Prime Minister Modi has arrived in Poland, a first by an Indian PM in 45 years! His first stop on his two day visit being, the ‘Jam Saheb of Nawanagar Memorial’ in Warsaw, Poland. This memorial connects India and Poland in an interesting historical manner dating back to World War II. The tale behind this memorial is even more fascinating.
Jam Saheb’s Memorial
The memorial is dedicated to Jam Saheb Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji, the Maharaja of Nawanagar in Gujrat. In Poland he is known as the ‘Good Maharaja’ and is remembered for his humanitarian contributions. During World War II, when Poland bore the burnt of Germany’s invasion, many children and elderly tried to escape the horrors of war. Thousands of them tried to flee and seek refugee. As they were sailing from one port to another seeking asylum and facing rejections from several countries. Furthermore, at a time when India was a British colony and the British officials had refused to offer asylum.
In such circumstances, an Indian Maharaja turned their fates and heard their plight. Maharaja Jam Saheb provided refugee to thousands of Polish children who had witnessed brutality of war in their homeland. PM Modi paid homage at the memorial of this great Maharaja and shared some glimpses of the same on X.
Humanity and compassion are vital foundations of a just and peaceful world. The Jam Saheb of Nawanagar Memorial in Warsaw highlights the humanitarian contribution of Jam Saheb Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja, who ensured shelter as well as care to Polish children left homeless… pic.twitter.com/v4XrcCFipG
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 21, 2024
Jam Saheb- The ‘Good Maharaja’
Maharaja Jam Saheb Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja, was the savior of 1000’s of polish children during World War II. His act of kindness dates back to 1941 when the Soviet Union announced an amnesty, allowing Polish orphans who had been deported to Siberia during the war to leave Russia.
It is then that Maharaja Jam Saheb, decided to provide shelter to the homeless children. As a Hindu delegate to the Great Britain’s war cabinet, he was well aware of the situation and immediately made an offer. Soon, thousands of Polish children were transported to India by the members of the Ander’s army, the Red Cross and the polish consulate in Bombay.
It was in 1942, when the first batch of Polish children arrived in Nawanagar, India. Jam Saheb is said to have welcomed them by saying, “You are no longer orphans. From now on you are Nawangarians, and I am Bapu, father of all Nawangarians, so I’m your father as well.”
He built a camp for the children in Balachadi, near his summer palace and took commendable steps to ensure their well being. He built dormitories, provided them with good food, medical care and education. For the kids to feel normalcy, he arranged for Polish teachers to educate them so that they don’t forget their mother tongue. He also built libraries and art studios for cultural activities. Later on, when the war ended, the orphans had to return to Europe. Reportedly, Maharaja Jam Saheb, was so attached to them that he personally bid them a farewell at the railway station.
The Square of ‘Good Maharaja’
In recognition of his generosity and his act of kindness, the Republic of Poland honoured Maharaja Jam Saheb by naming a square in Warsaw after him. It is known as the square of ‘Good Maharaja’, and a monument in his honour has also been erected.
In addition, the Republic of Poland posthumously awarded him the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit. There’s also a school in Warsaw named after Maharaja Jam Saheb that has a touch of India to it. Pictures of classical Indian dances and monuments adorn its walls
The legacy of Maharaja Jam Saheb is that of compassion and kindness. He has indeed left a deep mark in the hearts of many people with his acts of Kindness. His legacy is such that in the year 2009, when the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk met the then President Pratibha Patel, he said,
“When others were killing our children, you were able to save them.”
