Tokyo: Education could play a key role in further strengthening the age-old ties between India and Japan, Indian educationist Anand Kumar said on Wednesday.
"It will give the relationship between the two nations, which enjoy a deep-rooted Buddhist linkage, a new dimension by bringing the youth closer," `Super 30` founder and mathematician Kumar said.
He was delivering a lecture on the topic `Super 30 to Global 30- an inspiring journey` at the Sanjo conference hall of the University of Tokyo.
The executive vice president of the university Masako Egawa in his welcome address spoke highly of Kumar`s Super 30 programme and how it was making a difference in India.
Anand is on a week-long visit on the invitation of Japan government to explore the emerging prospects for Indian students in Japan and has visited several academic institutions.
Anand said, the ties between the two nations span across several areas ? from technology to religion ? but its time for educational collaboration.
"It took nearly 1000 years for the preaching of Gautam Buddha to reach Japan, but in the modern era distance hardly matters, though Buddha still does for the people of both the countries. What is today needed to spread the light of education for making enlightened world citizens," he added.
Maintaining that Indian students had immense potential and a strong craving for education despite limited means, he said Japan, with its state-of-the-art institutions and advancement in science education, could be an ideal destination for the talented students from India.
"The Global 30 programme launched by the Japanese government to attract more and more talented students from India will work as a catalyst for them," he added.
In a packed hall comprising professors, researchers and students, Anand said the journey of Super 30 got underway 11 years ago to help talented students from the poor sections of the society, who had the dream and potential of studying in India?s premiere institutions, but lack the resources.
"What started with a small initiative gradually became a global talking point due to its success rate, which is largely attributed to students’ passion, hardwork and unflinching devotion. Global 30 has also been started with the objective of attracting students from India and it would certainly inspire more and more students," he added.
Anand said that Bihar, the state he belonged to, had an added attraction for Japan due to its Buddha connect. "It is the place where lakhs of Japanese visit every year to go to Bodh Gaya and visit Mahabodhi temple, under which Buddha had achieved enlightenment."
PTI
