An exhibition that highlights the relevance of Anne Frank and the contribution that her account made in shaping the understanding of Nazi history

Right before going into hiding to avoid persecution, Anne Frank was presented with a diary on her thirteenth birthday. Over the next two years, she penned down her thoughts and her feelings in the diary, not knowing that one day it would be read by millions across the world.

Highlighting the story of Anne Frank against the backdrop of the Second World War and the Holocaust, the travelling exhibition — ‘Anne Frank — A History for Today’ is on display in Delhi.

Discovered and arrested by police officers after two years, the Frank family was deported to German concentration camps where everyone lost their lives, apart from Otto Frank, who later compiled the diary and got it published.

Frank’s diary, comprising of vivid observations and experiences, is one of the world’s most popularly read personal accounts of the Holocaust. Complete with quotations from her diary and the Frank family’s photographs, the exhibition showcases how personal accounts can help us understand events that shaped world history and understand their relevance in today’s age.

The exhibition is put together by The Anne Frank House, Amsterdam, PeaceWorks, an initiative of The Seagull Foundation for the Arts and the Embassy of the Netherlands in India.

“We would like the students and visitors to think and discuss about the content of the exhibition. We have seen that students who have read the diary feel very connected to recent incidents in the fields of human rights violation, intolerance and discrimination. Hence, it is even more relevant today,” says Maren Klein, a spokesperson from the Embassy of Netherlands.

Adding to this, a documentary directed by Gerrit Netten, titled ‘The Short Life of Anne Frank’ is being screened. The short documentary highlights the story of Anne Frank told against the background of Nazi- Germany, the Holocaust and the Second World War. The film includes quotes from Anne Frank’s journal, historical photos and an archive film. The film also contains the only known footage of Anne Frank (taken in 1941) and a video of Otto Frank in English (taken in the 1960s).

The exhibition is on display at India International Centre till April 29