Lessons from Kyoto

Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his Kyoto visit with a trip to the eighth- century Toji temple, inspired by the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. It’s in going beyond such symbolism that Mr Modi puts his stamp, like in converting his meeting with 2012 Nobel laureate Shinya Yamanaka at Kyoto University to spur the search for a cure to India’s old problem of sickle cell anaemia, that mostly afflicts tribals, particularly in malaria- infested regions. It may have shocked the PM that none of his countrymen are doing research in an area of such vital importance to India.

The Japanese may have much to teach us in how to preserve ancient cities like Varanasi, with its unique place in history at the confluence of three religions. Kyoto, that was Japan’s capital for almost a thousand years, is, according to mayor Daisaku Kadokawa, a “green, smart and modern yet historic city”.

Seeing it firsthand, the Varanasi MP may have picked up some ideas on how to use the depth of Japanese knowledge to convert his constituency into a smart city, taking it even beyond its greatness as a symbol of high religiosity in Hinduism and Jainism while also playing a major important role in the development of Buddhism.

It’s our fervent hope that the agreement between the two cities will help Varanasi become a smarter city. After all, didn’t Mark Twain once say: “Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together”?