Małgorzata Wejsis-Gołębiak, a seasoned Polish diplomat, musician, and academic, has devoted her career to building cultural and intellectual bridges across continents. With nearly two decades of diplomatic service abroad—including long stints in India, Korea, Japan, the Persian Gulf, and Europe—she brings to her work a rare combination of cultural sensitivity, artistic passion, and professional experience.
Now serving as Director of the Polish Institute New Delhi, she is shaping a dynamic cultural agenda that highlights Poland’s cinema, music, literature, and visual arts for Indian audiences. In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Guardian, she reflects on her enduring connection with India, the significance of cultural diplomacy, and the evolving nature of Indo-Polish relations.
Excerpts
Q. This is your third posting to India as a Polish diplomat. How do you look back at your long association with India?
A. India has been very close to my heart throughout my diplomatic career, and I feel privileged to return here for a third time. My earlier postings were marked by projects that brought Poland’s cultural presence to India in a meaningful way—for instance, commissioning the documentary Chitraanjali: Stefan Norblin in India, which celebrated the remarkable work of the Polish artist in this country, and supporting the conservation of his exquisite murals at Umaid Bhavan in Jodhpur. Each of these initiatives revealed the deep resonance that Polish creativity can have in India.
Now, as Director of the Polish Institute, my aim is to build on this legacy and present the best of Poland—our cinema, literature, arts, and music—at leading festivals and venues across India. India’s audiences are open, curious, and discerning, and I see enormous scope to expand cultural dialogue between our two nations.
Q. What are your key areas of focus as the Director of the Polish Institute? What can we expect from you in the upcoming months?
A. My foremost priority is to strengthen Indo-Polish cultural ties in a way that is both visible and impactful. Culture is a bridge, and through it we can foster a deeper understanding between our peoples. In the coming months, you can expect a strong Polish presence at major cultural festivals across India—whether in film, theatre, music, literature, or the visual arts.
We are working to ensure that Polish cinema is showcased at important film festivals, that our writers and translators engage with Indian literary events, and that Indian audiences encounter Polish theatre and music in inspiring contexts. The idea is to create multiple touchpoints where Indian and Polish creativity can meet, collaborate, and inspire one another.
Q. How do you look at the nature of cultural ties between India and Poland?
A. The ties between Poland and India are both historic and contemporary. On the one hand, we recall the moving story of the Maharaja of Jamnagar, who gave shelter to Polish refugee children during World War II—an act of humanity that we will never forget. On the other hand, we also celebrate intellectual and artistic bridges, such as the contribution of Polish architect Maciej Nowicki, who played a pioneering role in designing Chandigarh alongside Le Corbusier. His vision is still alive in India’s urban imagination, and it remains one of the finest examples of Indo-Polish collaboration.
Today, these ties continue to thrive through film collaborations, artistic exchanges, translations of literature, and a growing curiosity on both sides to discover each other’s worlds. Cultural relations are, in essence, living relationships—they evolve with time, yet they are strengthened by history. India and Poland share values of resilience, creativity, and respect for heritage, and this gives our cultural dialogue great depth and promise.
Q. PM Narendra Modi visited the memorial in Warsaw paying his tribute to Maharaja Jam Sahib. How do you look at the significance of the Indian PM’s visit to Poland in August last year?
A. The visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Poland was truly historic and deeply symbolic. His tribute to Maharaja Jam Sahib at the memorial in Warsaw touched the hearts of all Poles. It was not only a recognition of a unique humanitarian gesture during one of the darkest moments of the 20th century but also a reaffirmation of the enduring friendship between our two nations.
For us, it underscored how history continues to shape our present and future relations. It sent a powerful message that compassion and solidarity transcend borders and time. I believe this visit has opened a new chapter in India–Poland ties, one that will be marked by even closer cooperation in culture, politics, and beyond.
Q. You yourself come from a musical background. How do you look at the great legacy of Polish music, especially in the context of virtuosos like Chopin?
A. I was fortunate to grow up in a family where music was central to our lives, and it has shaped the way I view the world. When we speak of Polish music, the name of Fryderyk Chopin immediately comes to mind. His genius transcends time and nationality—his works are performed and loved across the world, and they carry within them the spirit of Poland.
This year is particularly special as Warsaw hosts the 19th International Chopin Piano Competition, one of the most prestigious events of its kind in the whole world. It is a celebration not just of Chopin’s timeless genius, but also of the living legacy of Polish music, which continues to inspire young artists and audiences everywhere. For me, bringing Polish music to India is not only a professional mission but also a personal joy.
Q. Polish animation film Zima by Tomek Popakul won at the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF). How do you look at the state of contemporary Polish cinema, especially given the great legacy that it enjoys?
A. It was a moment of great pride to see Zima win at MIFF, and to see Indian audiences respond so warmly to Polish storytelling. Polish cinema has a glorious legacy—with masters like Wajda, Kieślowski, Zanussi, and many others who shaped world cinema—but what excites me most is how vibrant the contemporary scene is.
Today’s Polish filmmakers are experimenting with new forms, fresh narratives, and bold ideas, yet they carry forward that tradition of deep, humanistic storytelling. To see a film like Zima resonate in India gives us confidence that our cinema has universal appeal and that it can continue to build bridges between our cultures. The future of Polish cinema, I believe, is very bright, and India will play an important role in that journey.
