The event was organised by the All India Peace and Solidarity Organisation (AIPSO), Goa State Council.
PANAJI
Defying Erasures: Reflections on Palestine, a book by Dr Ranjan Solomon, was launched on April 20 in Panaji, drawing a packed audience and a standing ovation. The event was organised by the All India Peace and Solidarity Organisation (AIPSO), Goa State Council.
The book brings together essays, articles and reflections written over five decades, shaped by the author’s more than 40 visits to Palestine. AIPSO convener Prasanna Utagi, welcoming the gathering, said the publication comes at a crucial time when global peace and solidarity are under strain.
Guest of honour and CPI Goa State Secretary Christopher Fonseca described the work as “a refusal to allow power to dictate memory, law or truth”. He said the essays critically examine Israel’s claims to democracy, question the use of Holocaust memory, and highlight the role of global capital and international law in the conflict.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Solomon said the situation in Palestine reflects a continuing settler-colonial project supported by military and economic power. He also spoke about the need to preserve Palestinian identity and history, and expressed support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement as a non-violent means of resistance.
Published by Mumbai-based Peoples Literature Publication, the book was presented by publisher Vivek Sakpal, who spoke about the challenges of publishing dissenting voices.
The programme, attended by over 50 people, was compered by journalist Kavita Kabeer.
