Author Vinay Gupta recently released his book, A Rescue in Vienna: The Story of an Unlikely Hero. The book reveals how his grandfather rescued five Jewish families from Nazi persecution during World War II. Although Gupta initially doubted the story, he later found compelling evidence that confirmed its truth.
At first, Gupta was skeptical when he heard the story about his grandfather’s heroism. “I started as a skeptic,” he explained, believing it was just a family legend. As his mother had shared bits and pieces, Gupta assumed it involved British officials, not his own family. However, determined to uncover the truth, he examined India’s recently digitized National Archives. To his surprise, he found documentation that validated his grandfather’s actions.
Consequently, Gupta uncovered records in the archives that detailed his grandfather’s rescue efforts. “Timing is everything,” he said, emphasizing how fortunate he was that the archives became available online. Through this research, he learned that one of the survivors his grandfather saved is still alive in Florida. Afterward, Gupta began visiting this survivor every year, deepening his understanding of his grandfather’s bravery.
Later, Gupta was hosted by Austrian Ambassador to India, Katharina Wieser, where he shared how his family reacted to his findings. Even they hadn’t known the full extent of his grandfather’s efforts. Gupta discovered that his grandfather had actually placed an ad in an Austrian newspaper, inviting Jewish families to relocate to India. “My own family didn’t know that,” he said. “They didn’t believe it.” This revelation surprised his entire family, who had never heard this part of the story before.
Unlike many who seek recognition for their deeds, Gupta’s grandfather never spoke about his actions. Instead, he remained silent about his heroism. “He was a very quiet man. He never wanted to discuss it,” Gupta recalled. Therefore, discovering his grandfather’s heroism became even more meaningful for the family.
Interestingly, Gupta pointed out India’s history of tolerance toward Jewish people. “India is one of the few countries without anti-Semitic incidents, at least not by Indians,” he noted. In contrast, Gupta explained that British colonial rulers, though more tolerant of Jewish refugees, treated them as Europeans and still considered them superior to Indians, even as prisoners.
Finally, Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, praised Gupta’s work and shared his admiration for Gupta’s grandfather. He described him as a compassionate hero who saved lives during the Holocaust. Azar stated, “Each one of these stories is worth telling.” He promised to send Gupta’s book to Jerusalem for further study, adding, “Thanks to his goodwill, many souls were saved.”
