India-Poland Relations: Prime Minister Narendra Modi The European country is on a visit to Poland. This is the first visit of an Indian PM to Poland in the last 45 years. India and Poland share a very old relationship. There is also an anecdote from the time of World War II associated with the two countries. During World War II, the Maharaja of Jamnagar and the Chhatrapati of Kolhapur gave shelter to thousands of Polish refugees. These were the refugees who had come to India from their motherland due to the cruelty of war.
Poland is still grateful to the Maharaja of Jamnagar and has built a memorial there in his memory. Even today, the people of Poland remember the Maharaja. The memorial being talked about here is known as ‘Jam Saheb of Navanagar Memorial’. Prime Minister Modi, who is on a visit to Poland, has visited this memorial. He has also paid tribute to the Maharaja of Jamnagar. In such a situation, let us know what is the story related to the refugees.
Children came to India after suffering torture in Nazi Germany
Actually, there was an Indian princely state named Nawanagar on the southern end of the Gulf of Kutch, whose capital was Nawanagar City. Today, Nawanagar City is known as Jamnagar, which is a major city of Gujarat. The ruler of Nawanagar was Maharaja Jam Saheb Digvijay Singhji Ranjit Singhji Jadeja. He saved 1000 children from Poland during the Second World War. All these children were of Jewish religion and were facing torture at the hands of Nazi Germany during the World War.
About 83 years ago, in 1941, during the Second World War, the Soviet Union attacked Poland and announced amnesty for the Jews in its captivity. In this way, Polish orphans were also allowed to leave Russia. At the beginning of the war, Jews were deported to Siberia. Maharaja Jam Saheb made arrangements for the Polish orphans who came to India. Similarly, another camp was set up in Kolhapur under the leadership of Bhosale Chhatrapati for other refugees.
Hostels built for Polish children
During the Second World War, Poland was attacked by the Soviet Union and Germany in 1939. Due to this, the Polish government led by General Sikorski went into exile in London. Many Polish people, including children, women, orphans and disabled adults, were sent to the Soviet Union, where they faced a lot of troubles. General Sikorski then sought refuge for the Polish people from British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Churchill then made preparations to send them back to India.
At that time India was under British rule. There was talk of setting up a refugee camp under the state of Maharaja Jam Saheb Digvijay. The Maharaja agreed to this and gave shelter to Polish children in Balachadi. He built hostel-like rooms there, where the children were given facilities for food, clothing and treatment. Polish teachers were called to teach the children. They also established theatre groups, art studios and cultural activities. In this way, the children started forgetting the tortures of war.
Poland is still remembering Maharaja Jam Saheb
Jam Saheb is still known in Poland as the ‘Good Maharaja’ for providing shelter to Polish orphans in Balachadi. The Maharaja first came across Polish culture during his stay in Switzerland in the 1920s. Poland also honoured Maharaja Digvijaysinhji for his generosity by naming a square in Warsaw after him, which is known as the ‘Square of the Good Maharaja’. There is also a school named after him.
In addition, he was posthumously awarded the ‘Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit’ of the Republic of Poland. His legacy is a symbol of compassion and generosity during some of the darkest moments in history. At the same time, the refugee camps built in Kolhapur under Chhatrapati Bhosale also became a safe haven for many. The camp provided shelter to more than 5,000 Polish refugees, including women and children.
