Spreading fragrance of eternal friendship between India-Poland, memorial to Polish refugees unveils in Kolhapur

Kolhapur, September 14: Ahead in the eternal friendship between India and Poland that dates back to the World War II, a permanent museum pillar in memory of Polish refugees set up in Kolhapur was unveiled by Marcin Przydacz, Deputy Foreign Minister of Poland today in presence of Yuvraj Sambhaji Bhosale at Valivada school.

 

The scripts of India-Poland relation date back to 1940s when Poland was caught between Adolf Hitler’s Germany and Josef Stalin’s Russia during the Second World War and a stream of refugees made their way to Valivade village in Kolhapur district, 235 km from Pune.

 

Here, they tasted freedom after having endured the living hell of Soviet camps following their deportation by the dreaded NKVD or the Soviet secret police. Between 1942 to 1948, there were a total of 5000 Polish nationals who stayed at Valivade camp in Kolhapur.

 

With the cooperation and affection of the citizens of Kolhapur, Valivade soon then transformed into a mini Poland, with its own church, schools and even a cinema.

 

“At a time when the world was torn apart by war, Europe was ravaged and parts of India were in the grip of a terrible famine, the Chhatrapatis of Kolhapur adopted these Polish families on humanitarian grounds. We want to keep this sentiment alive through the memorial and the museum, which will strengthen Indo-Polish ties,” said Sambhaji Raje at the inauguration ceremony.

 

Also, several members of the delegation recalled their visits to the Panhala fort, their swim in the nearby river and the warmth of the people of Kolhapur.