The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has completed the second edition of the Jamsaheb Memorial Youth Exchange Programme, which brings Polish youth to India each year to learn about the countries’ shared history and contemporary development. A delegation of 19 young Poles visited Gujarat, Maharashtra and New Delhi from 7 to 14 October 2026.
The programme is part of a five-year strategic partnership plan between India and Poland announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Poland in August 2024. It aims to deepen people-to-people ties by allowing Polish youth to experience India’s culture, institutions and history firsthand.
Key facts
- 19-member Polish youth delegation visited India from 7 to 14 October 2026
- Programme announced by PM Modi in August 2024
- Part of India-Poland Five-Year Action Plan (2024-2028)
- Envisages annual exchange of Polish youth to India
- Delegation visited Gujarat, Maharashtra and New Delhi
- Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya hosted the delegation
- External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar interacted with the delegation
Why this programme exists
The exchange is named after Maharaja Jam Saheb Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja, who ruled the princely state of Jamnagar in Gujarat during World War II. When thousands of Polish citizens were displaced by the Nazi invasion, the Maharaja opened his state to Polish children, providing them with refuge, education and medical care. His humanitarian legacy earned him the title Dobry Maharaja, meaning “the Good Maharaja,” in Polish collective memory.
This shared wartime history forms the foundation of modern India-Poland friendship. The youth exchange programme seeks to keep this memory alive among new generations and build on it through direct engagement between young people from both countries.
What the delegation experienced
The Polish youth visited two memorial sites that commemorate India’s role in sheltering Polish refugees. The Balachadi Polish Children’s Camp Memorial in Jamnagar, Gujarat, marks the location where the Maharaja provided sanctuary to Polish children. The Valivade Polish Refugee Camp Memorial in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, honours the refuge given to thousands of Polish refugees during and after World War II.
Beyond these historical sites, the delegation also visited cultural landmarks including Dandi Kutir in Gandhinagar, associated with Mahatma Gandhi’s independence movement, and Kirti Mandir in Porbandar, Gandhi’s birthplace. In New Delhi, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya hosted the delegation for an interactive dinner, and they met with External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar to discuss India-Poland relations and the role of youth exchanges in bilateral ties.
How the programme works
The Jamsaheb Memorial Youth Exchange Programme operates as an annual initiative under the India-Poland Strategic Partnership. Each year, Polish youth are invited to India for a week-long visit combining heritage tourism with structured interactions with Indian institutions and leadership. The programme exposes them to India’s scientific, economic and cultural development alongside historical sites of shared significance.
The interactions are not one-sided tourism. Participating youth engage with senior Indian government officials and representatives to discuss bilateral relations, development challenges and the role of young people in strengthening international ties. This format treats the exchange as genuine dialogue rather than ceremonial visits.
What this means for you
If you are a young Indian interested in international relations and cultural diplomacy, this programme shows how your government is investing in people-to-people exchanges as a tool of foreign policy. Such programmes often lead to bilateral scholarships, internship opportunities and career pathways in diplomacy, international business and development work.
The emphasis on shared historical memory also offers a reminder of India’s humanitarian contributions during global crises, a narrative that is important for India’s international standing. For competitive exam aspirants, this demonstrates how historical events can shape modern diplomatic relations and the importance of understanding India’s role in World War II beyond the independence struggle.
What happens next
The programme will continue on an annual basis as part of the five-year India-Poland Action Plan running until 2028. Each year, new Polish youth delegations are expected to visit India to participate in similar exchanges of history, culture and development.