Prime Minister Modi Honors Historic Ties at Polish Memorials

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited various memorials in Poland, including the Jam Saheb of Nawanagar Memorial, paying tribute to the shared history between India and Poland, especially during WWII. This significant visit marks the first by an Indian PM in 45 years.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday laid a wreath at the Jam Saheb of Nawanagar Memorial in Warsaw, a site commemorating the shared history between India and Poland. The visit to the memorial was one of Modi's first activities upon his two-day trip to Poland.

The memorial honors Jam Saheb Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji, the former Maharaja of Nawanagar, who in 1942 established the Polish Children's Camp in Jamnagar for refugee Polish children displaced from the USSR during World War II. Upon arrival, Modi was greeted by members of the Indian diaspora in Poland.

This visit is notable as it is the first by an Indian Prime Minister in the past 45 years. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that Modi will also pay tribute at the Good Maharaja Square, Monte Cassino Memorial, and the Memorial to Kolhapur Family, underscoring the historical connections between India and Poland.

Modi's tributes at these memorials mark him as the first prime minister to honor all three sites. The Good Maharaja Square memorializes Maharaja Jam Sahib of Nawanagar's efforts during WWII, where he saved and cared for Polish Jewish children brought to India from Poland. The Maharaja provided refuge at his summer palace for the children who had endured a painful journey from Siberia, often under severe conditions. Ships carrying the refugees, including many young children, faced entry refusals at various ports before arriving in Bombay (Mumbai).

Lastly, Modi's itinerary includes a visit to the Monte Cassino Memorial, which commemorates the Battle of Monte Cassino in 1944. The Second Polish Corps' victory cost the lives of more than 900 Polish soldiers, a sacrifice remembered by this solemn monument.

(With inputs from agencies.)