Auschwitz
Posted on June 21st, 2018
by Dr Ruwan M Jayatunge
My heart cried
When my feet touched Auschwitz
Although many years have passed
It seems like yesterday
I was brought here
Along with my family
We traveled three nights in a cattle train
Fully packed and had no space to move
When my little sister asked for water
I gave my water bottle with a small loaf of bread
Then she slept on my lap
But I was awake all the time
When the train stopped
The Doors were opened
There were no welcome signs
The SS men came with guns and dogs
SS-Totenkopfverbände greeted no one
When I saw Sonder- Commanders
I could read their eyes
They moved like living dead
Gave no word or smile
It was winter and I felt cold
I took a deep breath
My inner mind whispered
You have come to the land of death
When the Commandant came
We were separated
Some went to the labor camp
And the others to the gas chamber
They gased my parents
Along with my little sister
Their ashes were scattered
All over Auschwitz
Countless nights
I lived with the memory of my family
I worked all day long
But we were under fed
Famine and cold
Fear and beatings
Humiliations and torture
Every single day
We experienced death
There was no hope
There was no salvation
Only option left was
The electrified fence
After many years
We heard rumors
The War is going to end
And the Red Army is moving towards Berlin
In the final days of the War
The Nazis were frantic
Joshua said
They might terminate us all
On the 27th January 1945
The Red Army came to Auschwitz
Many of us were walking skeletons
They gave us food
And said soon the War will be over
Many became astonished
But my feelings were numbed
On the day of the liberation
Auschwitz survivors were parted
Many went to their homes
But I had no place to go
Because my family was no more
With Joshua I moved to Santa Barbara
Many years after the war
Again I came to Auschwitz
Not as a prisoner this time
But as a witness
This is the place they eliminated my entire family
I recalled my parents and little sister
They went through the gas chimney
Without telling me good bye
I tightly held Joshua’s hand
When I saw the remnants of the gas chamber
I felt despair
I had no tears to cry
I could hear many voices in this place
Million and half
Men women and children
Who were murdered by the Nazis
Then I clearly heard my little sister saying
Sara thank you for coming to see me
I closed my eyes
I wanted to be alone
Why did they do this to us?
Why Why ?
If I could speak to the whole world
I would say a few words
Please do not let it happen
Never again
Never again
June 22nd, 2018 at 2:57 am
I can understand the reason for the doctor to come out with this at this time.
I met a German Engineer who had been a Hitler’s young soldier in a construction project close to Colombo in early 70s. He was the Project manager and I was Resident Agent in charge of the project, just starting my carrier. He told me that just before Hitler took over their country it was at rock bottom economically. They had to take their money in wheel barrows to and from banks. Perhaps the Germans thought the Jews were responsible for their woes. After he took over with a slight parliamentary majority the first thing he did was burning down the parliament and the rest is history.
Today we have a somewhat similar situation in our country where ordinary people are wishing that the parliament should sink in Diyawanna. Parasites have taken over the country. Tenders are being awarded at two or three times the actual value. The Rupee is devaluing at such a rate that very soon people will have to carry guny bags to put money. Buddhist clergy, police officers are gunned down at a rate. Under this situation I am not surprised that one Buddhist monk appealing to a prospective presidential candidate to act like Hitler to solve the country’s problems. How many poor women from hinterland go and toil in the ME for these parasites to enjoy and at the same time to bring the country to a lawless state?. I do not blame the Ven. monk for speaking his mind instead of preaching bana.