Washington, January 28: The world pauses every January 27 to observe International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a solemn occasion to confront one of history’s darkest chapters. In India, the event drew high-profile attendees, including Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, underscoring global solidarity against hatred.
Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, delivered a poignant message, describing the day as a stark recognition of the systematic attempt to eradicate the Jewish people. ‘This dangerous racist ideology took root in Germany and spread across Europe during World War II,’ he stated, emphasizing the need for collective memory to prevent recurrence.
Azar highlighted the responsibility shared by all nations to remember these atrocities. He expressed gratitude for the participation of global leaders, particularly noting Foreign Secretary Misri’s presence as a gesture of respect. The ambassador also spotlighted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, an organization combating antisemitism through education and advocacy, inviting countries like India to join its vital mission.
The Holocaust, orchestrated by Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler from 1933 to 1945, claimed over six million Jewish lives, alongside Roma, Sinti, and countless others subjected to unimaginable cruelty. Eighty-one years after liberation from these horrors, January 27 marks the anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation, serving as an annual reminder of resilience and the fragility of humanity.
As echoes of that era warn against rising intolerance today, events like these reinforce the imperative to educate future generations. Ambassador Azar’s call to action resonates: remembrance is not just duty, but a bulwark against history’s repetition.