EntertainmentPosted at: Nov 8 2025 12:07PM


India, Palestine offer key entry points to study human displacement: Historian Suranjan Das

Kolkata, Nov 8 (UNI) It is now essential to build comparative perspectives on human displacement, says renowned historian Suranjan Das, suggesting the experiences of India and Palestine could offer meaningful starting points for such discussions.
Addressing a symposium on Beyond Borders: Displacement Migration at the 31st Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF), Das said, "The time has come to develop comparative perspectives on human displacement, and India and Palestine could be an entry point."
Das, now the Vice-Chancellor of Adamas University, described both India and Palestine as outcomes of "artificial decolonisation", moments when state boundaries failed to align with cultural or national identities.
Tracing the historical roots of migration, Das explained that while mobility is as old as humankind, it became politically contentious with the rise of the modern nation-state in the 19th century.
"In this context, international migration inherently raises attention between the right of individuals to circulate freely — a right rooted in international human rights law — and the right of states to control their borders, based on the principles of sovereignty and institutionalised in international and domestic constitutional law.
The irony is that, although since the French Revolution, the right to leave one’s country has been considered a natural human right, there exists no corresponding right of entry, even now," he said.
Das highlighted that Indian cinema has served as a vital repository of these experiences from Nemai Ghosh's "Chhinnamul" which offered a stark depiction of refugee migration to Ritwik Ghatak's Partition trilogy - "Meghe Dhaka Tara", "Komal Gandhar" and"Subarnarekha"- which transformed displacement into a language of cinematic poetry.
He further referenced landmark films such as "Garam Hawa", "Earth", and "Pinjar" as essential works that chronicle the human dimensions of Partition.
"But there are certain other vital aspects of human displacement which, perhaps, have not been adequately addressed by these films, especially those relating to the partition of India.
"One is the problematic differential experience of refugees, and the other leads to the constructive role played by refugees in the nation-building process. How they were traumatised and fought back against all odds in the country where they arrived - this was their triumph," said the former Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University.
Drawing parallels with Palestine, the noted academician referred to the works of directors like Elia Suleiman and Hany Abu Assad, whose films like "Divine Intervention" and "Paradise Now" document the ongoing struggles of those rendered stateless since 1948.
He concluded with a pertinent remark by British historian Eric Hobsbawm, "The past is a permanent dimension of the human consciousness, an inevitable component of institutions, values, and patterns of society. The problem for historians is to analyse the nature of this sense of the past in society and to trace its changes and transformations." UNI NST MI SSP
Please log in to get detailed story.
Tags: #India# Palestine offer key entry points to study human displacement: Historian Suranjan Das
More News

Meghna Gulzar begins final shoot of Kareena-Prithviraj starrer ‘Daayra’

07 Dec 2025 | 2:39 PM

New Delhi, Dec 7 (UNI) After delivering critically acclaimed films like ‘Talvar’, ‘Raazi’, and ‘Sam Bahadur’, director Meghna Gulzar is now gearing up for her next project, ‘Daayra’, starring Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran.

see more..

Ranveer Singh’s ‘Dhurandhar’ opens strong, crosses Rs 50 crore

07 Dec 2025 | 2:23 PM

New Delhi, Dec 7 (UNI) Ranveer Singh’s high-octane spy thriller ‘Dhurandhar’, directed by Aditya Dhar, has kicked off its box office journey with a strong opening weekend, showing impressive momentum and growth.

see more..

‘The Boys’ season five debuts April 8, trailer unveiled

07 Dec 2025 | 1:00 PM

Washington, Dec 7 (UNI) Amazon Prime Video has confirmed that the fifth and final season of its hit satirical superhero series “The Boys” will debut on April 8, launching with its first two episodes. New episodes will premiere weekly, culminating in the series finale on May 20, Variety reported.

see more..

Katy Perry makes relation with Justin Trudeau Instagram official

07 Dec 2025 | 12:45 PM

Washington, Dec 7 (UNI) Singer-songwriter Katy Perry appears to have made her relationship with former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Instagram official.

see more..

Netflix tells subscribers no immediate changes after ‘Warner Bros ’ deal

07 Dec 2025 | 12:32 PM

Los Angeles, Dec 7 (UNI) Following the announcement of its landmark deal to acquire ‘Warner Bros. and HBO Max,’ Netflix has emailed subscribers to assure them that nothing is changing, for now, regarding their plans or the service, reports Variety.

see more..