Remember Ashok Todi? The guy who became (in)famous last September by having his son-in-law Rizwanoor Rahaman murdered? Well, it seems he also sells underwear when he is not murdering people or having them threatened by the police, and the name of his company (Lux Hosiery Industries Ltd) is actually a copy of one of the best known soap brands in the world ("Lux" has a meaning in Latin, but it would be an insult to Ashok Todi to think that he knows Latin and prefers "meaning" to plagiarism). A quick search on Google will show that this company also ran into trouble for an obscene advertisement which was eventually banned from airing on TV. In short, the man and his company have aways been on the wrong side of the law.
In keeping with this tradition, this September Lux Cozi Innerwear has created a hoarding and put it up all over Kolkata (and probably other places in West Bengal) on the occasion of Durga Puja with a stolen photo. The hoarding (see photo above) is basically a collage of different images with a "kashphool" photo as the background below, and the photographer who took that kashphool photo is none other than yours truly (See photo below). I was never told about this, of course. I came to know about this today thanks to my photographer friend Mandar who also photographed the hoarding. Incidentally, this is the same photo that New Jersey based Sreeshti.org used for their Puja website last week. I brushed it aside as a funny coincidence in my previous blog post because they were not using it for some commercial purpose. Here, however, things are different. A company has stolen my photo and is using it for an advertisement without even bothering to inform me, let alone pay me for it. This is a punishable offense.
On second thoughts, murder, or forcing one into suicide, is a punishable offense too. If the man can go free with that, he will certainly survive my copyright infringement charge.
I may not.
With friends like the Police Commissioner of Kolkata (who fought with the media and redefined the role of the police force when asked why the police officers were threatening Rizwanoor), I'm sure Ashok Todi can prove that I sold him that photo for a few thousand rupees. He may even produce some SMS messages from my mobile to him requesting him to use my photo for his underwear advertisement. He seems to have a knack for such things. Besides, my being here in the US will not help matters. I can't fly to India to appear before a Kolkata judge twice a month.
So I'm doing the only thing that I can do - write a blog post about this thief and murderer, and hoping that the Goddess gives him his due. After all, which dignified lady would like her portrait pasted on a stolen picture in an underwear advertisement?
In keeping with this tradition, this September Lux Cozi Innerwear has created a hoarding and put it up all over Kolkata (and probably other places in West Bengal) on the occasion of Durga Puja with a stolen photo. The hoarding (see photo above) is basically a collage of different images with a "kashphool" photo as the background below, and the photographer who took that kashphool photo is none other than yours truly (See photo below). I was never told about this, of course. I came to know about this today thanks to my photographer friend Mandar who also photographed the hoarding. Incidentally, this is the same photo that New Jersey based Sreeshti.org used for their Puja website last week. I brushed it aside as a funny coincidence in my previous blog post because they were not using it for some commercial purpose. Here, however, things are different. A company has stolen my photo and is using it for an advertisement without even bothering to inform me, let alone pay me for it. This is a punishable offense.
On second thoughts, murder, or forcing one into suicide, is a punishable offense too. If the man can go free with that, he will certainly survive my copyright infringement charge.
I may not.
With friends like the Police Commissioner of Kolkata (who fought with the media and redefined the role of the police force when asked why the police officers were threatening Rizwanoor), I'm sure Ashok Todi can prove that I sold him that photo for a few thousand rupees. He may even produce some SMS messages from my mobile to him requesting him to use my photo for his underwear advertisement. He seems to have a knack for such things. Besides, my being here in the US will not help matters. I can't fly to India to appear before a Kolkata judge twice a month.
So I'm doing the only thing that I can do - write a blog post about this thief and murderer, and hoping that the Goddess gives him his due. After all, which dignified lady would like her portrait pasted on a stolen picture in an underwear advertisement?
many of us are victims of this trend...
ReplyDeletehmmmm, this is sad
ReplyDeleteWell, Sugata, as per Mandar's info I too am a victim!! I have had no objection in the photo being part of a collage with the Goddess (of course with prior permission). But to be part of an ad for undergarment and that too of a company owned by the despeakable one, makes it obnoxious!!! Liked the way you've written about it in your blog!! Can this be publicised some more, say in some more popular website of West Bengal? Just speaking out loud about a thought!!
ReplyDeleteWell, Sugata,to avoid confusion, that was Rufaro ,who sent the comment above
ReplyDeleteTry complaining to http://www.ascionline.org/ with proof
ReplyDeleteSakal karya dakhen bosiya Sitapati janalate,
ReplyDeletejar ja paona hisab koriya tule den tar hate.