Washington: The Indian community in US is outraged over the publication of an article degrading Mahatma Gandhi and carrying 21 sketches showing the 'Father of the Nation' being kicked, choked and thrown.

The latest edition of 'Maxim', a lifestyle magazine, in an alleged humour article depicts a strapping man in a "Muscle" T-shirt beating up an image of Gandhi.

The article, attempting to show how fighting can bring fitness, calls for "a healthy regimen of violent assaults" and urges readers to "teach those pacifists a lesson about aggression".

Websites of non-violence and non-resident Indian (NRI) activists are full of calls for protests and debate is on whether to sue the magazine, which has a history of making fun of Gandhi.

The 21-graphic pictures accompanying the three-page article show the man punching, kicking, jumping on and throwing Gandhi, fanning the flames of hatred.

"This should not be taken silently. Ask for an unconditional apology from the magazine, tell them to stop this violent hate against non-violence," said www.indiacause.com, a Website concentrating on India-related issues in the US.

It asked the community to make strong protest by writing to the magazine.

"My first reaction is 'how stupid', my next reaction is 'how sad'," Michelle Naef of the M K Gandhi Institute in Memphis was quoted as saying by www.tolerance.org, a Website that promotes non-violence.

"How sad it is that they don't understand how special a person he (Gandhi) was...special and incredibly strong," Naef said.

"Gandhi spent his life fasting and being tortured...Clearly, they have no clue who they're dealing with, to depict him this way."

In today's context, after September 11 terrorist attacks in the US and with the anti-war movement, "this article is telling people to beat the crap out of Asians and pacifists", said Michael Matsuda, chairperson of the Orange County Asian Pacific Islander Community Alliance in California.

"It is fanning the flames of hatred and bigotry.... That should be offensive to everyone," he told www.tolerance.org.

Both Naef and Matsuda, along with other pacifist organisations are seeking formal apology from 'Maxim', which had run a so-called 'stupid fun' article in 2000 titled "Oh, Calcutta: Three reasons to Hate... Gandhi".

"There is a deep and fundamental misunderstanding of what non-violence is all about," Naef said.

"Gandhi was an incredibly strong person. Muscle strength can't possibly come close to the kind of strength Mahatma Gandhi had."

Ironically, 'Maxim' has launched its first Asian edition two months ago, "just in time for it to make fun of one of the most revered men on the Asian continent", Naef said.

PTI