External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited two significant memorials in Warsaw on Saturday, which honour India’s humanitarian support extended to Polish refugees during World War II. This visit highlights a pivotal chapter in history that continues to influence the bilateral relationship between India and Poland. His visit followed extensive discussions with Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski regarding various areas such as trade, defence, and technology.

Historical Context of India’s Support

The first memorial Jaishankar visited honours Maharaja Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja of Nawanagar, who provided sanctuary to thousands of Polish children during the war. The Maharaja famously welcomed these children with the heartfelt words, “I am Bapu, the father of all Nawanagaris, including yourselves.” This phrase encapsulated his commitment to their welfare, and the children regarded him as their “Bapu,” or father, owing to the care and compassion he demonstrated.

Jadeja, who was the ruler of the former princely state of Nawanagar in present-day Gujarat, established a safe haven for approximately 1,000 Polish children at a settlement in Balachadi. These children received not only shelter and food, but also education and medical care. In Poland, he is affectionately referred to as the “Dobry Maharaja,” or the “Good King.” The memorial, set in the Ochota district of Warsaw, is named the Square of the Good Maharaja.

Accompanying Jaishankar during his visit were Polish MP Kinga Gajewska and Ochota Mayor Piotr Krasnodbski, who jointly acknowledged the significance of these historical ties. Following his visit to the Maharaja’s memorial, Jaishankar also paid homage at the Kolhapur Memorial, which commemorates the hospitality extended to around 5,000 Polish refugees, including women and children, in the princely state of Kolhapur during the wartime period.

Cultural-Political Ties Between India and Poland

Jaishankar’s remarks during his visit emphasised that the generosity of the Maharaja and the people of Kolhapur remain prominent in the memories of the Polish populace. He articulated this sentiment in a post on the platform X, stating, “This act of generosity is still fresh in the memory of the Polish people.” These memorials serve as symbols of a more profound historical connection which has gained renewed importance in recent years.

The depth of this relationship was reinforced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the memorials in August 2024, where he spotlighted wartime narratives as essential links that bind India and Poland. During Jaishankar’s current visit, he also took the opportunity to announce the second edition of the Jam Saheb Memorial Youth Exchange Programme, scheduled for October. This initiative aims to allow Polish youth to experience India’s historical connections with Polish refugees in both Balachadi and Valivade.

Conversations on contemporary global issues such as the war in Ukraine and the geopolitical landscape of West Asia and the Indo-Pacific took place during Jaishankar’s meetings. He stressed the potential for cooperation between India and Poland, both of which are democracies and market economies. The discussions also covered future collaborations on topics including cybersecurity, clean energy, and critical minerals.

Jaishankar’s visit to Warsaw serves as a bridge connecting the historical support provided by India to Polish refugees during World War II to the present-day partnership between the two nations. As discussions continue to expand on strategic and economic cooperation, this visit underscores the importance of remembering shared histories while looking towards future collaborations between India and Poland.

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