Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said humanity and compassion are vital foundations of a “just and peaceful world” as he visited three memorials in Warsaw, including a monument dedicated to the Indian king Jam Saheb of Nawanagar, known affectionately in Poland as “Good Maharaja” for providing refuge to more than 1,000 Polish children during World War II.
Mr Modi, who arrived in Poland on the first leg of his two-nation visit (he will travel to Ukraine today), also paid tributes at the Valivade Memorial Pillar and the Monument to the Battle of Monte Cassino, reported the Press Trust of India.
“The Jam Saheb of Nawanagar Memorial highlights the humanitarian contribution of Jam Saheb Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja, who ensured shelter and care to Polish children left homeless after World War II. Jam Saheb is fondly remembered in Poland as Dobry Maharaja,” Mr Modi posted on X.
Nawanagar was an Indian princely state located on the southern shores of the Gulf of Kutch. It was ruled by the Jadeja Rajput dynasty and became a part of India after independence in 1947. Its capital city was Nawanagar city, which is now known as Jamnagar.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said in a post on X: “The story of the ‘Dobry (Good) Maharaja’ is one of the most evocative chapters in the relations between India and Poland. This moving tribute to the compassion of the Maharaja continues to have a lasting impact on India-Poland ties.”
The memorial – a small brick pillar with inscriptions – was unveiled in October 2014 at the Square of the Good Maharaja in Warsaw’s Ochota district.
According to the Indian embassy, eight Polish primary and secondary schools are named after the Jam Saheb.
In 1942, the maharaja provided refuge to about 1,000 children from camps following the occupation of Poland by Nazi Germany and Russia. The surviving Polish children have formed an Association of Poles, which meets annually in one of the major Polish cities.
Later, PM Modi also visited the Kolhapur Memorial in Warsaw which was inaugurated in November 2017.
“This memorial is a tribute to the great royal family of Kolhapur. This royal family was at the forefront of giving shelter to Polish women and children displaced due to the horrors of World War II,” he said in another post on X.
“Inspired by the ideals of (Indian ruler and member of the Bhonsle dynasty) Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the great royal family of Kolhapur put humanity above everything else and ensured a life of dignity for the Polish women and children. This act of compassion will keep inspiring generations.”
More than 5,000 Poles had lived, integrated and worked for several years at Valivade village, near Kolhapur, before returning home. Most of them had arrived after evacuations from Polish camps at the height of World War II.
After Mr Modi visited the Monument to the Battle of Monte Cassino, the MEA said in a post on X: “PM honoured the brave soldiers who fought in World War II. Indian and Polish troops fought side by side in this historic battle (that took place in Italy). Our shared history and enduring ties continue to inspire.”
Mr Modi’s visit to Poland is the first by an Indian prime minister in 45 years. He will visit Kyiv today, a first visit to Ukraine by an Indian prime minister since diplomatic relations were established 30 years ago, reported Reuters.
Mr Modi said on Wednesday that he will “share perspectives” on the peaceful resolution of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia during his visit.
“As a friend and partner, we hope for an early return of peace and stability in the region,” he said.
