TOKYO: Great Grandsons of Mitsuru Toyama and Shigemaru Sugiyama – the supporters of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Netaji’s grandnephew, Surya Bose from Germany met with HSS Japan and Team Netaji Japan online on January 23 to pay tributes to freedom fighters.
This virtual event also aimed at recalling the Japanese assistance for setting up Indian National Army on the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
HSS Japan and Team Netaji Japan have been organizing series of events on Deshprem Divas in Japan for the last nine years.
Rash Behari Bose whose disappearance day falls on January 21 is also being remembered for his bravery and his role as a messenger of India in Japan. It was his close relationship with Japanese leaders and popularity in Japanese masses, Japan agreed to support Indian freedom fighters.
This year, Deshprem Divas was celebrated virtually to follow the ongoing safety measures. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe who is a Member of Parliament and the President of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCCR) also joined the event online from India.
Great Grandsons of Mitsuru Toyama and Shigemaru Sugiyama delivered the greetings on behalf of Japanese followers of Netaji. It is worth mentioning that Toyama, who was the tallest Nationalist leader with a deep corner for India, protected Rash Behari Bose from British agents on multiple occasions.
He had also played a key role in arranging Netaji’s meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister to gain Japan’s military assistance for Indian National Army and India’s freedom. Similarly, Sugiyama who was Toyama’s right-hand man had risked his life in rescuing Rash Behari in his car when later was on the verge of getting extradited to British agents.
Sugiyama’s grandson, Tatsumaru Sugiyama San also called as Green Father of India helped to restore water and agriculture by spending 14 billion yen in a rapidly desertifying northern land of India in 1961.
Now this Region of Shivalik ranges is covered with lush greenery. Tatsumaru Sugiyama San fulfilled the wishes of his grandfather and Rash Behari Bose, by dedicating his life to the reforestation and vitalization of India.
Related article: The tale of two Boses, their Japanese connect and authentic Indian curry
Netaji’s grandnephew, Surya Bose also joined the event from Germany and conveyed his deep appreciation for the celebration of Netaji’s birth anniversary as Deshprem Divas in Tokyo for the last 9 years.
Surya Bose mentioned that India will always remember Japanese support for its freedom. Keynotes were delivered by Vinay Sahasrabuddhe who is a Member of Parliament and the President of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. Dr. Vinay appreciated the cultural performances which include a special skit on Netaji and Rash Behari by the members of HSS Japan and other members of the Indian community in Japan.
HSS Japan also shared brief updates on various sewa projects which are going at the Hindu refugee camp in Adarshnagar, Delhi. This includes the construction of toilets, online classes, opening shops for 10 families for making them self-reliant, weekly medical camp, etc. Recently a beautician center has been inaugurated in collaboration with one of the local NGOs in Delhi in a Hindu refugee camp.
This center will be used to conduct a 3-month beautician course (and in the future for other skill development workshops) for the women and young girls of the camp as an initiative towards women empowerment.
Prior to the virtual event, an online quiz contest was organized on Jan 16, 2021.
More than 150 people including children registered for this online quiz, which was based on Netaji, Rash Behari, Japanese connect with freedom fighters as well as other freedom moments like Gadar which were organized by overseas Indians.
The quiz was divided into three age groups with each group has witnessed three winners. The concept of online quizzes helped in creating a good level of curiosity and awareness among everyone. Winners were announced during the Deshprem Divas.
