Ex-Japan PM Shinzo Abe receives Netaji Award 2022

NEW DELHI: Former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe was awarded the Netaji Award 2022 by the Netaji Research Bureau in Kolkata on Sunday.

The honour was conferred on him at a function at the residence of Netaji at Elgin Road on the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.

Japan’s Consul General in Kolkata Nakamura Yutaka received the honor on behalf of Shinzo Abe.

Japanese Ambassador to India Satoshi Suzuki addressed the event online from New Delhi. Sugato Bose, director of Netaji Research Bureau and grandson of famous freedom fighters, described Abe as a big fan of Netaji.

On Sunday evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a hologram statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose at India Gate. This hologram would be in place till the work of the statue of Netaji is completed. The statue would be unveiled in the same place to mark the year-long celebration of the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

PM also conferred Subhas Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskars for the years 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 in the investiture ceremony. This award was instituted by the Union Government to recognize and honour the invaluable contribution and selfless service rendered by the individuals and organisations in India in the field of disaster management.

The Prime Minister paid tribute to the brave son of Mother India, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on his 125th birth anniversary.

Addressing the gathering, he said that the grand statue of Netaji, who had established the first independent government on the soil of India, and who gave us the confidence of achieving a sovereign and strong India, is being installed in digital form near India Gate. Soon this hologram statue will be replaced by a granite statue. This statue is a homage to the hero of freedom by the grateful nation and will keep on reminding our institutions and generations of the lesson of national duty, he said. On the other hand, there were many events conducted across India to celebrate the birth anniversary of the great freedom fighter and hero, such as an international webinar “Netaji and the Anti-Imperial Movements in Asia: A Historical Perspective”.

Another event was organized by the Netaji Research Bureau (NRB) with the title “The Traditional Netaji Birthday Assembly” at the Netaji Bhawan.

The strong relationship between India and Japan is very clearly illustrated in the well-known Hindi film “Bose, the forgotten hero”.

The 3.5 hours long 2005 film dedicated to Netaji was made reborn with Japanese subtitles and got publicly viewed in Japan in 2019.

“Padmashree Dr. Tomio Mizokami, who spoke during the above webinar today as the keynote speaker, supervised and authenticated the Hindi translation. I was very lucky to have a chance to watch the film in Kobe, Japan,” said Tomio Isogai, the independent consultant on India-Japan relations and Global President-Japan Chapter, ISDSI.

He is also an advisor with Indo-Japan Business Council (IJBC).