Coastal Talk News | New Delhi
The second edition of the Jamsaheb Memorial Youth Exchange Programme was held from October 7 to 14, 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 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 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.
