Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Poland on Wednesday, addressed the Indian community and expressed gratitude for their warm reception. He acknowledged the efforts of those who traveled from various parts of Poland to greet him in Warsaw.
“This scene is extraordinary. Ever since I landed here, you have not got tired, you have come here from different parts of Poland, and you speak a different language, but you are connected with the spirit of Indianness. I thank you for the grand welcome,” the Prime Minister said.
Marking a significant milestone as the first Indian leader to visit Poland in 45 years, Prime Minister Modi highlighted a shift in India’s foreign policy. “I was recently in Austria, another country where an Indian Prime Minister hadn’t visited for four decades. The landscape has changed now. For years, India’s approach was to keep a distance, but today, our strategy is to build strong ties with all nations,” he explained.
The Prime Minister emphasized that for India, foreign policy is driven by values rather than geopolitics, a legacy that fills every Indian with pride. He recalled Poland’s connection to India’s ‘Sanatan Bhava’ during World War II when Poland sought refuge, and Jam Saheb of Nawanagar responded by establishing a special camp for Polish women and children.
“For India, it’s not about geopolitics, it’s about values. This is our legacy that fills every Indian with pride. Poland has been witness to India’s ‘Sanatan bhava’. During World War II when Poland was going through a tough time and was seeking refuge, Jam Saheb came forward. He constructed a special camp for Polish women and children,” Prime Minister Modi said.
“Two decades ago, when an earthquake hit Gujarat, Jamnagar was affected badly. Poland was among the first countries to extend help,” he added.
Prime Minister Modi also praised the Indian diaspora for their vital role in strengthening bilateral relations, particularly during Operation Ganga, which successfully rescued Indian citizens stranded in Ukraine.
“The way you helped Indian students stuck in Poland (during the Russia-Ukraine war), we saw that. You arranged langars, you opened your doors, Polish government removed visa requirements for our Indian students,” he said.
He encouraged the Indian community to act as ambassadors of Indian tourism and contribute to the nation’s growth narrative.
The Prime Minister highlighted the significance of the Dobry Maharaja, Kolhapur, and Battle of Monte Cassino memorials as symbols of the strong people-to-people connections between India and Poland.
To further enhance this bond, Prime Minister Modi announced the Jamsaheb Memorial Youth Exchange Program, under which 20 Polish youth will be invited to India annually.
“Today, Indians are known for their efforts, excellence and empathy. Wherever we go, we are seen putting in a lot of effort. In the whole world, we are known for excellence, be it it sector or our doctors, they are known for excellence. We are known for empathy as well, we are the first to extend help to countries going through crises,” he said.
Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s belief in “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” – the world is one family – which motivates the country to contribute to global well-being and act as a first responder in humanitarian crises.
“We sent medicines and vaccines to 150 countries. Whenever there is a natural disaster anywhere, the country’s mantra is humanity first, if there is a war, India says humanity first. India always comes forward as first responder,” he said.
Reflecting on India’s transformative progress over the past decade, the Prime Minister expressed optimism that India will become the world’s third-largest economy in the coming years.
“We have taken financial inclusion to the next level. We opened 500 million Jan Dhan Bank accounts. In the last decade, India’s broadband users have increased from 60 million to 940 million. If we combine the US and UK populations, the broadband users will come up to that,” he said.
Looking ahead, Prime Minister Modi shared his vision of making India a developed nation – Viksit Bharat – by 2047. He also pointed out the growing partnership between India and Poland in areas like new technology and clean energy, which are driving green growth.
“There are many similarities between Indian and Polish societies. One of them is democracy. Indians have a lot of faith in it. We have seen that in Indian elections. The Lok Sabha elections were the biggest in the history of polls. The level of efficiency is a big strength of Indians,” the Prime Minister said.
“We are connected through the game of Kabaddi as well. This game reached Poland through India and they took it to great heights. Poland is going to host the Kabaddi championship for the first time. I want to wish good luck to their team,” the Prime Minister said in his address.
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