with little thought to the actual meaning of a word.
If the list of
candidates is anything to go by, this is indeed the case; AFP says that joining
Hitler and Frankenstein in the race are Boldness Billykid, Hilarious Pochen and
Hopeful Bamon.
Adolf Lu Hitler-Marak told AFP that his parents had not been
aware of his namesake's bloody history and was adamant that aside from his
mustache, he has nothing in common with the Nazi dictator.