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Japanese Scholar Builds India-Japan Cultural Bridges
8 Jan
Summary
- Professor Mizokami received India's Padma Shri award in 2018.
- He pioneered sociolinguistic research on language contact in Punjab.
- Mizokami is recognized for fostering India-Japan ties through language.
Professor Tomio Mizokami, an Emeritus Professor at Osaka University, is lauded for his profound impact on India-Japan cultural relations. His extensive work with Indian languages, literature, and education earned him the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian honors, in 2018. Born in 1941, Mizokami's early fascination with India led him to study Hindi and Bengali, later earning a PhD from Delhi University for his groundbreaking sociolinguistic research.
Mizokami's academic career spanned decades, teaching Indian languages at Osaka University and Punjabi at the University of California, Berkeley. He is celebrated as the first Japanese scholar to conduct extensive academic research on Punjabi. The Indian Council for Cultural Relations recognizes his contributions as vital to strengthening bilateral ties and fostering understanding of India through its culture.
During the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Professor Mizokami, emphasizing how individuals like him build enduring bridges between India and Japan through language and literature. Mizokami himself reflects that Indian languages revealed the very soul of India to him, highlighting the deep personal connection driving his celebrated career.
