This is an archive article published on October 13, 2018

A Historical Narrative

A travelling photo exhibition tells the story of Anne Frank against the background of the Holocaust and World War II. At the heart of the exhibition are quotations from Frank’s diary and family photographs.

Written by: Parul

3 min readOct 13, 2018 01:18 AM IST

The exhibition on display at St Kabir school in Chandigarh.

ON her 13th birthday, Anne Frank is given a diary. Just a few weeks later, her life is turned upside down when she has to go into hiding. For over two years, she keeps a record of her thoughts, feelings and experiences in the diary. She has no way of knowing that in the future it will be read by millions all over the world.

“Anne Frank – A History for Today”, an international photographic travelling exhibition about the celebrated diarist and victim of Nazi persecution during World War II, travels to Chandigarh for the first time. St Kabir Public School, Chandigarh, in association with The Anne Frank House, Amsterdam, and PeaceWorks, an initiative of The Seagull Foundation for the Arts, Kolkata, brings the exhibition to Chandigarh, to provide space for students, educators and the general public to engage first-hand with a significant aspect of world history. After travelling to over 60 countries, the series of 32 photographic panels places the story of Anne Frank against the backdrop of the Second World War and the Holocaust.

At the heart of the exhibition are quotations from Frank’s diary and family photographs. This is accompanied by other personal narratives about the consequences of discrimination and persecution. It also includes a screening of The Short Life of Anne Frank directed by Gerrit Netten.

The exhibition on display at St Kabir school in Chandigarh.

Anne Frank’s diary is perhaps the most popularly read account of the atrocities of war told from a child’s point of view, which makes it pertinent for today’s youth. “This is a project that is very dear to me and I organised one edition of the exhibition previously in Bangalore. Ever since I visited the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam in 2008, I nursed the desire to share that moving experience with people in India in some way. These stories should be included in the teaching-learning process, and the diary forms part of the curriculum for Class X students here,” says Deeptha Vivekanand, who is organising the exhibition at St Kabir.

The exhibition, she adds, is important for students to engage with, for it throws light on issues of discrimination, human rights, identity and living with diversity. The diary is a shining example of how personal accounts help people understand the events that shaped world history.
The showcase strives to encourage visitors to think about concepts such as tolerance, mutual respect, human rights and democracy and that a society where differences between people are respected does not come about by itself, she says.

For the general public, the exhibition is open from Saturday, October 13 to 18 at St Kabir Public School, Sector 26, Chandigarh

Parul

Parul is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express in Chandigarh. She is a seasoned journalist with over 25 years of experience specializing in public health, higher education, and the architectural heritage of Northern India. Professional Profile Education: Graduate in Humanities with a specialized focus on Journalism and Mass Communication from Panjab University, Chandigarh. Career Path: She began her career covering local city beats and human interest stories before joining The Indian Express in 2009. Over the last decade and a half, she has risen to the rank of Principal Correspondent, becoming the publication’s primary voice on Chandigarh’s premier medical and academic institutions. Expertise: Her reporting is deeply rooted in the institutional dynamics of PGIMER (Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research) and Panjab University. She is highly regarded for her ability to navigate complex administrative bureaucracies to deliver student-centric and patient-centric news. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2024 - 2025) Her recent work highlights critical reporting on healthcare infrastructure, academic governance, and urban culture: 1. Public Health & PGIMER "PGIMER expands digital registry: Centralized patient records to reduce wait times by 40%" (Nov 20, 2025): A detailed look at the digital transformation of one of India's busiest medical institutes to tackle patient influx. "Robotic Surgery at PGI: Why the new urology wing is a game-changer for North India" (Oct 12, 2025): Reporting on the acquisition of state-of-the-art medical technology and its impact on affordable healthcare. "Shortage of life-saving drugs: Inside the supply chain crisis at government pharmacies" (Dec 5, 2025): An investigative piece on the logistical hurdles affecting chronic patients in the tri-city area. 2. Education & Institutional Governance "Panjab University Senate Election: The battle for institutional autonomy" (Dec 18, 2025): In-depth coverage of the high-stakes internal elections and the friction between traditional governance and central reforms. "Research funding dip: How PU’s science departments are navigating the 2025 budget cuts" (Nov 5, 2025): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing researchers and the impact on India's global academic ranking. 3. Art, Culture & Heritage "Le Corbusier’s legacy in peril: The struggle to preserve Chandigarh’s Capitol Complex" (Dec 22, 2025): A feature on the conservation efforts and the tension between urban modernization and UNESCO heritage status. "Chandigarh Art District: How street murals are reclaiming the city’s grey walls" (Oct 30, 2025): A cultural profile of the local artists transforming the aesthetic of the "City Beautiful." Signature Style Parul is known for her empathetic lens, often centering her stories on the individuals affected by policy—whether it is a student navigating university red tape or a patient seeking care. She possesses a unique ability to translate dense administrative notifications into actionable information for the public. Her long-standing beat experience makes her a trusted source for "inside-track" developments within Chandigarh’s most guarded institutions. X (Twitter): @parul_express ... Read More

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