From Masala to Mazurek: Life of Indians in Poland
By DesiMedia Team | April 28, 2025 |
Desi Food Finds a Place
Warsaw, Poland – It’s a chilly Friday night in Warsaw, and the aroma of butter chicken drifts from a small Indian restaurant called Bombay Masala near the city centre. Inside, the tables are full—not just with Indian expats, but curious Polish locals twirling naan in bowls of dal makhani. The Hindi song playing softly overhead feels oddly warm against the cold Vistula wind outside.
This isn’t a one-off moment. It’s part of a quiet, growing wave—the Indian presence in Poland.
While the UK and Canada get most of the headlines, Poland has quietly become a new home for many Indians—especially in the last decade. Cities like Warsaw, Kraków, Łódź, and Wrocław now have thriving Indian communities, complete with food, festivals, and flourishing careers.
The surge began with Indian IT professionals and medical students, but now includes blue-collar workers, restaurant owners, and entrepreneurs.
IT & Engineering: Infosys, TCS, and Wipro have large operations in Łódź and Kraków. Many Indians handle backend systems, software testing, and cybersecurity support.
Medical Students: Poland is a cost-effective destination for Indian MBBS aspirants. Cities like Lublin and Gdańsk have universities that offer medical degrees in English.
Logistics & Blue-Collar: In smaller cities like Radom, some Indians are employed in warehouses or as delivery drivers—especially those who migrated from the Gulf or northern India.
Hospitality & Retail: Indian restaurants and grocery shops are expanding, mostly run by Punjabi, Tamil, or Bengali families.
Indian food is gaining popularity in Poland. In major cities, you’ll find everything from upscale curry houses to home-style tiffin delivery services:
- Mandala Bistro – Known for its authentic thalis in Warsaw.
- Curry House – A student favourite in Kraków.
- Namaste India – One of the first Indian restaurant chains in Poland.
Indian groceries like basmati rice, dal, paneer, and even frozen samosas are available in Asian stores and increasingly at Polish chains like Carrefour and Lidl.
Despite the distance, Indian cultural life stays strong. Student groups and religious communities organize Diwali, Holi, and Independence Day celebrations. Bollywood movies are screened at festivals, and cricket unites people from Delhi to Gdańsk.
Language is less of a barrier thanks to English being widely spoken among younger Poles. Still, many Indians pick up Polish greetings like "Dzień dobry" and "Dziękuję" to feel more at home.
Most Indians say they feel safe in Poland. But occasional incidents do occur—especially outside large cities. Reports include:
- Staring or mocking from older locals
- Underpayment in jobs compared to European peers
- Suspicion toward Muslim or Sikh Indians in some rural areas
That said, **young Polish people tend to be more open**, and many intercultural friendships and marriages have developed. The more Indians engage locally, the better the mutual understanding seems to get.
Jaspreet, an engineer from Ludhiana now living in Łódź, puts it best: “Poland isn’t perfect. But it gives me peace, a job, and safety. And honestly—pierogi is comfort food now.”
For many, Poland isn’t just a stop on the way to Western Europe—it’s becoming home.
From late-night samosa stalls to Polish-Indian wedding parties, the desi heartbeat in Poland is real. It might be quieter than Toronto or Birmingham, but it’s growing—block by block, bite by bite, bond by bond.
And just like that… masala met mazurek.