By Prof Ujjwal Anu Chowdhury
The so-called ceasefire in Palestine has been brought into effect on October 10 after Hamas freed the remaining alive 21 Jew hostages. Israeli army still maintains control over most of Gaza, continues to hold thousands of Palestinian refugees, has started renewed action in West Bank rapaciously stealing land and resources there, and at least a hundred Palestinians have been killed since Oct 10.
And in the last two years of 'war', which is actually a genocide, more than 70,000 killed, largely women, children and the elderly, more than 120,000 injured, and countless suffering hunger and homelessness now.
"Indifference is the deadweight of history,": Antonio Gramsci, Italian philosopher.
Yes, International Court of Justice has held Israel twice guilty of genocide and declared its ruler Netanyahu a war criminal. UN Security Council and the General Assembly have declared the so-called war, a classic full-scale text-book case of genocide. The most responsible nation for the birth of Israel, the United Kingdom, along with Australia, NZ and most of Europe, apart from the usual others, have recognised the State of Palestine and stressed upon the two-nation theory.
Israel, and it's benefactor, the USA, stand isolated. Yet the oppression continues, aid does not reach the Palestinian people, only a handful of their thousands of hostages have been freed, and there is a hypocritical diplomacy by most of the nations, ours included.
Ubuntu: I am because you are. The ages-long African wisdom is best seen ignored by mankind today. Sumud- the Arabic for Steadfastness, is best seen by the besieged historical people, the Palestinians. For them, the steadfast resilience is the only way of life, resilience with grace, defiance with dignity. It is seen in countless stories in the media, of injured grandmothers telling her Palestinian grand-children amidst rubble of their homes, "Remember, you have to rise again." It is there among the West Bank farmers who are now replanting Olive saplings exactly where the armed Jewish settlers had uprooted their fully grown trees. It is seen in the pictures of ill-fed unbathed Palestinian children studying under plastic sheets where their schools once stood. Palestine will eventually write the strongest story of graceful yet defiant survival against the worst oppressions of this century.
It is heartening to see from the streets of Japan, across European cities of Italy and Spain, and upto the universities of the US, YOUNG people are up in strong loud rallies against the genocide. That hundred and more nations are recognizing the State of Palestine. That sports and trade and film meets boycotting Israel. Even Jew citizens asking to end the siege and young Jews refusing to join the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) even facing arrest.
In the land of Gandhi and Netaji, what are we doing? If not anything else, at least speak, write, rally, enact street theatre, protest art, organize seminars and create awareness. Let your tiny voice be heard and your conscience clear for posterity. Even a small stone can create ripples in dead water.
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