Warsaw:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “not  an era of war” message echoed in his joint statement today with his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk. PM Modi underscored the need for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve disputes between nations, describing Russia’s war on Ukraine and military tension between Iran and Israel in West Asia as a “matter of great concern for everyone”. The message comes hours before his landmark visit to Ukraine — he is expected to meet the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev tomorrow.

“The conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia are concerning, but the answer to any problem is not in the battlefield… we support dialogue and diplomacy,” he said in the joint statement.

This was the second time during his visit to Poland that PM Modi made a reference to the need for dialogue to resolve conflict. The “not an era of war” message — mentioned first during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2022, on the sidelines of the SCO meet  — was also encapsulated in his address to the Indian community in Poland.

“India is an advocate of permanent peace in this region. Our stand is very clear – this isn’t an era of war. This is the time to come together against those challenges which threaten humanity. Therefore, India believes in diplomacy and dialogues,” PM Modi had said.

Describing India as the “land of Buddha”, he had added: “Empathy is one of the identities of Indians. Whenever any trouble mounts in any country, India is the first country to extend help… India believes in Buddha’s tradition, therefore, believes in peace not war… India is an advocate of peace in this region and it is clear that this is not time for war. We need to be together to fight challenges. India focuses on diplomacy and dialogue,”

The Prime Minister, who is visiting Ukraine at the invitation of President Zelensky, has said he would share perspectives on a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

His visit to Kyiv comes nearly six weeks after his high-profile trip to Moscow which triggered criticism from the US and some of its Western allies.

In his joint statement with Mr Tusk today, PM Modi also thanked Poland for helping evacuate Indian students stranded in Ukraine after war broke out in February 2022.

The Prime Minister also pitched for increased and improved trade and strategic ties with the European nation, saying, “We have decided to convert our ties to a strategic partnership. We want Polish firms to be involved in make-in-India projects.                                                                       

Warsaw:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that India and Poland have agreed on social security agreement. He stated that partnership between two nations has been strengthening in areas like new technology and clean energy.

He also pointed out that Kabbadi emerged as a source of connection between the two nations as Poland is going to host the Kabaddi championship for the first time this year.

While addressing Indian community in Poland’s Warsaw, PM Modi stated, “Innovation and youth are going to give energy to the development of both nations. Today I have come to you with a big good news. Both India and Poland have agreed on a social security agreement which is going to benefit all the friends like you.”

“India’s wisdom is global. India’s vision is global. India’s culture is global. Care and compassion is global. Our ancestors gave us the mantra of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. We have considered the whole world as one family and this is visible in the policies and decisions of today’s India. At the time of G20, India called for ‘One Earth, One Family and One Future’,” he added.

PM Modi stated that he will be meeting his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk and Poland’s President Andrzej Duda. He stated that the ties between two nations will be further strengthened through these meetings.

Emphasising the strengthening ties between India and Poland, he stated, “I am happy that the partnership between India and Poland is continuously increasing in areas like new technology and clean energy. Many Indian companies have invested here, created jobs, many Polish companies have created opportunities in India.”

“Tomorrow, I am going to meet President Duda ji and the Prime Minister. Through these meetings, the wonderful India-Poland partnership will be further strengthened. PM Tusk is a good friend of India. I have met Donald Tusk when he served as President of the European Council,” he added.

Speaking about the similarities between the two nations, PM Modi stated, “There are many similarities in the society of India and Poland. A big similarity is also in our democracy. India is not only the Mother of democracy, but also a participatory and Vibrant Democracy. The people of India have unwavering faith in democracy. We have seen this confidence in recent elections also.”

“This was the biggest election in history. 180 million voters voted in elections recently held in the European Union. Three times more people, 640 million voters voted in elections in India. During the elections in India, thousands of political parties participated in this elections, nearly 8000 candidates contested polls, more than five million voting machines, more than eight million polling stations, more than 15 million employees worked in the elections. This kind of management, efficiency, and the trust on the elections is India’s strength,” he added.

He stated that Poland and India have connected through Kabbadi and noted that this game is played in every village in India.

Highlighting the connection between two nations through the game of Kabbadi, PM Modi stated, “Poland and India have connected through Kabaddi as well. You also know that Kabaddi is played in every village in India. This game has reached Poland from India and the people of Poland have taken Kabaddi to new heights. Poland has been the European Kabaddi champion for two consecutive years. I have been told that the Kabaddi Championship is going to be held from August 24 and for the first time Poland is hosting it. Today, through you I also convey my best wishes to the Polish Kabaddi team.”

PM Modi stated that India has set the goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047 and is working at unprecedented scale and speed to achieve this target.

He stated, “A few days back, you all celebrated India’s Independence Day. During the Azaadi movement, our freedom fighters had dreamed of a prosperous India. Today, every Indian is working hard to make that dream come true. India has set the goal to become a developed India by 2047. That is why today’s India is working at unprecedented scale, speed and solutions. You will be proud about the scale and speed at which change is taking place in India today.”

