(after yesterday)
Fukusaki took to a special place in the city. Which is actually the memorial area of a Japanese folklorist-ethnographer named Kunio Yanagida. If you go up there, you can see the sprawling village, where the river, rice paddies, mountains are all visible. To the Japanese, the word village reflects this model. According to Professor Miyahara, earlier ethnographers studied society with models embedded in their psyches.
On March 20, there was a seminar at Osaka University. The main content was dominated by issues related to Bangladesh – specifically the Rohingya refugees. One was presented by me, the other was presented by Mineo Takada, a professor at Hiroshima University in Japan. He has researched various issues in Bangladesh for decades – Rohingya, rickshaw etc. He also speaks fluent Bengali like Professor Mizokami.
The Japanese generally learn the language, culture, etc. of the country in which they study. During the conversation I came to know that he still regularly keeps track of Bangladesh. Daily Prothom Alo, Janakantha, Azadi, Purvakon etc. newspapers he reads regularly – so that no news is unknown or there is no shortage of information related to his research topic. He stayed in Chittagong for a long time. Will contact you when you come forward.
I have to say a little about the seminar. The topic of my essay at the seminar organized by Asia-Pacific Studies was ‘The Meaning of Life’ to the Rohingya. Fleeing from Myanmar and currently living in the camp day after day, what do they find the meaning of life here? The meaning of life varies from person to person depending on life experiences. For example, a 50-year-old man is one thing for a Rohingya, another for a woman, another for a 15-year-old child.
Those born in Bangladesh do not even know what life means to them. Japanese Professor Takada’s essay featured the scattered location of the Rohingyas. From the 1970s until now, they have highlighted how they built their homes in different parts of the country, especially in Chittagong, in groups or individually, scattered in different places through ethnographic research.
Professor Kazut Ikede traveled to Bangladesh and highlighted the historical position of the Rohingya in the context of Bangladesh’s historical relationship with Myanmar. Professor Gio Miyahara (my PhD supervisor) presented the Rohingya as he saw them in the Rohingya camps, particularly their living conditions, survival techniques and their culture. How foreigners see the Rohingya issue differently with their own experience is very informative for me.
Shota Okanao and Taihei Kikuchi came to Bangladesh and made a comparative discussion of what they saw in Cox’s Bazar, Rohingya camps and Rangamati. They presented various ethnic and cultural images of Cox’s Bazar, Teknaf and Rangamati and discussed various aspects of Myanmar’s historical relationship with Bangladesh. They are more surprised and happy to see Naf river in Teknaf. On one side of the river is Myanmar, on the other is Bangladesh.
Of the two, Okana also recently got a teaching job at Kobe University. Kikuchi received as a researcher at Kyoto University. On the other hand, my colleagues Phan Chih-ying, Chris Summo, and Ao Mengling will complete their PhDs this year. I am senpai-senior or elder brother to them.
Not to mention the arrangement for the night after the said seminar. Various dishes including delicious sushi have been arranged in the dinner. The dinner lasted about three and a half hours (7 pm to 10:30 pm). At dinner they are usually cheerful, enjoying the food and the story. But everyone splits the food bill in Japan. Everyone present at this year’s dinner paid five thousand Japanese yen. I didn’t have to pay because I had an essay.
All those who were present at the seminar were introduced to each other. It is known who works where. Talked to someone. He works in Kashmir, India. One works in Northeast India. Met some other Japanese professors who retired from Osaka University five to seven years ago. Even then, they participate in seminars and discussions whenever they get a chance.
Share their experience with the newcomers. Be rich yourself. Even after retirement in Japan, professors can remain associated with the university in some way.
Not to mention another one like Professor Mizokami. He is Doctor Kazuto Matsumoto. I have known him since 2008. When I met him last December, he wrote down in his notebook the next time I would visit Osaka. On the day I arrived on March 12th, he sent a text to the local professor Miyahara on his cell phone, asking to have dinner with me on Saturday the 16th.
I also agreed. He came by car and took me. Delicious Udang Kelam in a restaurant. He came again on the 20th. He drove me to the seminar, said goodbye to me and left. When asked to take me away from the seminary again, I refused. Because it will be too late before dinner is over. In this way, as Bangladesh has always supported Japan as a development partner, I have also found many Japanese people with genuine love.
