When an Indian Jews of an Indian Indian do not help escape the Nazis

“Let me tell you a mystery. Your nana (Baba) helped Jewish families escape the Nazis. “

Vinay Gupta from his mother took a trip to his grandfather’s past. What was found was a fairy tale than the artistic literature: a little-known act of heroism by an Indian employee who risked everything to save strangers in Europe’s darkest hour.

It was not only compassion; It was logistics, risk and solution. In India, Kundanlal, set up an enterprise to hire the Jews, set houses home – just announced the British as “enemy aliens” and once broke the word war.

Knundal’s life reads as an epic and also fled to a suitable business and a suitable factory. Lahorda preferred his class – 22 join the colonial civil service, all to resign, all to participate in the freedom movement and participate in the life of construction factories.

India’s independence leader and subsequently shook their hands with the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and crossed the actress in Europe with the actress Devina Rani.

A family memory during a rescue in Vienna, Gupta opens an extraordinary Indian resolution in the foreign land – family letters, survived interviews and historical records.

In the 1938 shadow of Hitler in 1938, Austria’s Kundarlal presented the workplaces of Jewish experts in India to save them from the Northern province of Ludhiana in the northern province of Punjab. He offered to work for these families in India and work to build a house.

Kundanlall saved five families.

A 30-year-old Jewish lawyer Fritz Weiss, hospitalized the hospital, hidden. Was in the same hospital to get a cure for a kidanlal disease.

After the Nazis forced to clean the streets outside of their homes, Kundanlal gave him a lifetime: the proposal of the work “Kundan Agencies”. He received a visa to India.

Alfred Wachsler, a master woodworker, a master tree worker, was greeted while bringing the pregnant wife for tests. Sponsored in furniture and emigration, his family became one of January 1938 and Jewish households to reach India between February 1938.

Hans Losch, a textile technique, responded to Kundanlal’s advertisement for qualified workers on an Austrian paper. In Ludhiana, the imaginary “Kundan fabric mill” offered a management role – the apartment seized a chance to start with a profit and safe transition.

Alfred Schafranek, once the owner of 50 employees, the owner of Kundanlal and India presented the most modern plywood unit. The whole family, including his mechanic brother Siegfried, was rescued.

And Siegmund was checked by a bench businessman, approached the first Kundanlar. As the case in the rules of the Nazis, Kundanlalal began to go to India again.

All started with a hospital bed in Vienna.

The fight against diabetes and hemorrhoids, Kundanlal, then asked 45, new treatment and read about a specialist in Vienna. In 1938, he met with the young couple, Lucy and Alfred Wachsler, while firing from the operation. He learned to destroy them, anti-Semitic violence and Jewish life.

Met with other men in the next few months. Kundanlal, which is encouraged by this success, newspaper advertisements seeking skilled workers who want to move to India. Among the respondents there are wachs, Losch, Schafranek and reused. Kundanlall offered support to provide every job, financial guarantees and Indian visas.

“An advanced aspect of all these families in the name of these families, how much he approached the name of these families, he continued to images the transfer of technology to India,” Gupta said.

“He did not share his intentions or plans with Indian or England officials. He learned his plans when his plans returned their homes only.”

In October 1938, Kundanlal was the first to get to Ludhiana to come to Ludhiana.

Kundanlal’s house was met – but found little comfort in the quiet city, writes Gupta. No Jewish community, which has no cultural life and a piece of fighter mill, Bombay (now Mumbai) left in a few weeks, poor working conditions and wanting a little chance of profit. Ever returned.

Weiss continued – only under two months. The company, which was created for him, never left the kin agencies. Soon, the bomb moved, moved to the British work and from 1947 to England.

Despite their way, Kundanlalal writes Gupta, no discovery.

“Aunt told me that the opposite felt that Kundanlal could not provide a lifestyle and social environment in Vienna and did not feel in Ludhiana.”

All stories do not end this way.

Alfred and Lucy Wachsler, came out of the train at Ludhiana finally, came by sea, rail and road.

They moved to a large house Kundanlal, who was prepared for Schafranex, and set up for the other side next to the other. Alfred quickly established a furniture workshop, set up a furniture workshop, and one of the elegant cooking sets for delicate cookies – one of the author’s family survived.

In March 1939, his brother Siegfried and their families Alfred Schafranek from Austria. One of the earliest pronpation factories in India was spilled behind two houses.

The collected and demanding, alfred pushed non-compulsive employees harshly, decided to build something. Gupta writes, the work was limited to the heat and isolation, especially for women, especially for women.

As the months passed in Ludhiana, the initial relief gave boredom.

Men worked long hours, while women are limited to language and isolation, they are taken to home rules.

In September 1939, Hitler attacked Poland. Days, England declared war in Germany – the British parliament drew India in conflict. More than 2.5 million Hindu in the war, 87,000 were not refunded.

Ludhiana hit the reality of the war fast.

Until 1940, the new policies ordered all German citizens – Jewish or, not – international camps.

Wachsler and Schafranek were forcibly moved to the puree International, near the families, kerosene lamps and minimal flexes. They did not commit a crime – just spent the wrong passport.

Finally, the release became possible – if they can find a paid job.

Alfred and Siegfried Schafranek provided a new roles in Bangalore, and resumed with their families, starting with their families. Wachsler’s family left the camp in 1942 after finding a job in Alfred Karachi. Two families did not meet again.

The Purandhar camp was closed in 1946, and the war ended in a year later.

In 1948, Alfred Wachsler’s cousin, the son of the family sponsored the US refugee visas. In October, they flew from Karachi, they never return to India. Schafranex was transferred to Australia after a successful counterfalior builder in Bangalore in 1947.

While investigating the book, Gupta Alex Wachsler – Father, Alfred, as well as a burgundy tint table, which was used once in a small 120 square meter of FT, also built Kundanlal. (Alfred died in 1973.)

“Although it is 10 years old, Alex Wachsler is still eating for life in India, eating in Indian restaurants and surprises his knowledge of Urdu,” Gupta.

Back in Ludhiana, Kundanlar opened a school for their daughters, soon lowering him to one of Punjab’s oldest schools – today with 900 students today. His wife Saraswati, increasingly retreated and squeezed depression.

Kundaral and Saraswati had five children, including four daughters. In 1965, Saraswati died after a tragic fall. In silence, the family emotionally removed his last year. Kundarlal a year later, 73 years old, went through a heart attack.

“One ‘passive Bystander’ concept was Kundainema Anatem. He saw the attention or saw something, he never scared the problem,” he said.

The appeal is not just a job, a pitaph that is suitable for a person who is calm disobedience, compassion and convicts.