On 1 July 2026, Professor C. Raj Kumar, Founding Vice‑Chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU), and Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament, addressed a bipartisan gathering of Japan’s National Diet at the National Diet Building in Tokyo. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Fukushiro Nukaga, the 80th Speaker of the House of Representatives, and took place against the backdrop of Japanese Prime Minister Ms. Sanae Takaichi’s official visit to India and the India‑Japan Annual Summit chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, underscoring the strategic depth of the Special Strategic and Global Partnership between the two nations.
The speakers highlighted the complementary roles of higher education and parliamentary diplomacy in strengthening the India‑Japan partnership. Professor Kumar stressed that universities now serve as global platforms for cross‑border ideas, innovation, and joint research, and called for deeper collaboration in scientific research, entrepreneurship, academic mobility, and knowledge partnerships. He cited JGU’s existing network of 27 leading Japanese institutions and the participation of nearly 200 JGU students in study‑abroad programmes across Japan as evidence of sustained institutional commitment.
Dr. Tharoor reflected on the historic and cultural foundations of Indo‑Japanese friendship, emphasizing that lasting ties are built through people‑to‑people connections among students, scholars, parliamentarians, entrepreneurs, artists, innovators, scientists and citizens, rather than solely through governmental agreements.
The gathering featured an extensive roster of Japanese participants, including senior parliamentary leaders and former ministers such as Ms. Toshiko Abe (Former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology), Mr. Kiyoshi Odawara (Former State Minister for Foreign Affairs), Mr. Hakubun Shimomura (Former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology), Mr. Yasuhide Nakayama (Director‑General, Global South Strategy Headquarters), Mr. Hisayuki Fujii (Former State Minister for Foreign Affairs), Mr. Masahito Moriyama (Former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology), and Mr. Tadamori Fujisawa (Member, House of Representatives). Representatives from the House of Councillors included Dr. Kuniko Inoguchi (Former Minister of State and former Ambassador), and a broad cross‑section of party members from the Liberal Democratic Party, Democratic Party for the People, Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, Japan Innovation Party, Komeito, Sanseito, Team Mirai and independents. Senior parliamentary leaders such as Ms. Akiko Santo (Advisor and 32nd President of the House of Councillors) and Mr. Tetsuro Fukuyama (Vice President of the House of Councillors) were also present, along with government officials like Mr. Kosei Nomura (Deputy Minister and Director‑General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
Distinguished diplomats, academics and industry experts attended, including Mr. Mitsuo Ohashi (Chairman, World Federalist Movement of Japan), former Keidanren Chairman Mr. Tadamichi Yamamoto, UN goodwill ambassador Ms. Hirari Sato, Professor Shiro Takahashi (Reitaku University), former advisors to Japanese prime ministers, and senior executives from major Japanese corporations.
The press release, issued under an arrangement with NRDPL and PTI, concluded that the addresses marked a milestone in the expanding India‑Japan relationship, reaffirming that democratic institutions, higher education, research, innovation and people‑to‑people engagement are essential for peace, prosperity, sustainability and stability across the Indo‑Pacific region.