Hitler is being promoted as a management guru for business studies students in India, who are advised by lecturers to read Mein Kampf and Hitler’s autobiography for educational purposes.

Sales of Mein Kampf topped 10,000 in New Delhi alone in the past six months and are expected to rise further.

A spokesman for Embassy Books in Mumbai, who publish Mein Kampf, said: “People are looking at it from a business angle, especially as Hitler had such a strong influence on the world.

“Students are told to use Mein Kampf and draw parallels with India to learn business strategies. Even for non-students Hitler’s books are popular texts and are clearly displayed in most book stores around India.”

A business student living in Mumbai said that many people in India see Hitler as a good role model for directing a company and cite him as an inspiration in people management.