Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – this is a Sanskrit phrase that you will find inscribed on the entrance of the Parliament of India. It is also one of the most important values of Indian society and it means ‘The world is a family’. And one of the firm believers of this was Maharaja Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinghji Jadeja of Nawanagar, an Indian princely state of the Kathiawar region of Gujarat.
During World War II, in September 1939, the Soviet Union invaded Poland from the east, a few days after Germany invaded Poland from the west. After 20 days of military operation, Poland was annexed by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. As a result, millions of Poles were displaced and homeless. The Polish government in exile asked permission from the Soviet authorities to leave to India and Iran.
India, at the time, wasn’t a sovereign nation and was still under the British Raj. It wasn’t as wealthy and prosperous either. But it was the first country to welcome Poland refugees with open arms. And the person to do so was Maharaja Digvijaysinhji.
According to The Hindu, when the first batch of 500 malnourished and exhausted orphans and women arrived in Nawanagar, the Maharaj said to them:
“Don’t consider yourselves orphans. You are now Nawanagaris and I am Bapu, the father of all Nawanagaris, including yourselves.”
The Maharaj was a part of the Imperial War Cabinet and knew well the Polish government in exile who were working from London. So he not only welcomed the refugees but also arranged for special accommodation, schools, medical facilities and opportunities for rest and recuperation at Balachadi, near Jamnagar.
He coordinated with the Polish government in exile and arranged for Polish teachers and catholic priests to come to India and serve the refugees. Between 1942-1948, approximately 20,000 refugees stayed.
One of the orphans who was welcomed by the Maharaja was Karolina Rybka, who spoke to CBC about her stay in India and the kind-hearted Maharaja. According to her, he built dormitories in which each child had their own bed and provided them with food, clothes and medical care.
She recalls the splendid time she spent in India. After finishing school at noon, she would have lunch and walk to the ocean for playtime. She used to play sports and won prizes at the various competitions that were held.
What’s remarkable is that the Maharaj didn’t want anything in return for his kindness. He only wished to have a street dedicated to his name in Poland. It was when Poland truly became independent in 1989 did the Poles dedicate a square in Warsaw after the Maharaja’s name. Later, a small park in the city was named the Square of the Good Maharaja, a monument in his honour had been erected and he was posthumously awarded the ‘Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit’ of the Republic of Poland.
Not just that. Even today when you visit Warsaw, you will find schools where the walls are decorated with pictures from India – its art forms, architecture, and what not. The people of Poland are still thankful for the generosity of the Maharaj. In fact, when Indian students were trying to flee from war-torn Ukraine, Poland came forward and arranged for special flights to bring them back to our country, reported Times Now.
Helping Indians stuck on the Ukraine side move away from crowded Shehyni to other checkpoints. Hoping to welcome them later today to Poland.@MEAIndia @opganga pic.twitter.com/OgX0mrbljS
— India in Poland and Lithuania (@IndiainPoland) February 28, 2022
Kindness always comes back to those who are giving. 
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source https://www.storypick.com/maharaja-digvijaysinhji/