Because of my background in international law and Sreeram's inherent curiosity about how our history and our present have been shaped, we wanted to visit some of the more painful remnants of the Polish past. At the same time, we were very cognizant of ‘dark tourism’, which reduces a painful but essential part of a community’s lived experience into a monetizable exhibition. This type of tourism is often reductive and may lead to negative stereotypes and images being perpetrated, as well as minimization of the harm and trauma suffered by the community. 

 

To be as respectful as possible, we studied the history of the location we were visiting beforehand to understand what was or was not appropriate behavior. We also adopted the ‘slow tourism’ practice, prioritizing understanding and compassion over taking tasteless pictures. We will also not post photos of these locations on our website to honour those whose lives were brutally destroyed in these locations. We also want to acknowledge that this approach may not be perfect, and we hope to change and grow as we learn more. 

 

After reaching the Gdańsk airport, we made our way to the Stutthof concentration camp. For those travelling from Gdańsk to Stutthof, note that very few buses head up to Stutthof each day, and you can acquire the bus timetable at the information desk at the airport. As we got off near the Stutthof concentration camp, I could feel my throat start to close up, being confronted with the reality of the immense suffering that had taken place in the area. We were able to see the train tracks used to bring Jewish men, women and children into the barracks as well as the commandant’s sprawling mansion at the entrance to the camp, in stark contrast to the cramped barracks we would see inside the camp. 

 

After years of being closely guarded by armed soldiers around the clock, the camp today was overseen by just one security personnel. It was difficult to process the fact that this was a place where people were tortured, and we were having a vacation there, entirely free. The camp is extensively marinated by the Polish government and is massive. You’d ideally need at least a couple of hours to see the entire camp and process your own emotions in a respectful way.