Russian beer with Gandhi on can hurts Indian feelings

A Russian brewery has stirred controversy by featuring Mahatma Gandhi’s image on a beer can. A video showcasing the can, produced by Rewort Brewery for its Hazy IPA, went viral on Instagram, drawing widespread criticism.

In the video, a man is heard saying, “They are selling beer in the name of Mahatma Gandhi, and we are keeping him on our currency.” The irony of using Gandhi—an advocate of abstinence from alcohol—to market beer has fueled public anger.

Many social media users condemned the move, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to intervene. One post read, “Shocking & unacceptable. Gandhi Ji is not a brand for alcohol… this must stop!” Another user called it “an insult to India’s values & a billion Indians.”

This is not the first time Gandhi’s image has been misused for alcohol branding. In 2019, an Israeli company faced backlash for featuring him on liquor bottles, while a Czech brewery rebranded its Mahatma India Pale Ale after protests. A decade ago, a U.S. company also apologized for a similar controversy.

The Russian brewery’s actions have reignited debate over the commercial use of Gandhi’s legacy, with calls for immediate diplomatic action.

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