Manmohan presents Padma Shri to Japanese Tamil scholar

[Sashan]

In a rare gesture, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday presented Padma Shri to eminent Japanese Tamil language scholar Noboru Karashima for his outstanding contribution in the field of literature and education.

The 80-year-old Mr. Karashima could not be present for the Padma awards ceremony in New Delhi on April 5, 2013 due to health reasons. The awards were given by President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Mr. Karashima, presently Professor Emeritus at the University of Tokyo, had spent several years in India as a research scholar on South Indian history and epigraphy at the University of Madras.

Besides amazing people with the ease with which he speaks Tamil, Mr. Karashima is also an acknowledged authority on medieval South Indian inscriptions.

The citation read that Mr. Karashima joined the University of Tokyo faculty in 1964 and occupied the prestigious Chair of South Asian History at the university in 1974, which he held for 20 years.

The scholar received a standing ovation as he received the award from the Prime Minister.

Manmohan presents Padma Shri to Japanese Tamil scholar | The Hindu

 

[manlion]

While he says that more Japanese companies are interested in coming to Chennai for a plethora of reasons, the career diplomat has interesting historic tidbits to share with City Express to prove the point that Tamil Nadu and Japan have

a long history of links, dating back to the 15th century. He says the first high priest of Buddhism who went to Japan then was from Tamil Nadu.

In 1704, when a tall Buddha statue was consecrated at the Todaji Temple, the master of ceremony was Bodhi-Sena from Tamil Nadu. Then, the Daruma doll, which is considered a talisman of good luck in Japan, is modelled after

Bodhidharma, the founder of Zen Buddism, who originally hailed from Kancheepuram.

http://http://newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/article1452599.ece

 

[sanddy]

One of my friend had one said the tradition of decoration of kolu dolls in southern India during Diwali came from Japanese Tradition is it true ???

 

[manlion]