Poland in India

Getting together with family and friends, relaxing on a picnic blanket, listening to live performance of Polish-Indian jazz band "Natalia Kordiak Alankaram Group and enjoying some delicious food proved to be a great way to celebrate this important milestone in the history of Poland and nine other EU countries. To ensure an authentic picnic experience, a variety of children's attractions were organized, including traditional Indian block printing workshops, tug-of-war competitions, water sprinkler games, and cupcake decorating classes. The event welcomed over 200 guests, including more than 50 children, offering everyone an opportunity to savour Polish culinary specialties.

Sebastian Domżalski, the Chargé d'affaires a.i. of the Republic of Poland in India, and Hervé Delphin, the Ambassador of the European Union to India, delivered speeches at the picnic. In his address, the EU Ambassador evoked the tradition of European picnics, specifically mentioning the "Pan-European Picnic" of 1989 in Sopron on the Austrian-Hungarian border, that constituted an important moment in the journey towards European integration.

In his speech, the EU Ambassador also discussed the works of Milan Kundera, who envisioned an expansion of Europe to the East in his writings. This visionary projection helped to open minds for the EU’s political expansion 20 years later. He also emphasized the intense hope carried in Poland by Solidarność leaders and the strong belief in a better future articulated by Bronisław Geremek, who stated, "We have been in a bad place; we aim to be in a better one, and that better place is called Europe."

The picnic by the Polish Embassy in New Delhi in partnership with the Polish Institute was the first in a series of events aimed at promoting the European Union and EU-India cooperation. The programme of events will culminate with the "Europe Day" celebration on May 9, 2024.