The Holocaust happened during World War Two, when six million Jews, along with five million other civilians, were murdered. The UN had announced January 27th as the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, in order for us all to never forget these atrocities. Being part of the international community in Bengaluru, the Consulate General of Canada, the Consulate General of Israel, and the Israel Centre at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, held an event to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Bengalurean leaders from the academic and international community gathered for a meaningful evening of discussing the ethical dilemmas of acting beyond their duty when facing evil. After the screening of the Canadian film, ‘The Good Nazi’, IIMB students, the next generation of business leadership, interacted with three consul Generals: Ms. Nicole Girard (Canada), Ms. Dana Kursh (Israel), and, Ms. Margit Hellwig-Boette (Germany). The discussion was moderated by Prof. Abhoy Ojha, Chair, Israel Centre at IIMB and Dean of Academic Programmes at IIMB.
The event was held in the IIMB auditorium, while the ‘Beyond Duty’ exhibition was displayed at the entrance to the auditorium. The exhibition, created by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Holocaust Memorial Center, Yad Vashem, tells the story of 22 diplomats from different countries who went beyond their duty, sometimes at great personal expense, and saved Jewish lives during the Holocaust.
This program is part of the year-long ‘Leadership Beyond Duty’ initiative, launched by the Consulate General of Israel to South India, in May 2019. The initiative aims to educate relevant audiences about the importance of ethical conduct of leaders and taking of brave decisions, ‘beyond their duty’, in times of need. In order to create a wide impact, the Consulate General of Israel has partnered with leaders from various sections such as Business, Education, Civil Society, Religious and other Diplomatic Missions.
Ms. Nicole Girard, Consul General of Canada, said: “In joining Indian students and other participants in honoring those killed during the Holocaust, we are reminded of the lessons of history and our collective responsibility to stand against anti-Semitism, and the continuing need to do what is necessary to work for a peaceful and inclusive world.”
Ms. Dana Kursh, Consul General of Israel to South India, said: As a grandchild of a Holocaust survivors, and part of a nation that rose from the ashes, I am especially Proud of Naama Bengaluru this evening. Proud in the unity of Bengalurean leadership, especially the next generation of India leadership, IIMB students, to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day, and commit to “NEVER AGAIN”. The interaction with the students on ethical dilemmas facing leaders, made me very hopeful about the future”.
Ms. Margit Hellwig-Boette, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bangalore, said: “The Holocaust and the atrocities of the Nazi regime have become part of Germany’s collective memory. We owe it to the victims, to the survivors and to their families to keep this memory alive and to tell the world again and again that every human being has the responsibility to care for the other, regardless of religion, skin color, social status, or whatever our differences may be.”
Prof. Abhoy Ojha, Chair, Israel Centre at IIMB and Dean of Academic Programmes at IIMB, said: “The Israel Centre at IIMB is proud to be a part of an initiative that remembers and confronts history. This evening has given us an opportunity to do so.”