The second edition of the Jamsaheb Memorial Youth Exchange Programme was held from 7 to 14 October 2026. A 19-member Polish youth delegation visited Gujarat, Maharashtra and New Delhi. The programme comprised of visits to sites of shared historical significance, cultural engagements, visits to institutions showcasing India’s scientific, economic and cultural development and interactions with senior Indian leadership.

The programme was announced by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during his State visit to Poland in August 2024 and forms part of the Five-Year Action Plan (2024–2028) for the India–Poland Strategic Partnership. It envisages an annual exchange of Polish youth to India, providing participants with opportunities to explore the country’s history, culture, institutions and contemporary development.

A major highlight of the programme was the visit to the Balachadi Polish Children’s Camp Memorial in Jamnagar, Gujarat, which commemorates the humanitarian contribution of Maharaja Jam Saheb Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja. During the Second World War, the Maharaja provided refuge, education and medical care to Polish children displaced by the war. His compassion earned him the enduring recognition of Dobry Maharaja, or the Good Maharaja, in Poland. The visit offered the delegation an opportunity to learn about this remarkable chapter of shared history and the enduring bonds between the two countries.

Thereafter, the delegation visited the Valivade Polish Refugee Camp Memorial in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, which commemorates the refuge provided to thousands of Polish refugees during and after the Second World War.

The visits to Balachadi and Valivade highlighted India’s humanitarian support to the Polish people during a difficult period and reinforced the historical foundations of India–Poland friendship.

In New Delhi, the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, hosted the Polish youth delegation for an interaction over dinner. The engagement provided an opportunity for the visiting youth to interact with the Minister, exchange perspectives and learn about India’s approach to youth development and participation. The interaction underscored the importance of people-to-people exchanges in fostering mutual understanding and strengthening ties between India and Poland.

The delegates expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to explore India’s rich history and cultural heritage over the course of seven-days. Visits to the Jamsaheb and Valivade camp memorials, Dandi Kutir in Gandhinagar and Kirti Mandir in Porbandar, the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, were among the memorable experiences of the programme. The delegates appreciated the warm hospitality extended to them and described the visit as an enriching experience that had deepened their understanding of India and strengthened their connection with the country.

The delegation also had the opportunity to call on External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and interact with him on matters relating to India–Poland relations and the role of youth exchanges in strengthening bilateral ties.

The successful completion of the second edition reinforces the importance of youth diplomacy in advancing India–Poland relations. By connecting young people with shared history and contemporary India, the programme carries forward the legacy of Maharaja Jam Saheb and strengthens the enduring friendship between the two countries.

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Pawan Singh Faujdar

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