As Poland’s Donald Seeks Stronger India Ties, History Remembers A ‘Good Maharaja’s’ Kindness

Last Updated:October 21, 2026, 09:47 IST

As India and Poland look to deepen bilateral ties, their relationship dates back to the 20th century, when an Indian maharaja offered refuge to thousands of Polish children

Poland Prime Minister Donald Tusk (Image credit: Reuters)

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk is set to embark on a visit to India on Wednesday, October 21, with the aim of translating the strategic partnership announced in 2024 into meaningful action in trade, security and technology/.

During his three-day visit, Tusk will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Thursday, October 22. He will also participate in business programmes in New Delhi and Bengaluru. The visit is crucial as India seeks to diversify its energy sourcing in the wake of a tense geopolitical scenario.

Visiting at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Polish Prime Minister will be accompanied by Minister of Finance and Economy Andrzej Domanski and a large business delegation, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. He will also visit Bengaluru, where he will engage with various business stakeholders.

A Look At India-Poland Ties

As India and Poland look to deepen bilateral ties, their relationship dates back to the 20th century, when an Indian maharaja offered refuge to thousands of Polish children left displaced by war, according to a report by the EWTN News.

The 1941 Sikorski-Mayski agreement between Poland and the Soviet Union paved the way for the release of tens of thousands of Polish prisoners of war held in the Gulag and Soviet camps. They included thousands of displaced children, many of whom were orphans.

While those children couldn’t return to the Nazi-occupied Poland, the Soviet Union didn’t want to keep them either. At that time, a maharaja from a small princely state of India stepped up and offered shelter to these children.

Hailed as the ‘Good Maharaja’, Jam Sahib Digvijaysinhji, the maharaja of Nawanagar, offered home to these children in his personal estate at Balachadi.

Needless to say, history remembers him for all the good reasons.

Father Piotr Wiśniowski, chaplain of EWTN Poland, told EWTN News, “The Good Maharaja, Jam Sahib Digvijaysinhji, wrote himself into history through extraordinary humanity.”

“When he welcomed Polish orphans to Balachadi, he said, ‘You are no longer refugees. From today, you are the children of Nawanagar, and I am your Bapu — your father.’ These words were not a public-relations gesture but a pledge to take responsibility for the most vulnerable”, he added.

It is pertinent to note that diplomatic relations between the two nations were established in 1954, with the Indian Embassy in Warsaw opening in 1957.

Since then, India and Poland have maintained a warm, multi-faceted partnership that was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in August 2024.

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What is the purpose of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s visit to India?

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk is visiting India to translate the strategic partnership announced in August 2024 into meaningful action across trade, security, and technology. During his three-day trip, he will meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and participate in business forums in New Delhi and Bengaluru.

Who was the ‘Good Maharaja’ and what did he do for Polish children during World War II?

The ‘Good Maharaja’ was Jam Sahib Digvijaysinhji, the maharaja of Nawanagar, who sheltered thousands of displaced and orphaned Polish children during World War II. He welcomed them into his personal estate at Balachadi, declaring them children of Nawanagar and acting as their father.

When were official diplomatic relations established between India and Poland?

Diplomatic relations between India and Poland were formally established in 1954. This was followed by the opening of the Indian Embassy in Warsaw a few years later in 1957.

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Meemansa ShekhawatSub-editor

A Journalism graduate, Meemansa Shekhawat is a sub-editor at News18. Driven by a keen interest in news, she is a passionate writer with specialisation in national and international affairs. You can re…Read More

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