The Good Maharaja: The story of a king of India who gave shelter to thousands of children of Poland and gave them new life

Himanshu Sharma. The Good Maharaja: From the end of 1939 to the beginning of 1941, Germany occupied most of the countries by conducting a major campaign with the aim of expanding the empire in Europe. Poland was one of those countries which Germany had completely occupied in the early stages.

This was the Second World War which completely destroyed Poland and almost ended its existence. After the attack on Poland, there was great devastation, as is seen in Ukraine today. During that also lakhs of people had lost their lives and lakhs of such people were deported. A large number of innocent children were left in Poland at that time. It was necessary to bring them out safely from the horrors of that war, to groom their future life and to reunite them with their separated parents, only then the future of Poland.

I could have kept alive the hope of resurrection

During this time, there was such a great king in India who, giving new life to these thousands of children, helped the present-day Poland to be settled back. A help that only a father can do for his children. Maharaj Jam Digvijay Singh Jadeja emerged as a nurturer for the children whose parents had been taken away from their heads or they were separated in the horrors of war. This great Indian king is still remembered by the people of Poland with full reverence and he is honored with his national honor and revival.

considered a symbol.

When no one was there, the Maharaja held his hand

It is said that 5600000 people died here in the German attack and in addition to this, about one and a half lakh people were killed in the attack by the Soviet Russian army. Polish women left Poland because their dignity was in danger there. A large number of children were left there. During World War II, Maharaja Jamnagar Digvijay Singh served in the Imperial War Cabinet and the National Defense Council with the Pacific War Council. During this they

Got information about children. Most of the countries of the world were not ready to take the responsibility of these children, meanwhile Jam Saheb decided to take the responsibility of these children and they were transported through a long sea voyage to India with the help of Jam Saheb.

So that the feeling of nationalism is maintained in those children

The children whom Raja Jam Digvijay Singh Jadeja had sheltered considered them as his adopted sons and daughters. In 1942 he established Polish Children’s Camp at Jamnagar- Balachady for refugee Polish children. They had made very special arrangements so that these children could stay connected with Poland’s own culture, mother tongue and way of life. Schools and hostels established for these children. All the more facilities were present which were present in a better advanced type of school at that time.

I could have. At that time it was the only campus in the world where the Polish flag was flown uninterruptedly and the Polish national anthem was sung on a daily basis. All of which was so that the feeling of nationalism towards their country in those children would continue to be strong and strong. These children were also given military training in school. This children’s camp was in existence till 1945. The camp site is today part of the 300-acre campus of Sainik School, Balachadi.

People of Poland consider Maharaja like God

The people of Poland know him as the Good Maharaja. Good Maharaja Square is also named after him. People consider him as a food provider. According to their constitution, Jam Digvijay Singh is like a god to them, that is why even today the leaders of that place take oath in the Parliament considering him as a witness. If Digvijay Singh ji is insulted in India, then there is no provision of punishment in the law and order system here, but there is a provision of severe punishment for doing the same mistake in Poland.

But there is a provision of severe punishment for doing the same mistake in Poland. Even today Poland has not forgotten that karma of Jam Saheb, so it has maintained strong relations with India.

Maharaja was also an international player of cricket

Digvijay Singh Ranjit Singh Jadeja was Maharaja Jam Sahib of Nawanagar from 1933 to 1966, succeeding his uncle, the famous cricketer Ranjit Singh. On the death of his uncle, Digvijay Singh became Maharaja Jam Sahib in 1933, continuing his uncle’s policies of development and public service.

In 1935 he joined the Chamber of Princes. Led it as its president from 1937 to 1943. Continuing with his uncle’s cricketing tradition, he served as the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India in 1937–1938. He had also previously played a first-class match for the Indian team during 1933-34. During World War II, Maharaja Digvijay Singh served in the Imperial War Cabinet and the National Defense Council with the Pacific War Council.

School established in Warsaw in honor of heritage

To honor this legacy the Jamsaheb Digvijay Singh Jadeja School was established in Warsaw. In 2016, 50 years after Jam Saheb’s death, Poland’s parliament unanimously adopted a special resolution to honor Jam Saheb Digvijay Singh for his assistance to Polish children’s refugees during World War II.

Little Poland in India

To honor the efforts of Maharaja Jam Sahib and Kira Banasinska, a documentary film titled “Little Poland in India”

Polish was formed in collaboration with both governments. After India’s independence, he signed the Instrument of Accession to the Dominion of India on 15 August 1947. He merged Navanagar into the United States of Kathiawar the following year, serving as Rajpramukh until the post was abolished by the Government of India.