Nepal as a nation-state has so many friends abroad who love this Himalayan nation from their inner hearts.

Some say they love Nepal for its scenic beauties and snow-capped mountains. Others claim that they love and respect this country for its people who, according to them, were ever smiling and a peace loving lot.

There is yet another set of foreigner(s) who are attracted towards this country for her countless temples, rich arts and culture and the rest for having a chance, as stated earlier, to look for themselves the snow-peaked majestic mountains.

The gist is that those who come to Nepal once, more or less, they never forget Nepal for a variety of reasons.

One such personality is Mr. Andrzej Wawarzyniak, a Polish national who the late 70s was the Polish Charge d'Affaires accredited to this Kingdom.

During his short tenure here as a Polish diplomat, this distinguished Polish personality studied Nepali arts and crafts and through his personal efforts tried to popularize Nepali culture in Poland.

Even today after a long gap of some three decades, he is remembered by the handicraft sellers in Kathmandu. Andrzej had always in his hand a BIDI-tobacco wrapped by a special leaf.

Diplomat with a BIDI as he was recognised and taken in Kathmandu. His passion for the collection of genuine Nepalese materials was simply superb which are yet preserved in Asia and Pacific Museum in Warsaw.

It was around his Kathmandu tenure as Polish diplomat, the Nepal-Poland Friendship Association did its best to enhance Nepal-Poland ties.

The Nepal-Poland Friendship Association (NPFA) took its formal birth on September 1, 1975.

Great Polish litterateur Monika Warnenska, film actress Lucyna Winnicka, widely acclaimed Polish journalist from Kontynenty magazine Jerzy Chocilowsaki, Janusz Kurzab, Hanna Wiktorowska, Dr. Andrzej Paczkoski and Piotr Mlotecki, (and also a renowned journalist from Chekrui, Krakow) and above all the first Polish lady Mountaineer, Wanda Rutkeiwicz, who scaled Mount Everest were all greeted and welcomed by this Association.

A special event/ceremony was organized by Nepal-Poland Friendship Association to honor Wanda Rutkeiwicz on her Himalayan success.

This ceremony in Nepal coincided with the appointment of first Polish Pope in Vatican, Karol Józef Wojty³a.

As a mark of recognition to the jobs accomplished by the Nepal-Poland Friendship Association, the then Polish Ambassador in Delhi, Ryszard Fijalkowski, landed in Kathmandu to award a medal to the founder Chairman of Nepal-Poland Association, Mr. Narendra Prasad Upadhyaya. The medal was titled “Distinguished for Polish Culture”.

Fascinated by the Nepali tradition and culture tremendously, Mr. Andrzej Wawarzyniak, upon the completion of his diplomatic assignment in Nepal, became the first honorary Chairman of the Poland-Nepal Friendship Association in Warsaw and he is still the Chairman of that Association in Warsaw and continues to remain even as of today the real inspirator of Nepal-Poland Friendship Association in Kathmandu.

The friendship society, under Andrzej, did miracles in Poland and in the process Nepal got extensively popularized in the heart of Europe.

As a mark of respect and honor for Nepal, a Hindu temple Bell has been established inside the compound of Asia Pacific Museum, Solec Street, Warsaw which was inaugurated by Narendra Prasad Upadhyaya, the founder Chairman of Nepal-Poland Friendship Association as back as in 1986.

At the moment, Mr. Wawarzyniak is the Director and Curator-in-chief of The Asia and Pacific Museum which is located in the capital city of Poland. Andrzej Wawarzyniak was in Nepal in January 2006.

The Telegraph Weekly on behalf of the NPFA had then asked some questions to Mr. Andrzej.

What brings you this time to Kathmandu?

“It is my sentimental attachment for this country which I developed while being in this land that has forced me to come here on a regular basis”.

(Mr. Wawarzyniak was traveling to India as the very distinguished guest of the Indian government. He had few days in his pocket and hence he flew from Calcutta to Kathmandu.)

Andrzej is revered in Sri Lanka as well.

He landed in Kathmandu January 20, the day the government had imposed a daylong curfew and he left Kathmandu on January 26, the day when the agitating seven parties (during the King’s rule) had sponsored a full day closure here.

Have you noticed change in Kathmandu?

He says yes! So many buildings, terrible traffic jams and more over the politically "unstable situation".

He expressed his heartfelt anxiety over the political crisis that had gripped this Himalayan Kingdom around that time.

Have you any suggestion to offer to the King and the political parties?

Well, I am a small man to forward my suggestion to His Majesty King Gyanendra, continued the unconditional lover of Nepal, Mr. Andrzej.

But then yet, added Mr. Wawarzyniak, "I would suggest all the political parties' in conflict to sit down in a round-table and sort out differences whatever they have with each other in the larger interest of the society and the nation".

He cites his own country's problems, which according to him were all sorted out through round-table negotiations in the recent past.

Mr. Andrzej Wawarzyniak remained as an Advisor to the immediate past President of the Polish Republic some years back.

Telegraph Adds: This distinguished Polish personality has very close and intimate relations with the entire editorial board members of this newspaper. The chief editor of this weekly wish for a healthy and prosperous life of this distinguished Polish national whose heart is filled with love for Nepal indeed without any strings attached.

Andrzej! Your contributions to enhance Nepal-Poland ties will be taken proper note of by the coming generations both in Nepal and Poland.

It would be a dishonesty to undermine the services rendered by Andrzej Wawarzyniak in enhancing Nepal-Poland ties.

Long live Nepal-Poland Friendship!

(Space provided by the Telegraphnepal.com on the eve of 50^th anniversary of Nepal-Poland Diplomatic Ties to Nepal-Poland Friendship Association. Text prepared by Nepal-Poland Friendship Association.)

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