India-Poland relations are unique. It is not based on hard strategic interest , but are bonded by India’s ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ ethos. India had always considered world as one family. Unfortunately, many decades since the end of world war-2 these emotional ties somehow lost the attention and recognition it deserves. It is since last three decades the veneer on the unknown historical reality could be removed. Indian Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi will embark on a historic visit to East European nation Poland on 21st August 2024. He will be the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Poland in 45 years. Mr Morarji Desai was the last Prime Minister who paid visit to this nation in 1979. When polish PM DonaldTusk visited India in 2008, he revealed before the then Indian President Mrs Pratibhatai Patil that –‘ When our children were subjected to inhuman treatment during world war-2 and getting killed at the hands of Nazi’s and Soviets, it was India who gave them refuge, care, love and treated them with utmost respect. The philanthropic service which India rendered even when under colonial power will make everyone proud. Initially British were not in favour of giving refuge to these children in 1942.Many nations had turned down the ship carrying these children. Maharaja of Jamnagar, Digvijay Singh insisted on taking care of these children and prevailed on British. He came forward and built a school and houses which could accommodate 500 children.

 

He raised these infrastructures from his own earnings. Subsequently, a township came up at a place called ‘Valivade’ near Kolhapur where polish children were taken care off. In 1989 when polish Prime Minister visited Balachadi school, built by Maharaja of Jamnagar, a bronze strip was installed which states in Hindi as under -‘ Jamnagar Ke Bhumi Ko Pranam, Jisne dwitiya Yudh Ke kathor Varsh Ke Doran Hajaro Beghar Poland Ke Bachho ko Sharan Di Aur Apna Aatithi Banaya. Aabhari hai Polish Janta Aur Balachadi Shibir ke Wah polish Chatra Jo 1942 Se 1946TakYaha Rahe’.This glorious legacy of our nation should be preserved and passed on to future generations. This legacy only separates India from others. Maharaja was ‘Bapu’ for these orphaned polish children, as he was for his own subject. That is the reason many polish people considers ‘Balachadi as a pilgrimage place’. Polish people still holds Maharaja Digvijay Singh with utmost respect and honour. One school in capital Warsaw has been named after Maharaja Jamnagar Saheb, Digvijay Singh. In the year 1999, after conducting a poll as per Christian tradition Maharaja Digvijay Singh was bestowed with Sainthood title. Modi’s ensuing visit will further cement these emotional ties between India and Poland.