Tharoor and JGU’s Professor C Raj Kumar address Diet on academic ties

In a rare honour reflecting the growing depth, maturity, and strategic importance of India–Japan relations, Professor C Raj Kumar, founding Vice Chancellor of OP Jindal Global University (JGU) and Dr Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament, India, addressed a distinguished bipartisan gathering of Members of the National Diet of Japan at the National Diet Building in Tokyo.

According to a Press note, their addresses highlighted the complementary roles of higher education and parliamentary diplomacy in advancing one of Asia’s most important democratic partnerships through research, innovation, academic collaboration, and people-to-people engagement.

The significance of the interaction was heightened by coinciding with the official visit of the Prime Minister of Japan Sanae Takaichi to India and the India–Japan Annual Summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

As both Governments continue to deepen their Special Strategic and Global Partnership at the highest political level, the discussions in Tokyo demonstrated that enduring bilateral relationships are strengthened not only by governments but also by parliaments, universities, scholars, students, industry, and civil society, said the Press note.

The interaction was chaired by Fukushiro Nukaga, the 80th Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan, and brought together an exceptional and bipartisan gathering of Members of the National Diet representing both the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors.

The meeting was attended by senior parliamentary leaders, former ministers, government representatives, eminent diplomats, distinguished academics, policy experts, and industry leaders from across Japan. The breadth of participation reflected Japan’s strong bipartisan commitment to strengthening parliamentary dialogue, educational cooperation, democratic engagement, innovation, and institutional partnerships with India. On the occasion Raj Kumar spoke of the indispensable role of universities in shaping the future of international relations. He observed that institutions of higher learning today are far more than centres of education.

“Asia’s evolving geopolitical landscape demonstrates that the strongest international partnerships are patiently built through sustained investments in education, research, technology, human capital, institutional cooperation, and innovation. India and Japan, he said, possess a unique opportunity to deepen their relationship further by investing in universities, scientific collaboration, entrepreneurship, academic mobility, and knowledge partnerships,” he said.

Highlighting JGU’s own engagement with Japan, Professor Raj Kumar noted that the University’s partnerships with 27 leading Japanese institutions and the participation of nearly 200 students in study abroad programmes across Japan reflect a sustained institutional commitment to building long-term academic cooperation.

In his address Tharoor reflected on the equally important role of parliamentary diplomacy and observed that diplomacy is not merely about negotiating interests or responding to crises.

Reflecting on the centuries-old relationship between India and Japan, Tharoor said the friendship between the two countries has been nurtured through Buddhism, cultural exchange, democratic values, and deep civilisational respect. “This shared history, is not only a source of pride but also a responsibility. The challenge before both nations is not to create a new friendship but to continually renew and strengthen an enduring one through institutions capable of serving future generations. While governments create strategic partnerships, it is ultimately people who sustain them,” said Tharoor.

Other distinguished participants include Toshiko Abe, former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; Kiyoshi Odawara, former State Minister for Foreign Affairs; Hakubun Shimomura, former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; Yasuhide Nakayama, Director-General, Global South Strategy Headquarters amongst others.

The Organisers were Masakuni Tanimoto – Secretary-General, Japanese Parliamentary Committee for World Federation; Chairperson, International Committee for World Federation and the Members of the Secretariat – Japanese Parliamentary Committee for World Federation, according to the Press note.