Underscoring how the people have come out of poverty in the past 10 years, PM Modi stated, “250 million people have come out of poverty in India in the last 10 years in India. 250 million means this number is more than the total population of France, Germany and UK. We have built 40 million permanent houses for the poor in 10 years and we are going to build 30 million more houses and if there are 14 million households in Poland today, then we have created almost three new Polands in just a decade.”

He stated that 500 million Jan Dhan accounts have been opened in India in 10 years. He also talked on how people in India are making digital transactions through UPI.

“We have taken financial inclusion to the next level. In 10 years, 500 million Jan Dhan bank accounts have been opened in India. This number is more than the population of the entire European Union. The number of digital transactions made through UPI every day in India is equivalent to the population of European Union. The government provides free health insurance of Rs 5 lakh to more Indians than the total population of the European Union,” he said.

Stressing the rise in broadband users in India in the past 10 years, PM Modi said, “In the last decade, the number of broadband users in India has also increased from 60 million to more than 940 million. Many people use broadband in India today as do the populations of Europe and the US combined. In the last decade, about 7 lakh kilometers optical fibre have been laid. This is equivalent to moving around the Earth 70 times. India has extended the 5G network to every district of the country within two years. Now we are working on the Made in India 6G network.”

Highlighting the growth of India in the transport sector, he said, “The scale of transformation is also visible in public transport. In 2014, five cities in India had operational metros. Today there is an operational metro in 20 cities. Poland has a one-third population as many people travel by metro every day.”

He stated that India is not far away from becoming the third largest economy of the world. He also spoke about his commitment to make India the third largest economy in his third term.

PM Modi said, “Today, every agency and every organization in the world is predicting India’s brilliant future and they are not astrologers. They calculate on the basis of data. They calculate on the basis of ground realities. India is not far away from becoming the third-largest economy of the world. I have promised the people of the country that India will becomne the third-largest economy in my third term. In the coming years, the world is going to see the tremendous economic rise of India.”

“NASSCOM estimates that India, due to its digital infrastructure, will become a trillion-dollar economy by the end of this decade. NASSCOM and Boston Consulting Group estimate that India’s AI market will grow at 30-30 per cent in the coming three to four years,” he added.

He noted that India is working on semiconductor Mission, Deep Ocean Mission, National Green Hydrogen Mission, National Quantum Mission and AI Mission. He stated that India is also preparing to establish its own space station in the coming few years. And the day is not far when you will see Indian astronauts going into space in Made in India Gaganyaan.

PM Modi said, “Today, India’s entire focus is on quality manufacturing and quality manpower. These are two things which are very essential for the global supply chain. In the recent budget, we have laid a lot of emphasis on the skilling of our youth and job creation. Our youth have come in large numbers to study in Poland. We are also engaged in making India a huge center of education, research and innovation. Be it technology, medical care or education, India has taken the lead in creating skilled manpower for the world in every sector.”

Stressing that balance between economy and ecology is a priority of India, he stated, “Balance between economy and ecology is the priority of India today. India is moving forward with a pledge to become a developed nation and a net zero nation. India is working on a 360-degree approach for a green future. Green mobility is a big example of this.”

He stated that India has witnessed rise in the sales of electric vehicles in India. He said, “Today, India is expanding electric mobility at a fast pace. Today, the sales of electric vehicles in India are increasing rapidly every year. Last year, there was a growth of more than 40 percent in the sales of EVs. The day is not far when India will become global center of EV manufacturing and innovation. In the coming time, you are going to see India as a big global hub of green hydrogen.

The Prime Minister said that India’s strategy is to maintain equal closeness with all nations as compared to its previous policy of remaining equidistant.

PM Modi said, “Since last week, the Indian media is only talking about you. There is also a headline that it’s the first time in 45 years that an Indian PM is visiting Poland. A lot of good things are there in my fate. I visited Austria recently. There too, an Indian PM was visiting after four decades. Situations have changed now.”

“For decades, India had a policy to maintain distance from all the countries. However, the policy of today’s India is to have equal closeness with all countries. The India of today wants to connect with all. Today’s India talks about the development of all. Today’s India is with all and thinks about the interests of all,” he added.

He said that Indians are known for their efforts, actions and empathy. He stated that Indians are bringing laurels to the country through their efforts. He called empathy an identity of Indians and added that India is the first country which extends a helping hand when any country faces a crisis in the world. He recalled how India sent medicines and vaccines to over 150 nations during COVID-19 pandemic.

