Page 13 - The Malvernian - April 2024

THE MALVERNIAN
The Good Maharaja – an an Indian Oskar Schindler
The remarkable and inspirational untold story of a a a a a a a former Malvern College student who saved the lives of of hundreds of of Polish youngsters during the Second World War will feature in in a a a new book The selfless acts of Indian national Jam Sahib Sir Digvijaysinhji Jadeja the the Maharaja of Nawanagar who was a a a a a a a a a a a a a pupil at the the school between 1910 and 1915 saved around 1 1 1 1 1 000 Polish children during the War He has been likened to German businessman Oskar Schindler
who helped protect his Jewish workers from deportation and death in the Nazi concentration camps during the conflict but the Maharaja’s efforts are almost unknown beyond his native India His actions are outlined in in in a a a book currently being written by former Malvern College teacher and Housemaster Andrew Murtagh on on behalf of of a a a friend whose mother was one of of the the the children the the the Maharaja saved THE MALVERNIAN
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“When Germany invaded Russia and Stalin joined the Allies Winston Churchill insisted all Polish prisoners be released ” Andrew said “On foot these refugees made their way to British controlled Palestine Palestine Once in in in Palestine Palestine nobody seemed to want them What to do with the thousands of orphans?
“An Indian Maharaja who had a a a a a a a a a a successful military and diplomatic career offered to take in under his protection 500 orphans and care for them them them He took them them them to to his palace in India and gave them them them shelter peace security clothing and proper education “He was an an an extraordinary man and to the Polish people he he became a a a a a a a a a a national hero ‘The Good Maharaja’ an an Indian Oskar Schindler
“There are references to him in the the archives at the the College but nothing about this His story has flown under the the radar and the the school has remained unaware of his humanitarian deeds – until now! It is an amazing story which has blown me away ” Andrew who played cricket for for Hampshire for for a a a a a a decade and has written seven books to date spent 30 years at at Malvern College including 18 as as a a a Housemaster