Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee received an honorary D.Litt from Japan's Okayama University on Wednesday. Mamata Banerjee became the first woman in Asia to receive this honour. Okayama University President Nasu Yasutomo came to Kolkata to present this honour to the Chief Minister. He said, “Mamata has done a lot of work for the development of health and education for common people as well as women and children.” Representatives of the Japanese university had participated in the World Trade Conference in Kolkata in February this year. After that, they announced their decision to honour Mamata Banerjee.
Expressing gratitude in return, the Chief Minister said that Bengal has a long-standing relationship with Japan. Before independence, Rash Behari Bose and Netaji Subhash Chandra went to Japan. Everyone knows about the relationship between Rabindranath Tagore and Japanese culture. Several Japanese organisations, like Mitsubishi and Hitachi, are working in India. The state's technology company Webel is also working jointly with Japanese companies.
ALSO READ | CM Mamata Banerjee inaugurates 110 mobile medical units offering free tests for 35 diseases
Nasu said, “I had the opportunity to participate in BGBS in February. Mamata has launched various public welfare projects to provide social security, especially for the development of health and education for women and children. The Chief Minister has also gained special recognition at the international level. For this leadership, Okayama University is giving an honorary D.Litt to a woman from Asia for the first time.”
CM Mamata Banerjee said, “I was sent a letter inviting me to Japan in May. But I informed them that I would not be able to go this year. Then they said, even if I couldn't go, they would come here. After that, how could I avoid them!”
