"Tourism promotes better understanding"
 


Before he came in, his Deputy Head of Mission, Mr. Piotr Opalinski had already given away a secret- he has good knowledge of Hindi, he can speak well. This was enough to put me on alert, not to utter a single word of Hindi to my colleague while talking to him. It was indeed true. As he entered, Prof. Piotr Klodkowski, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Poland greeted us in chaste Hindi. His visiting card was bilingual - his name and designation was printed in English and Hindi. Even before I could start off with my questions, he took over.

"You have come at the right time. Next month we are organizing a road show in Delhi. Tourism is a way of 'discovering new cultures', interacting with people and a big chance for knowing more about them. It brings a very true understanding of other cultures for those who are keen on learning as much as possible about our changing world. I have been traveling through India and I am overwhelmed with hospitality right here. And I must admit I have a special place in my heart for Rajasthan, its traditions, music and history. Ten years ago I organized several tours to India. I made face to face contacts with the inhabitants of these areas. It is my conviction that travellers should know more and more about other cultures, people and their traditions. And let me quote here the motto taken from St Augustine: The world is like a book. The one who does not travel, keeps reading the same page again and again."

There has been an agreement between India and Poland on tourism.....

"We are dedicated to promoting the Polish and India tourism agreement. At the time of the Honourable Indian President 's visit to Poland a special agreement on tourism was signed. Poland and India have decided to encourage tourism information centres, so the basic ground work is ready, and now tour companies should contribute and translate it into reality."

What are the details of the road show?

"The Polish Tourist Organisation, in collaboration with other National Tourist Organisations within the Visegrad Group, which also includes Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia, will participate in the road show that will be held from 12 April in five Indian cities. We will start with New Delhi then Kolkatta, Bengaluru and Chennai. Let me now quote two figures related to tourism industry Last year we had 30,000 visitors from India to Poland and about 20,000 Poles to India last year. It is quite promising but we should work hard to enhance and diversify our mutual contacts.

"Believe me, there is a lot to see in Poland but I shall focus on a few places. Krakow, our old capital is one of the most attractive cities in Europe which retains its perfect medieval and baroque ambience. It has historic environment (speaks in Hindi), best experienced right in the city centre, the Main Square, where the wonderful Cloth Hall is still the city landmark. The Honourable President of India recently visited the 14th century Jagiellonian University, one of the oldest in Europe. This is the historical university from where the world renowned astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus graduated. Those interested in the history of science can have a close look at the well-preserved 500-year-old scientific instruments. Worth visiting is also a Jewish Quarter with the synagogues, traditional shops and superb restaurants. Very close to Krakow you will discover the Wieliczka Salt Mine, where absolutely everything is made of salt: the Catholic chapel with superb altar, statues of the saints, furniture. There is also a salty lake and a spa where you need no AC as it has a natural ventilation system. Many health problems can be cured there. When the President of India paid a visit there I could hear a member of the delegation saying that it should be considered as one of the wonders of the world. In fact it is.

You speak wonderful Hindi. I am told you have been a student of Indology too.

"Well, that was more than 25 years ago, but I do my best to practise Hindi whenever and wherever it is possible. So let me say:'Mujhe Hindi movies bahut pasand hai'(I am fond of Hindi movies). In Poland Indian restaurants and Hindi movies are quite popular. Indian cuisine is becoming more and more fashionable, especially among youngsters. It is exotic; it is a very good alternative. I can name a few dishes like samosa, chicken curry, biryani which are likely to find new Polish admirers. They will love Indian khana, I am sure of that! ."

Back in Poland what more is attractive ?

"I must mention the Capital - Warsaw, the political, business and cultural centre of Poland. I know it can easily inspire Indian journalists. Please remember it was completely destroyed at the time of the World War Two, but stands beautifully restored. The old town has been perfectly brought back to its architectural glory and now serves as a good example of our indestructible spirit. We are proud of the old and modern churches in the city, mostly Roman-Catholic ones, which are the significant testimony of our past. The royal gardens, Lazienki in Warsaw are worth a visit, especially by those who love a combination of music and nature. In fact Poland is special for music lovers. This year we are celebrating 200th birth anniversary of our renowned pianist Frederic Chopin. He is extremely popular not only in Europe but in China and Japan as well. So far we have organized Chopin concerts in New Delhi, Kolkatta and Bengaluru. The highlight of the show was the pianist who is a Filipino by birth, lives in New York and played Polish music in India. Isn't it a symbol of the globalising world, some sort of cultural masala, that India is well-known for? It comes therefore as no surprise that it is my dream to have classical Indian dance performance on Chopin piano music. A cultural fusion - 'sanskritik sanrachna' is what I am interested in. Even if it is not very successful , I would like to try it. By December this year we shall have such a performance ready. You have asked me what visitors to Poland can see and what impressions they may have. Let's move afar now, to the extremely pessimist and horrible aspect of the history of mankind. There is a special place, a must visit site that should appeal to the people all over the world. It is the infamous concentration camp in Auschwitz where millions of human beings, mostly Jews, were slaughtered by the Nazis during the World War Two. Auschwitz should always serve as a warning to people round the globe to make them aware of any potential consequences of a war which usually starts with vicious ideas produced by the human mind." On the pleasant side of life.....

