The swastika is one of the most recognizable symbols in India, and is a part of the Indian culture in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, representing an ancient Sanskrit word meaning "well being." The hooked cross symbol of the swastika has a rich history, dating back thousands of years. But, it was only this past century that the symbol grew a completely different meaning and became the symbol of suppression and inhuman extermination.

By early 19th century, the swastika was a common symbol across the west.

From everything including advertising, design and even hockey jerseys, the swastika was soon becoming a popular design among anyone and everyone. In fact, American military units used the symbol as part of their uniform in the First World War and RAF planes had the symbol painted on them as late as 1939.

Then Hitler happened, and the swastika got a completely new meaning.

The work of a few German scholars drew parallels between the Sanskrit use of the symbol with their own language. The Nazis soon imagined a shared ancestry between the Indians and themselves, and concluded their lineage to have come from an ancient god-like warrior race - the Aryans. The Nazi empire quickly rose to power in 1939 and soon ordered the extermination of the Jewish race, throwing the whole world into chaos.