Japan delight

Bakshi joined the Japanese Consulate in Kolkata as a public relations officer way back in 1965. Though glib talking and a bit of networking could have easily helped Bakshi sail through his work,the budding PR professional thought otherwise.

“I realised that I knew very little about the Japanese culture though I was working in the capacity of a person who helps promote inter-cultural relations,” says Bakshi.

While the definition of PR has changed considerably over the years,one can’t overrate a PR professional’s need to understand the subject he is publicising. And here we are talking about a time when Japan was not just a Google search away. So partly to justify his position in the Japan Consulate to his conscience and partly due to curiosity about the Japanese culture,Bakshi took up the tremendous task of figuring out a foreign culture.

The Bengali literature graduate from Bangabashi College and post-graduate from Calcutta University decided to pursue a doctoral degree in ancient Indian and Japanese iconography during his term with the consulate. He went on to publish five books on the research he conducted on Japan.

“I can’t say this is a discovery,but it is also true that not many people know about the fact that several ancient Indian gods and goddesses are still worshipped in Japan. It’s a very interesting evidence of ancient cultural exchange,” explains Bakshi.

“Back in our times,my work used to get over mostly by 1 pm everyday. After that I used to spend time in the consulate library and several other libraries reading up Japanese culture,” says the 78-year-old.

Several of Bakshi’s books have been included in the post-graduate curriculum in Japanese universities. “People in India are still largely ignorant about Japanese culture. While origami and ikebana are regular fixtures in mainstream Indian design sensibilities,not many know the roots of their origin. I tried to change that and also introduce people to Japanese iconography through my books,columns etc.” says Bakshi.

Bakshi officially retired from the consulate in 1993. But his involvement with Japan didn’t end with it. After he was appointed the general secretary of the Indo-Japan Welfare and Cultural Association he started organising the Japanese Language Speech Contest in eastern India and has been spearheading the work for nearly two decades,even after his retirement. He also helps the consulate conduct the Japanese Language Proficiency test today.

Interestingly,Bakshi also helped promote Indian culture on all the four occasions he has been to Japan.

“I have spoken extensively about the similarities that both the cultures share. I have also travelled to Osaka,Tokyo and other smaller cities in Japan with Indian folk musicians to promote our culture there,” adds the Japanology expert who completed his post-doctoral studies in the Koyasan University after he received the Japanese Foundation Fellowship in 1981.