Rode the monorail, rode the elevated expressway, waiting for the third terminal to open. The two-hour journey to the airport can be completed in 30 minutes thanks to the elevated expressway. These developments are very hopeful for us. However, it is necessary to keep in mind that these developments should not go against people and nature.
The decision to cut down 43 trees including centenarians in the railway area to install ramps for the expressway under construction in Chittagong is not acceptable in any way. Cutting of trees can in no way be said to be in the interest of development, rather it can be described as an anti-development activity. Hopefully, the authorities will come back from this nature-destroying decision like the stubborn decision to build a hospital in CRB. In Japan, at least, there is no precedent for such nature-destructive and anti-people development.
The first flyover was constructed in Dhaka. Then it happened in Chittagong. Chittagong residents are also getting benefits. Chittagong needs an elevated expressway like Dhaka. Monorail is also needed. In this city of one road, one can no longer move comfortably. Traffic jams are always there. Even a light rain made it miserable. This results in a lot of wasted labor hours. People are suffering a lot.
So monorail is needed in Chittagong to solve the traffic jam. There is no change. Right from the city to Chittagong University. Chittagong University is 20 km away from the city and is constantly mired in problems, especially due to the transportation system. As teachers and students struggle daily, especially students, in the jams of commuting to and from universities, there is not much left of manpower. Therefore, there is no alternative to an improved communication system for decongesting the city and getting the maximum benefits of Chittagong University. Monorail can be the most beautiful eco-friendly solution in this case.
Need to finish today’s episode. Two days before returning from Japan, Professor Miyahara took me to see a distant village. Fukushima is a long way from Osaka. As I went I saw it was raining. After a while I saw snow falling. When I reached the village, I saw the difference between the city and the village. Although the village of Japan is much more self-sufficient than the city of Bangladesh. All facilities are available in the village. I also saw Sakura.
Usually sakura do not bloom in full but some variants bloom earlier. Fortunately, due to Fukushima, I saw the same about 8-10 days ahead of time. Fukusaki took to a special place in the city. Which is actually the memory of a folklorist-ethnographer named Kunio Yanagida of Japan. If you go up there, you can see the sprawling village – where the river, rice paddies, mountains are all visible.
To the Japanese, the word village reflects this model. According to Professor Miyahara, earlier ethnographers studied society with models embedded in their psyche. Based on this model, collected numerous folk literature. Enriched Japanese anthropology. However, in recent times, anthropologists prefer not to model their own society, but to study the social structure.
Let’s give an example of how sensitive personal matters are to the Japanese. In relation to this, I will highlight the issue of development from the distinctive position of the Japanese model and the Bangladeshi model. Since 2008, my family has a relationship with a Japanese family. I try to contact the gentleman when I go to Japan in 2022. But he could not meet because he was busy. After four or five months when I went to Japan with my family, I went to visit her home with my local professor. He was very happy.
He said that he could not meet because he was very busy with his sick wife in the hospital. His wife has cancer. Doctor says he will live another year. He later came to visit another day and drove us around in his fashionable two-door Mercedes Benz (note, he is now 83), had lunch at one of Osaka’s top restaurants (Washington Hotel) on the 11th floor of the hotel, with a beautiful view of Osaka. Took my daughters to the park, drove around, gave gifts.
When I went four months later, I called and found out that he was busy with his wife at the hospital and could not meet. Anyway, this time when I went in March, I thought that I don’t know when to come or not to come. My local professor discouraged me from calling. He said, it is better not to call at this time. ‘He would be glad to meet you, but it would be better to let him be alone as he is, without inquiring at this time.’
In this case, our position is different. It is natural that close relatives and friends will take the news at such a time. Rather, we get upset if we don’t get the news. That is, even if we want to develop like Japan, the Japanese model will not work in our case. We have to go ahead with our own model. Where the model will reflect our society, culture and tradition.
It is not our wish that Bangladesh will become Japan one day, nor is it possible. Bangladesh will advance on the path of development with the society, culture, nature, humanity, emotions, love and the Bangladeshi model, this is our hope. (finished)
Author: Professor, University of Chittagong
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