Polish youth retrace WWII roots in India under government exchange initiative
New Delhi: Twenty young Polish nationals, descendants of Polish children who were sheltered in India during World War II, visited Balachadi in Jamnagar and Valivade near Kolhapur under the Jamsaheb Memorial Youth Exchange Programme this February. The initiative was facilitated by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to Poland last year.
The delegation of young people the grandchildren of Polish refugees who, during the 1940s, found refuge in India having been displaced from their places by the war. Some 1,000 Polish children had been received by Maharaja Jam Saheb Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja of the then princely state of Nawanagar, now part of Gujarat, in 1942. As Nazi and Soviet troops occupied Poland and the Polish government-in-exile in London was searching for a safe haven for its children, the Maharaja had welcomed them to his doors by setting up a camp at Balachadi.
Planned with the assistance of one of the earliest Polish child refugees, Wieslaw Stypula, the group toured the Balachadi memorial. Two of his grandchildren, Arkadiusz Michałowski (28) and Kasia Michalowska (25), were part of the group that toured. The memorial statue shows a figure representing Mother India, holding an Indian child in her arms and hugging a Polish child, showing India's part in providing shelter during the war.
During the visit, delegates recalled stories shared by their grandparents about their time in India. The Polish children had engaged in scouting, music, and cultural exchanges, and celebrated festivals such as Christmas with local adaptations. The Maharaja, popularly known as "Bapu" to the children, used to send them presents on occasions.
Barbara Gutowska (22), a granddaughter of Roman Gutowski, another survivor of the Balachadi camp, said the visit was an emotional experience and that she had heard tales all her life of India and the Maharaja's protection.
The delegation also toured the Polish camp compound in Valivade, Kolhapur, that had accommodated more Polish refugees. Bartosz Jezierski (17), whose grandfather Andrzej Jezierski was one of those who had been hosted there, visited the memorial museum.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
4 workers die after being buried under coal slurry in Jharkhand's Dhanbad
Dhanbad (Jharkhand) (PTI): At least four workers died after being buried under coal slurry in Jharkhand's Dhanbad district on Saturday, a police official said.
The incident took place at Moonidih coal washery in the command area of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL).
"Bodies of all four workers were dug out of debris during a rescue operation," Putki police station in-charge Waqar Hussain told PTI.
The incident took place when coal slurry was being loaded into trucks by workers, during which a large chunk of slurry fell and trapped several workers underneath, officials said.
The deceased have been identified as Manik Bauri, Dinesh Bauri, Deepak Bauri, and Hemlal Gope.
Meanwhile, the family members of the deceased and local villagers placed the bodies in front of the washery gate and began a protest.
They demanded compensation, jobs for dependents and action against those responsible for the incident.
Police and administration officials are trying to pacify the protesters, an official said.
