#181: From my unlocked diaries: A king with a big heart

The ongoing raging war between Israel and Hamas has once again brought to fore the humanitarian toll that such conflicts take.? What is unfolding before the world is the suffering of the innocent citizens - on both sides.? The ongoing war and the humanitarian strife perhaps may be summed up like this :

As armored tanks continue to rumble, buildings just tremble??

Under the rubble, there is much more trouble??

As bodies continue to bundle, blood-letting forms a puddle??

Like any other conflict, this one never seems to settle?

To each other they swear, there will be much more trouble?

As World Leaders take sides, and indulge in some more gamble??

Somewhere a child cries goes unheard, under another tunnel or a rubble??

History is replete with wars that have been fought, but never having permanently solved any problems or objectives, but instead has always left a trail of destruction leaving many innocent civilians homeless.? Many become refugees, sometimes in their own land, or in an alien land ; the worst is when they have nowhere to go.? In a world divided by boundaries called ‘Nations’, no one wants to shelter or care for such unwanted humans fleeing war zones.? ???

But, hold on … there are also stories of people opening their doors and hearts to such homeless. ?One such incident happened right here in India, back during World War -II.?

To tell you this story I will have to take you back in time … about 80 years ago.

During the years preceding World War II a large number of Polish Jews were taken away to work at the Soviet-run labor camps by the Red Army in remote parts of North-Eastern USSR and Siberia. However, when Hitler's Germany attacked the Soviet Union in 1941, it changed the political landscape considerably.? A year later some Polish refugees were allowed to leave the Soviet Union. But they feared going back to Poland due to the large-scale massacre of Jews by the occupying Nazi forces.

Thus by late 1941 began a great exodus of thousands of Polish refugees from the cold parts of Siberia to warmer southern regions of Central Asia. The long and arduous journey stretched over hundreds of kilometers by foot.? Many lost their loved ones en-route owing to the cold, hunger, malnutrition and dehydration.? Since the hope of survival was fading, the menfolk decided to part with their wives and children and put them on ships, with a hope they would survive, if they get asylum in another country along the way.

With thousands of children and women on the ship, the Polish refugees set sail hoping to find a place to survive.? The journey stretched across many transit points.? After being refused by many European and Asian countries for shelter, finally they reached India and came to the port of Bombay, where even the British Governor also refused to let them enter.

That’s when Digvijay Sinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja (Maharaja Digvijaysinhji - also called fondly as ‘Jam Saheb’), the Maharaja of the princely state of Jamnagar in Gujarat came to the rescue of these Polish refugees, who by then had nowhere to go.

Jam Saheb was the Maharaja of Nawanagar from 1933 to 1948, succeeding his uncle, the famed cricketer K.S. Ranjitsinhji (after whom India’s famous Inter-state cricket trophy ‘Ranji Trophy’ is named).

Jam Saheb was educated at Rajkumar College, Rajkot in Saurashtra, then at Malvern College and University College in London. ?He then joined the British Army in 1919. ?By 1920, he served with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force and was promoted to lieutenant by 1921. His military career spanned over two decades. He retired from the army in 1931 before coming back to become the Maharaja of Nawanagar in 1933.

Upholding the cricketing tradition of his uncle, he served as President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India in 1937–1938 and was a member of several prominent sporting clubs.

When Jam Saheb heard about the plight of these Polish refugees comprising of about 1,000 children and about 700 women, he sought to help them and pressured the British government to allow the refugees to disembark from their ship.? Frustrated by the lack of empathy and the unwillingness of the British government to act, the Maharaja ordered the ship to dock at Rosi port in his province. ?Thus began the story of Little Poland in India.

After arriving in Gujarat in 1941, the Maharaja arranged for their stay at camps in Balachadi, a village in Jamnagar, where apart from food and shelter, a concerted effort was made to further their education and keep their Polish culture and traditions alive.

Between 1941 and 1949, these children lived under his protection, maintained by his purse.

These refugees stayed in Jamnagar for nine years.? They were well-taken care of by Jam Saheb who personally visited the camps. After the war and the recognition of Poland's government by Great Britain, the refugees were asked to return to Poland. However, many chose to be repatriated to the UK, the US, Australia and other Commonwealth nations while just a few returned to Poland.

For his selfless work towards humanity, The Maharaja Jam Saheb was awarded the President’s medal, Poland’s highest honour.

Poland has shown its gratitude to the Maharaja in various forms. Warsaw has a “Good Maharaja Square” named after him.? A School in Poland was named after him.

A documentary titled "Little Poland in India" was made in collaboration with both Indian and Polish governments to honour him.

Jam Saheb’s efforts at helping these refugees becomes more noteworthy considering that the world was at war, India was fighting its own battle, a non-violent battle for self-determination and independence from British colonialism, even as a severe famine and drought-ravaged India at the time.

The special bond between Poland and India is still being relived till today by many of the children who stayed in the Balachadi camp, one of whom is Karoline Rybka, who at that time was just 8 years.

Karolina recounts & I quote – “I was just about 9 years when I arrived at the Balachadi camp dressed in a white peasant blouse & skirt with a black scarf tied in a knot around my head.? My lips moved all evening, singing that one song to no one in particular, and it went like this … Jai Jai Maharaj.? I used to sing this song whenever Jam Saheb was visiting the camp.? It’s also the song my mom never stopped singing at home till she died”

In the tapestry of history, Maharaja Digvijaysinhji life shines as a beacon of compassion, leadership and humanity.? From his valour on battlefield, his love for Cricket his legacy is testament to the power of kindness, in the face of adversity.? He reminds us all that the true greatness lies in the ability to make a positive impact on the lives of others, even in the darkest of times.

Jam Saheb passed away on February 3, 1966 in Bombay leaving behind a legacy that transcended borders and time. His compassion, leadership and dedication to the betterment of society have left an indelible mark. ?A true King with a big heart, and a true messenger to the word – Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (World is One Family)

October 29, 2023

Balu

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