Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to the Yad Vashem memorial in Israel highlights the historical and somber remembrance of the Holocaust, where six million Jews and millions of others were systematically exterminated during World War II by the Nazi regime led by Adolf Hitler. This horrific event, known as 'The Final Solution', involved the establishment of concentration camps where mass killings were carried out using poisonous gas, representing one of the darkest chapters in human history.

The Holocaust, which occurred between 1933 and 1945, saw the brutal genocide not only of Jews but also of Romani people, the mentally disabled, political dissidents, and other opponents of the Nazis. It is estimated that over six million Jews and nearly five million others were murdered, including more than a million children, illustrating the widespread and devastating impact of Nazi ideology and the catastrophic consequences of hatred and intolerance.

The term 'Holocaust' itself is derived from Greek words meaning 'whole' and 'burnt', historically referencing a sacrifice burned on an altar. This terminology underscores the immense suffering and tragedy encompassed by the Holocaust, and the importance of remembrance and education regarding these events to ensure such atrocities never occur again. Modi’s visit serves not only as a tribute to the victims but also as a stance against anti-Semitism and a recognition of shared humanity in the face of past horrors.