Keralites have shown ingratitude towards the Jews by failing to protect the community’s synagogues and cemeteries in the State, according to M.G. S. Narayanan, noted historian.
Delivering the inaugural address at the two-day national seminar on ‘Jews of Kochi: Past and Present’ organised by the Department of History at Ernakulam Maharaja’s College here on Thursday, Mr. Narayanan recalled the encroachments on the Jewish monuments being made by the local bodies in places such as Mala, which has been recorded in history as an important Jewish settlement. Mr. Narayanan said the Jewish families, who left for their native place in Israel in the mid 1950s, had handed over their land consisting of the synagogue and cemetery to the Mala panchayat. They had given the land on a request that it would not be used for any other purpose.
The renowned historian accused the panchayat authorities of having violated the agreement by encroaching upon the monuments on several occasions. Of the 30-odd graves that once stood in the cemetery, only three remain now exposing the blatant encroachments and ingratitude shown towards the Jewish community, he said. Mr. Narayanan said concerted efforts by historians, locals, and like-minded persons had checked further encroachments in the region. The situation is similar in other Jewish settlements in the State. We have been ungrateful to the Jews, who had loved our State and its rich tradition, he said. The noted historian also blamed the political parties in the State of failing to protect such heritage structures in the State.
Experts in the field of Jewish studies from various parts of the State attended the inaugural day of the two-day workshop held at Maharaja’s College. .