"We have a lot to enjoy in Poland all the year round. There are Mazury Lakes in the north where tourists can go sailing and yachting, there is the Baltic Sea and well-kept sand beaches, the Baltic cities of Gdansk, Sopot and Gdynia where modernity is pleasantly combined with ancient times. Generally tourist arrivals are during spring and summer season, but we have excellent period for skiing in December, January and February. We are very proud of the beautiful Bieszczady and Tatra mountain ranges. While Bieszczady is a perfect area for romantic trekkers as there are still wild jungles, the Tatra mountains are famous for their beautiful landscapes and climbing routes.. Film producers from India have chosen the area for shooting of films. In a Hindi movie 'Fanaa' what has been projected as a place in Kashmir, is in reality, a location in the Tatra mountains. I have already suggested that our people in film making industry should make contacts in 'Bollywood'. We have perfect infrastructure and good landscapes, so why not to choose Poland for making more films? In the International Film Festival planned to be held in Krakow in April there are Hindi films too and the famous actor Amitabh Bachchan has been invited there. In 'Off Plus Camera' section new Indian cinema is being highlighted and that is happening for the first time. Let me tell you that there are Bollywood fan clubs in Poland which celebrate and organize shows. There is a Polish web site on Hindi films. 'The Hindi film 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham' became very popular there. Many Hindi films with Polish sub titles are easily available. India can use this 'soft power', as it promotes Hindi language and Indian culture in general." When did you first visit India and your experiences of that visit?

"Twenty five years ago I came to India as a student deeply interested in Indian civilization. Then India seemed to be a distant land, later it turned out to be a good choice. I once stayed in the Shanitivanam 'ashram' ; it was a great spiritual experience. Then in 90's I visited India several times. I have very fond memories of Varanasi as I feel I am closely associated with the BHU and its professors. I still remember the spiritual atmosphere of the Golden Temple in Amritsar. In Haridawr and Rishikesh, I stayed several days and the 'arti' at the holy Ganga in the evening is something that you cherish in your memory for a long time." How important is the role of tourism?

"I would say that when people travel, they tend to understand each other better. Tourism plays a significant role in a dialogue between nations. It promotes good relations. I am not denigrating business, but people to people contacts are for ever."

What would you like to promote more?

"In Poland we have excellent higher education facilities in medicine, engineering, IT, hotel management among others. My dream is of increasing student exchanges. In this field we are much below our expectations therefore we need a legal framework; a special agreement on higher education. In fact we are working hard on this. The role of the governments is somehow limited and it is the Universities from both sides that should promote the exchange of students and scholars. Let me emphasize it again and again: people to people contact is much needed as it will always contribute in the most positive way to strengthening our relations. I suppose I have to explain right here that as far as student exchanges are concerned, we - as the Embassy - act only as facilitators and promoters. That is why I have decided to visit Stephen's College in Delhi and had a talk there, I delivered lectures in Mumbai, Kolkatta, IIMT, Meerut and I am planning to have more in selected Indian cities.

What is the status of Indian investment in Poland and vice versa?

"We would like to have more investors from India. Arcelor Mittal opened the gates wide for Indian companies to follow. Our Prime Minister, Mr. Donald Tusk is arriving in India on a two-day visit on 18 May accompanied by a high level delegation to project Poland as an investment destination. He will hold meetings in New Delhi and Bengaluru. Poland has an advantageous location in Europe and a good investment atmosphere according to Indian investors, already present for quite a long time in our country. We have a skilled, cost-competitive labour force and easy access to Russia or Ukraine on one side and the EU on the other. It is a good place to start as there is no big competition from the biggest companies. Last year when the world was affected by economic slowdown, we still maintained a growth rate of 1.2%, though this is not as high as yours."

A good balance of trade ought to exist between the two nations?

"Yes, the balance of trade between the two is $1.12 billion. Of this $790 million is India's export to Poland and $336 million the other way round."

Where else can the two countries have joint ventures?

"For example in defence industry where we have had a very positive cooperation for many years. Renewable energy is another important field. Recently around 20 Polish companies have come to India to asses possibilities to form joint ventures in renewable energy. India can also take expertise in deep coal mining from Poland."

You have keen interest in books.

"We have had Polish poetry translated into Hindi. Some works of the Nobel Prize winning Polish poets Czeslaw Milosz and poetess Wislawa Szymborska have been translated in cooperation with Ashok Vajpayee. There are other works of Zbigniew Herbert and Tadeusz Rozewicz which have also been translated. The response of the readers so far has been very satisfying so we are considering the translations into other Indian languages. "
 All pictures and text are Copyright of THE BLUE MOON. No material should be used without written consent of the owner.
Designed & Developed by Yah Infotech