Polish Parliamentary Delegation to Visit Kolhapur on August 8, Strengthening Eight-Decade India–Poland Friendship

Kolhapur, 6th August 2026: A high-level Polish Parliamentary Delegation will visit Kolhapur on August 8 to commemorate the historic India–Poland relationship forged during the Second World War, when nearly 5,000 Polish refugees found shelter in Valivade between 1942 and 1948. The visit is also expected to advance preparations for the proposed visit of the Prime Minister of Poland to India later this year.

The delegation will pay homage to the humanitarian legacy of the Chhatrapati family and the people of Kolhapur, whose compassion during World War II transformed Valivade into a safe haven for thousands of displaced Polish civilians fleeing war and persecution.

The visiting delegation comprises Ms. Kinga Gajewska, Member of the Polish Parliament (Sejm) and Chairperson of the Poland–India Parliamentary Group; Dr. (Hon.) Amit Lath, Vice President of the Europe India Chamber of Commerce (EICC) and Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awardee; Mr. Tomasz Zjawiony, President of the Regional Chamber of Commerce in Katowice and Vice-President of the European Federation of Entrepreneurs (CEA-PME), Brussels; Ms. Krinal Shah Suri, Director of Global Affairs & Business at the Regional Chamber of Commerce, Katowice; Ms. Aleksandra Osmańska, Director of the Office of Ms. Kinga Gajewska for Parliamentary Affairs; and Ms. Karolina Wójcicka, International Correspondent with Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, one of Poland’s leading national newspapers.
The visit also marks another important milestone in the development of the proposed Museum of Humanity and Peace at Valivade, which aims to preserve and showcase the shared humanitarian legacy of India and Poland.

The Governments of Maharashtra and Poland jointly announced the museum project in 2019. Although work was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and successive floods in Kolhapur, the initiative has continued to progress through sustained efforts led by His Highness Yuvraj Sambhaji Chhatrapati Maharaj and Her Highness Yuvradhni Sanyogeetaraje Chhatrapati.

As a Member of the Rajya Sabha between 2016 and 2022, Yuvraj Sambhaji Chhatrapati Maharaj emerged as one of the key advocates for reviving India–Poland relations centred on the Valivade legacy. Yuvradhni Sanyogeetaraje Chhatrapati played a crucial role in identifying and recovering the original barrack foundations, ensuring that the museum will be established on the authentic historical site.

The initiative has received support from former Ambassador of India to Poland H.E. Nagma Mallick, the current Ambassador of India to Poland H.E. Neeta Bhushan, former Ambassador of Poland to India H.E. Adam Burakowski, current Ambassador of Poland to India H.E. Piotr Antoni Świtalski, Małgorzata Wejsis-Gołębiak, Minister Plenipotentiary and Director of the Polish Institute, New Delhi, and Shri Tomasz Wielgomas, Consul General of Poland in Mumbai.

The India–Poland relationship traces its origins to September 1939, when Poland became the first victim of the Second World War following invasions by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Thousands of Polish civilians were later evacuated through Iran to British India, where nearly 5,000 refugees found refuge in Valivade between 1942 and 1948.

Under the patronage of the Chhatrapati family and with the support of the people of Kolhapur, the refugees rebuilt their lives with dignity. Schools, churches, community centres, sports facilities and cultural institutions flourished within the settlement, preserving Polish identity while creating lifelong bonds between the two nations.

The historical connection continues to receive recognition at the highest levels. During his visit to Poland, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage at the Kolhapur Memorial in Warsaw, acknowledging the humanitarian contribution of the Chhatrapati family and the people of Kolhapur.

The memorial stands beside the Monte Cassino Memorial, symbolising the shared military history of Indian and Polish soldiers who fought together during the liberation of Europe in the Second World War. Soldiers of the Maratha Regiments distinguished themselves during the Italian Campaign, while Major General Shahaji Chhatrapati Maharaj of Kolhapur had earlier commanded Maratha troops in the East African campaign against Axis forces.

The Maharashtra Government has already spent ₹1.5 crore on the museum structure and has earmarked an additional ₹5.5 crore for the development of a world-class exhibition gallery, strengthening the site’s prospects for UNESCO recognition.

Officials believe the upcoming visit of the Polish Parliamentary Delegation will further deepen bilateral ties and pave the way for the proposed visit of the Prime Minister of Poland to Kolhapur later this year, reinforcing one of the world’s most enduring examples of friendship born from humanitarian compassion during wartime.