“Empathy is also an identity of us Indians. Whenever there is a crisis in any country in the world, India is the first country which extends a helping hand. When Covid came, India said, Humanity first. We sent medicines and vaccines to more than 150 countries of the world. Wherever there is an earthquake or any disaster in the world, India has only one mantra: Humanity first. If there is a war, India says – Humanity first and in this spirit, India helps the citizens all over the world,” PM Modi stated.

He also lauded Indian community members for helping Indian students who were stuck in Ukraine when the war erupted in 2022. He also thanked the Poland government for opening doors for Indian students and removing visa restrictions.

Expressing gratitude to people for giving him a warm welcome in Poland, he stated, “You all have come here from different parts of Poland. Everyone has different languages, dialects, food habits, but you all are connected with the feeling of Indianness. You have given me such a wonderful welcome here, I am very grateful to all of you, to the people of Poland, for this welcome.”

PM Modi arrived in Poland on Wednesday, the first Indian leader to visit the Central European country in 45 years. His visit to Warsaw, comes as India and Poland are celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations.

Members of the Indian diaspora greeted PM Modi and he reciprocated their affections. The Prime Minister waved to the gathering and also shook hands with some of those present. The members of the Indian community raised slogans lauding PM Modi as also “Bharat mata ki jai” slogans.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

This is not an era of war, reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing the Indian community in Poland, two days before his much-anticipated visit to Ukraine where he has pledged to campaign for a peaceful resolution of Russia’s invasion.

“India is an advocate of permanent peace in this region. Our stand is very clear – this isn’t an era of war. This is the time to come together against those challenges which threaten humanity. Therefore, India believes in diplomacy and dialogues,” PM Modi said.

PM Modi, 73, will be the first Indian Prime Minister to make a Ukraine trip and is the first in 45 years to travel to Poland – Kyiv’s close ally and a key transit for foreign leaders heading to its war-torn neighbour.

PM Modi, who is visiting Ukraine at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelensky on August 23, has said that he will share with the Ukrainian leader perspectives on a peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict.

His visit to Kyiv comes nearly six weeks after his high-profile trip to Moscow which triggered criticism from the US and some of its Western allies.

In September 2022, the Prime Minister made the “not an era of war” comment for the first time while talking with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin during an SCO summit. On the sidelines of the SCO summit in Samarkand on September 16, PM Modi said, “Today’s era isn’t of war” while emphasising the need to find ways to address the problems of food, fuel security and fertilisers.

Before his departure for Poland, PM Modi said, “As a friend and partner, we hope for an early return of peace and stability in the region.” 

The Prime Minister arrived in Poland on a two-day visit where he laid wreaths at Jam Saheb of Nawanagar Memorial and Kolhapur Memorial in Warsaw, two places that commemorate the shared history between India and Poland.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Indian community in Poland today. The Prime Minister is the first Indian leader to visit the nation in over four decades, making it as one of the most significant visits this year.

Top quotes from Prime Minister’s Address

Warsaw, Poland:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said humanity and compassion are vital foundations of a “just and peaceful world” as he paid homage at the ‘Good Maharaja Square,’ a monument in memory of the late Maharaja of Jamnagar in the Polish capital.

PM Modi, who arrived in Poland earlier for his two-day visit, paid his tributes at the monument by laying a wreath during a small event.

“Humanity and compassion are vital foundations of a just and peaceful world. The Jam Saheb of Nawanagar Memorial in Warsaw highlights the humanitarian contribution of Jam Saheb Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja, who ensured shelter as well as care to Polish children left homeless due to the Second World War,” said PM Modi in a post on X.

Humanity and compassion are vital foundations of a just and peaceful world. The Jam Saheb of Nawanagar Memorial in Warsaw highlights the humanitarian contribution of Jam Saheb Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja, who ensured shelter as well as care to Polish children left homeless… pic.twitter.com/v4XrcCFipG

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 21, 2024

“Jam Saheb is fondly remembered in Poland as Dobry Maharaja,” he added and shared images.

Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a post on X: “PM @narendramodi paid tribute at The Dobry Maharaja Memorial in Warsaw, honouring the Jamsaheb of Nawanagar Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja’s remarkable act of kindness during World War-II.” “The story of the ‘Dobry (Good) Maharaja’ is one of the most evocative chapters in the relations between India and Poland. This moving tribute to the compassion of the Maharaja continues to have a lasting impact on India-Poland ties,” the post added along with the photos from the event.

The memorial monument – comprising a small brick pillar with inscriptions on it – was unveiled in October 2014 at the Square of the Good Maharaja, Ochota district in Warsaw.

According to the Indian Embassy website, eight Polish primary and secondary schools are named after Jam Saheb, known as ‘Good Maharaja’ in Poland.

In 1942, the Maharaja had provided refuge to about 1,000 Polish children from war-torn, occupied Poland and Soviet camps following the occupation of Poland by Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia.

