There are several reasons why I decided to get involved in the P-seminar “Stumbling Stones”. Firstly, Dr. Jenetzko described her practical seminar to us pupils with such feeling that you immediately wanted to research the files and the cases. Secondly, as a child, I had come across a few stumbling stones in the area of Nuremberg where I used to live. I was already, at that time, fascinated by the golden stones on the ground. As a youngster I gradually came to understand what had actually happened. The Jewish citizens who had lived in the house next door had been deported during the National Socialist period. So, when I had the opportunity, ten years later, to also contribute to the laying of a stumbling stone, the P-seminar “Stumbling Stones” was my first choice.

Particularly important was the search for relatives. One of my tasks was to speak to dozens of people on the telephone and ask them about Grete Gräbner. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to personally search for people in the Ziegelstein district who might have known Grete Gräbner. I met a number of people there who tried to help me. I had just about given up hope when a man opened his door and, after I had told him what I was looking for, immediately went to fetch his wife. She was able to tell me a few things about the Gräbner family that she had experienced when she was aged between six and seven. Since her birth, she had lived in her parents’ house. In particular I was moved when she spoke of a fruit tree, from which they always plucked the fruit in summer. The tree is still there today in the same place.

I think stumbling stones are a good way in which to pay tribute to people. They are unpretentious in appearance and are wind and weatherproof, so they can last for several decades. Admittedly, they are small, but due to the conspicuous golden colour you can hardly miss them. Instead of walking straight over the stones, you are literally forced to direct your view down towards them on the ground. The names of the victims are engraved on the stumbling stones and every time a pedestrian reads them the memory of that human being is preserved. As long as their names can be read, a part of their self remains here on Earth, reminding us of one of the most terrible crimes against humanity.

The laying of the stumbling stones with Gunter Demnig was surprisingly different from what I had imagined. He came over as very relaxed and laid the stones with perfectly attuned movements. At one location a resident spoke out against placing the stone in front of his house. Despite the tense situation, Gunter Demnig laid the stone in a particularly commanding fashion. He did not allow the resident to upset him and laid the stone all the same, because he was convinced of the rightness of his actions. This brought home to me that, when you encounter resistance, you should continue, out of conviction.

We as a society must stop stigmatising other human beings or particular illnesses. We should start to show respect for our fellow human beings and not pigeonhole them. For some people, mental illness is still too much of a laughing matter. That can be very burdensome for those who suffer from these illnesses. They can feel misunderstood or excluded. In the 21st century we should broaden our perspective and start to view human beings in their entirety, because every life is loveable.

Rosan Bajalani