Professor's Emotional Plea: Malaysian Scholar Publishes Dirge to Raise Awareness about Gaza Crisis

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Despite being over 7,000km away from the Gaza Strip, Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Mohamed Ghouse Nasuruddin has chosen to write an emotional plea to raise awareness about the ongoing crisis in Palestine. The 75-page book, titled 'Lost Nation Dirge for Palestine', features a powerful dirge and 13 articles on the Gaza conflict, penned by Dr Ghouse.

The book was launched on November 16, 2024, at a ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, where over 800 guests gathered, including Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek and Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan. The event was organized by the Persatuan Kebajikan Anak Melayu Pulau Pinang di Wilayah Persekutuan dan Selangor (Pekenang), which supports Penang-born Malays living in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

According to Dr Ghouse, he felt compelled to write the dirge as a way of expressing his anger and helplessness about the prolonged injustice faced by Palestinians. "I had to express my emotions through penning this dirge, compiling my articles, and publishing the book," he said.

The book features a range of powerful pieces, including 'Israel – A rogue state that we need to stand up to', 'America, Britain and the world need to realise that all lives matter, including Palestinians', and 'Has humanity failed Palestinians?' Dr Ghouse hopes his work will highlight the plight of Palestinians and bring attention to the ongoing crisis.

"Writing a dirge is not straightforward as it demands carefully chosen words," said Dr Ghouse, an Emeritus Professor of Performing Arts at Universiti Sains Malaysia's School of Arts. The book was made possible by funding from his daughter, Faradina Ghouse.

The 'Lost Nation Dirge for Palestine' will be distributed free to those who contact Dr Mohamend directly. As a renowned scholar and author, Dr Ghouse hopes his work will contribute to the conversation about the Gaza crisis and inspire action.