KOCHI: On Wednesday, Jews from all over the world met in the city for a Jewish conference themed “Jews of India, Jews in India.” The conference, which included Jews from Australia, the United States, England, China, and Israel, as well as Indian communities, focused on the contributions of Jews to India’s growth.
The conference on Willingdon Island also served as a networking opportunity for Jews and those interested in the community’s history.
Kenneth Robbins, a Washington, DC-based independent scholar, spoke about Jews who played important roles in India’s history and development. “General Jacob, a Bangladesh war hero, was Jewish. W M Haffkine, a bacteriologist for whom India issued a commemorative stamp, was also a member of the community. In addition, Jews created some statues in India. Another Jew, Walter Kaufman, is responsible for the theme of AIR “Robbins said. Sulochana, a prominent actress in the 1920s, was also a Jew, he added.