POLSKI EXODUS – POLACY W INDIACH W LATACH 1942–1948

The author discusses little-known facts of the Second World War concerning the stay of Poles in India between 1942–1948. Among those who survived and escaped from the „inhuman land” (Soviet Union) were Polish orphans saved with great e{ort from this country as well as the women and children of soldiers ghting the Germans who were exiled deep into the interior of Russia to the Eastern Borderlands by Stalin a¤er the Soviet invasion of Poland on 17 September 1939. Following an agreement between Sikorski and Maisky on 30 July 1941, thanks to General Sikorski’s endeavours, a group of 116,000 Poles left Soviet Russia. There were about 13,000 children below 14 years of age among the civilian population that came to Persia in stages. Youth between 14 and 18 years of age went to a military youth academy in Russia before leaving for Palestine. ose remaining le¤ for India, where Maharaja Jam Saheb Digvijay Sinhji o{ered his own plot of land for the construction of the Polish Balachadi Housing Estate. The Polish government in exile provided funds for its maintenance. The rst transportation of children out of Russia took place in April 1942. e established centres comprised of: Jamnagar (for 586 people), Country Club near Karachi (tent camp for evacuated Poles 1943–1945), a temporary camp in Malir (small housing units built by Americans near Karachi), Panchagani (health-resort; August 1943–1947), housing estate in Ballachadi (July 1942 Polish Children’s Camp), Valivade (1943–1948, the biggest housing estate with 5000 people). Discussion focused on publications addressing economic issues, fundamental legal matters during the period of the Polish housing estates’ existence, work, learning at various academic levels, cultural and educational activities, artistic values, the scope and capabilities of medical welfare at these centres, sports classes. We uncovered how the fate of the Polish wanderer was made more tolerable; apart from the Poles, Indian friends played a considerable role, as did the scout movement, the Polish Red Cross, the Polish Catholic Mission, various religious organizations. e sources used include: a joint publication that came out under the editorship of Leszek Bełdowski, Teresa Glazer, Wiesława Kleszko, Danuta Pniewska and Jan K. Siedlecki, entitled ge Poles in India 1942–1948 as depicted in documents and reminiscences, published by the Polish Circle in India 1942–1948, in London in the year 2000 (Antony Rowe Ltd., UK), and Weronika Hort, Wandering children, Beirut, 1948. A lm entitled „A Little Poland” by the Indian director Anu Radhy, in an Indian and Polish co-operative venture with the participation of the embassies of the two countries as well as that of Polish Television.