The surviving Polish children have formed an Association of Poles, which meets on an annual basis in one of the major Polish cities, it said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Jamsaheb Shatrusalyasinhji Jadeja, scion of the Jamnagar royal family, on Wednesday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for interacting with his extended family in Poland and paying tribute at the Jamsaheb of Nawanagar Memorial in Warsaw.

PM Modi’s “thoughtful gesture,” he said in a written statement, reflects the spirit and humanity that mirrors the ‘Good Maharaja’ Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja.

Prime Minister Modi, who arrived in Warsaw on Wednesday, paid tribute at The Dobry Maharaja Memorial in Warsaw that honours the Jamsaheb of Nawanagar Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja’s remarkable act of kindness during World War-II.

Gujarat’s special role in furthering India-Poland relations remains etched in history. During World War II, Maharaja Jam Saheb Digvijaysinhji of Jamnagar sheltered over 600 Polish refugee children in Gujarat—an act of kindness still remembered in Poland today.

As a tribute to… pic.twitter.com/PlS88r9z4I

— Bhupendra Patel (@Bhupendrapbjp) August 21, 2024

The statue was built in recognition of ‘Dobry (Good) Maharaja’ compassionate gesture of providing hundreds of Polish children refuge during the Second World War which remains as one of the most evocative chapters in the relations between India and Poland and has had a lasting impact on ties between the two countries.

In his message, Jamsaheb Shatrusalyasinhji Jadeja mentioned the deep reverence of the unimaginable trials and enduring hardships that were endured by the Polish people.

He also mentioned that in order to build on the legacy and further strengthen the historical connect between the people of India and Poland, he has requested the Prime Minister to consider setting up a youth, student and cultural exchange between the two countries.

As PM Modi arrived in Warsaw, the ‘Indian Poles’ are commemorating a historic facet of India-Poland relations which has been bedrock of the people-to-people ties between the two countries since the Second World War.

“One of the unique bonds between our countries relates to the time in the 1940s, during World War II, when more than 6,000 Polish women and children found refuge in two princely states in India, Jamnagar and Kolhapur. As you may be aware, Jam Sahib of Navanagar had provided shelter to more than 1,000 Polish children, and others were offered refuge in Kolhapur,” Tanmaya Lal, Secretary (West) at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said earlier this week while announcing PM Modi’s August 21-22 visit — the first by an Indian Prime Minister to Poland in the past 45 years.

While Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja, the Jamsaheb of Nawanagar who is known in Poland as the ‘Good Maharaja’, gave refuge to over 1,000 Polish children in the famous Balachadi camp, the Royal Family of Kolhapur provided safe haven to more than 5,000 Polish women and children in the equally-famous Valivade camp.

A monument, commemorating Jam Saheb Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja, was unveiled in October 2014 at the Square of the Good Maharaja, Ochota District in Warsaw. Another plaque commemorating the Valivade-Kolhapur camp near the Monte Casino War Memorial was inaugurated in November 2017 in Warsaw. As many as eight Polish primary and secondary schools are also named after Jam Saheb.

A large number of Polish refugees and their descendants have, over the last many decades, expressed their gratitude towards the two royal families of India by building memorials in Warsaw and organising annual events to keep the memories alive.

The Association of Poles in India, which reunites all the Polish who lived between 1942 and 1948 in the two camps set up by the Maharajas of Jamnagar and Kolhapur, meets once in two years to recall and reiterate their gratitude and affection for the two royal families and the people of India.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Poland today, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in 45 years. The visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Poland.

The last Indian Prime Minister to visit Poland was Morarji Desai in 1979. 

“Leaving for Warsaw. This visit to Poland comes at a special time- when we are marking 70 years of diplomatic ties between our nations. India cherishes the deep-rooted friendship with Poland. This is further cemented by a commitment to democracy and pluralism,” PM Modi said in a statement. 

Leaving for Warsaw. This visit to Poland comes at a special time- when we are marking 70 years of diplomatic ties between our nations. India cherishes the deep rooted friendship with Poland. This is further cemented by a commitment to democracy and pluralism.

I will hold talks…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 21, 2024

“I will hold talks with President @AndrzejDuda and PM @donaldtusk. I will also be addressing the Indian community at a programme in Warsaw this evening,” he added. 

The Prime Minister’s two-day visit from August 21-22 will focus on strengthening bilateral relations, with discussions likely to cover a wide range of topics, including strategic partnerships, defence cooperation, and cultural exchanges.

European Parliament member Dariusz Jonski has termed the visit as “very important.” 

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted the historical ties between the two nations, recalling Poland’s assistance to India during Operation Ganga in 2022, which facilitated the evacuation of over 4,000 Indian students from Ukraine. This gesture, along with the historical refuge provided to over 6,000 Polish women and children in India during World War II, are being seen as the cornerstone of good India-Poland ties. 

PM Modi will visit the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on August 23 to hold talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.