Vinay Gupta’s Journey to Discover His Grandfather’s Heroic WWII Story
Author Vinay Gupta has written a book titled ‘A Rescue in Vienna: The Story of an Unlikely Hero,’ which reveals the true story of his grandfather’s bravery during World War II. Initially skeptical, Gupta discovered through India’s digitized National Archives that his grandfather had indeed rescued five Jewish families from persecution.
Uncovering the Truth
Gupta’s journey began with disbelief, thinking the story was a family legend. However, his research confirmed the truth, and he even met one of the survivors in Florida. His grandfather had placed an advertisement in an Austrian newspaper, inviting people to relocate to India, a fact unknown even to Gupta’s family.
A Quiet Hero
Remarkably, Gupta’s grandfather never spoke of his actions, unlike many who seek recognition. This revelation was surprising to his family, who were unaware of the extent of his humanitarian efforts.
India’s Stance on Anti-Semitism
Gupta noted that India has not harbored anti-Semitic views, unlike the British colonizers. The British treated Jews in India better than Indians, despite their negative views.
Recognition and Praise
The Ambassador of Israel to India, Reuven Azar, praised Gupta’s work, promising to send the book to Jerusalem for Holocaust researchers. Azar highlighted the importance of sharing such stories of courage and humanity.
Doubts Revealed
Vinay Gupta -: Vinay Gupta is an author who wrote a book about his grandfather’s brave actions during World War II.
WWII -: WWII stands for World War II, a big war that happened from 1939 to 1945 involving many countries around the world.
Jewish families -: Jewish families refer to people who follow Judaism, a religion. During WWII, many Jewish people were in danger and needed help.
National Archives -: The National Archives is a place where important historical documents and records are kept. In India, it has been digitized, meaning many records are available online.
Austrian newspaper -: An Austrian newspaper is a publication from Austria, a country in Europe. Newspapers share news and information with people.
Israeli Ambassador -: The Israeli Ambassador is a person who represents Israel, a country, in India. Ambassadors work to maintain good relations between countries.
Jerusalem -: Jerusalem is a city in Israel that is important to many religions and is a place where people study history, including the Holocaust.
Holocaust -: The Holocaust was a terrible event during WWII when many Jewish people were harmed. It is studied to remember and learn from the past.
non-anti-Semitic -: Non-anti-Semitic means not being against Jewish people. It shows that India has been friendly and supportive towards Jewish people.