International Holocaust Remembrance Day

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Journée de la mémoire de l’Holocauste et de la prévention des crimes contre l’humanité

Tuesday, 1 February 2011

M.L. Bhartia Auditorium, 6:30 p.m.

 « Le bourreau tue toujours deux fois, la seconde fois par l’oubli.»

“The executioner always kills twice, the second time through silence.” (Elie Wiesel)

Alliance française de Delhi in association with the Embassy of Israel, the Embassy of France andthe European Union Delegation will commemorate, for the first time in New Delhi, Holocaust Memorial Day.
The Holocaust refers to the state-sponsored annihilation of European Jews by the Nazi state and its allies in the period before and during the Second World War (1932-45). Approximately 6 million Jews perished and were the main victims. The Nazis also targeted Gypsies, homosexuals, Slavs and political dissidents. The traumatic events of the Holocaust utterly scarred and shaped the history and politics of the 21st century. The need to remember and commemorate the events is indisputable.

The thematic of the commemoration will be to broadly describe the significance of the Holocaust in the present with an aim to suggesting how it is relevant for Indian audiences. The commemoration will begin with addresses by Mr. Jérôme Bonnafont, Ambassador of France, Mr. Mark Sofer, Ambassador of Israel, Mrs. Danièle Smadja, Ambassador, Head of the Delegation of the European Union and Mr. M. J. Akbar, Editorial Director India Today. This will be followed by a candle lighting ceremony and short musical performances. The evening will conclude with a film screening from 7:30pm: Spring 1941 (Director: Uri Barbash, 120 min, in English).