Thousands of kilometers away from the ongoing conflict in Gaza, people in southern India’s Kerala state are taking to the streets to express their solidarity with the Palestinian people. In Kozhikode last week, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of Kerala inaugurated a rally organized by his Communist Party of India (Marxist). Over 50,000 people, spanning various political affiliations, attended the event. The rally, held on November 11, public spaces are filled with protesters and candlelight vigils, demonstrating the widespread concern and support for those affected by the violence.
Since October 7, over 11,300 Palestinians, nearly half of whom are children, have lost their lives in Israeli air strikes and ground attacks on Gaza. This surge in violence followed an unprecedented move by Hamas, entering Israel and resulting in the death of 1,200 people, according to official figures.
Kerala’s Vocal Advocacy
The international community has expressed outrage over Israel’s relentless and disproportionate targeting of civilians, along with the siege on hospitals providing critical care. Solidarity marches have been organized worldwide for more than a month in response to these events.
In Kerala, various political parties, rights activists, cultural groups, and Muslim organizations have organized rallies and events. These gatherings advocate for an urgent ceasefire in the besieged enclave, condemning Israel for what they allege are war crimes.
The rally, held on November 11, commemorated the 19th death anniversary of Yasser Arafat, the iconic leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) known for his resistance against the long-standing Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. During his address, Vijayan strongly criticized Israel and condemned Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his support of the far-right Zionist regime in the country.
“India is the biggest consumer of weapons manufactured in Israel. Indian taxpayers’ money should not be given to kill innocent Palestinian children. So, India should scrap all military deals with Israel and sever diplomatic ties with it,” he said.
“Israel is one of the biggest terrorist countries. The Indian government’s decision to abstain from a UN voting that called for a ceasefire in Gaza was shameful. He added that the ‘Zionist’ bias of the current rulers of India was not a surprise at all.
In response, K Surendran, the Kerala state president of the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), challenged Vijayan to condemn Hamas. On October 26, Kozhikode witnessed India’s largest-ever Palestine solidarity march, with over 200,000 people participating. The Indian Union Muslim League initiated this rally, urging citizens to take to the streets in opposition to the war on Gaza. The Indian National Congress, the primary opposition party in the southern Indian state, has also announced a solidarity rally scheduled for November 23.
What makes Kerala so sensitive to the Palestinian cause?
“The Palestine issue garners widespread support in Kerala because of the historical connections between the region and West Asia, particularly the Arab world,” According to KM Seethi, a former professor of international relations at Mahatma Gandhi University in the town of Kottayam, Kerala, as shared with Al Jazeera.
The migration of Keralites to the Gulf in the early 1980s heightened their awareness of Palestinian challenges, fostering a natural sympathy. With nearly 3.5 million Keralites working in the Middle East, they form a significant majority of Indian expatriates.
Even before the Gulf migration, Kerala’s public intellectuals closely followed Arab world developments. Vakkom Mohammed Abdul Khader Moulavi, founder of Swadeshabhimani (The Patriot) in 1905, was a key figure using his newspaper to enlighten the public about Middle East issues, including Palestine.
The book “Palestine Prashnam” utilizes historical documents to uncover how Britain exploited Palestine for political gains. Written by Kannu, a former member of the editorial board of Al Ameen, another newspaper founded by Congress leader Mohammed Abdur Rahiman.
