On a poignant Saturday evening in Palakkad, the town’s vibrant cultural community gathered at Vatika garden, transforming it into a powerful stage for solidarity with Palestine. Influential figures from social, artistic, and political spheres united, their voices resonating as they read aloud the names of children tragically lost in Gaza.
The program unfolded with a series of moving performances, including evocative sketches that brought Palestinian struggles to life, heartfelt poetry recitals, and dramatic plays that powerfully portrayed the devastating reality of Gaza under ongoing conflict.
This heartfelt demonstration was part of the ‘Names of Gaza’ initiative, a statewide program aimed at condemning the violence. Participants read the names of 1,500 children, a symbolic act representing the tragic loss of an estimated 18,000 young lives in Gaza, for which Israel faces widespread condemnation.
T.R. Ajayan, chairman of the organizing committee, opened the session by emphasizing the critical need to denounce what he termed Israel’s ‘genocidal aggression.’ Leading figures from the cultural realm, including renowned Kathakali artist Kalamandalam Sivan Namboodiri and celebrated writers like T.K. Sankaranarayanan, P.A. Vasudevan, K.N. Sukumaran, T.K. Narayanadas, K. Mohandas, C. Somasekharan, C.P. Chitrabhanu, and C.P. Chitra, took turns reading the names of the innocent child victims.
The call for peace transcended artistic boundaries, with several political leaders also participating. MLAs A. Prabhakaran, K. Santhakumari, K.D. Prasenan, K. Premkumar, K. Babu, P.P. Sumod, and P. Mammikutty were among those who lent their voices to the solemn reading, alongside K. Binumol, E.N. Suresh Babu, C.K. Rajendran, K.P. Suresh Raj, and Sumalata Mohandas.
Further amplifying the collective outcry, numerous other individuals joined the effort, including T.K. Noushad, Nitin Kanicheri, Janardhanan Pudusseri, M.C. Gangadharan, Boban Mattumantha, Gireesh Nochulli, Sabari Gireesh, and Rajesh Menon, each contributing to the powerful tribute.
The event also served as a visual testament, with an exhibition of 40 photographs graphically illustrating the stark realities of Israeli actions and the humanitarian crisis in Palestine. In a profound act of artistic expression, talents such as Sreeja Pallam, P.S. Jalaja, Ramanan, Durga Malati, Chayanathan, Unnikrishnan Nenmara, Kannan Image, Joby Chittur, Priya Sreelatha, V.R. Sivadas, Arya P., Sreevalsan, Sarundas, and Sivan Kavalappara created live paintings, pouring their emotions and solidarity onto canvas.
Adding another layer of innocence and hope, school children participated by creating live drawings inspired by Palestine. C.P. Pramod, the general convener of the organizing committee, extended a warm welcome to all attendees, and Prasad Mathew concluded the heartfelt event with a vote of thanks.