SOUTH ASIA

In South Asia, where people still inherit the spirits of one of the greatest poets, Rabindranath Tagore, and the founding father of nonviolent movements, Mahatma Gandhi, the founder received academic honors from 14 universities, including the University of Delhi in India. He has held dialogues with dignitaries of various areas, including Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and, in 1995, delivered a commemorative lecture

at Tribhuvan University in Nepal. In 2000, Doctor Sethu Kumanan established the Soka Ikeda College of Arts and Science for Women in Chennai, India, appointing the founder as honorary founder.

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From a conferment speech

Vrajendra Raj Mehta (Vice-chancellor of the University of Delhi, India)

"Ikeda places a deep respect for life as the prime requisite of his new humanism. He believes that humans should not, under any circumstances, kill other humans. In brief. Ikeda has been transforming society by empowering the individual and leading him to happiness." (January 7,1999)

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From an acknowledgement speech

"Humanity is now in a state of serious deadlock. It is vital, therefore, that we listen again, with intent humility, to the profound spiritual message that continues to issue, calmly and quietly, from the eternal land of India. The starting point of a steadfast humanism is the concept of human victory based on the Dharma-meaning the Law, justice, or truth- as was demonstrated by India's King Ashoka."

(January 7, 1999: Conferment ceremony for an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Delhi, India)

 

1995　Delivering a commemorative lecture at Tribhuvan University

The Founder was invited as the main guest to the commencement ceremony of Tribhuvan University in Nepal and delivered a commemorative lecture titled Homage to the Sagarmatha (Everest) of Humanism: The Living Lessons of Gautama Buddha. He discussed the indomitable spirit of Shakyamuni, the teacher of mankind, and two aspects of wisdom and compassion in his congratulatory message for the graduates. The following day on November 3, at Tribhuvan University Memorial Hall, he was conferred the first Honorary Doctorate of Letters awarded to a Japanese by the university.
(November 2, 1995, International Convention Center, Kathmandu, Nepal)

 

1999　Honorary Doctorate of Letters conferred by the University of Delhi

An Honorary Doctorate of Letters was conferred on the Founder by the University of Delhi. Vrajendra Raji Mehta, Vice Chancellor of the university commended that the Founder is “one of the greatest leaders” and “with his New Humanism, he brings hope to mankind as the Gandhi of today.” (January 7, 1999, Tokyo Makiguchi Memorial Hall, Hachioji, Tokyo)

Exhibits

Magazines to which he contributed essays following his visit to India - “Yukyu no Daichi ni tatte – watashi no indo kiko (My journey to India - standing on the land of eternity)”

Magazines to which the Founder contributed essays on his visit to India. Those essays were later compiled and published as “Yukyu no Daichi ni tatte – watashi no indo kiko (My journey to India - standing on the land of eternity)”
Magazine “Shufu no tomo” (May 1979 issue) (SHUFUNOTOMO, 1979)
Magazine “Asahi Journal” (March 16, 1979) (The Asahi Shimbun Company, 1979)
“Yukyu no Daichi ni tatte – watashi no indo kiko (My journey to India - standing on the land of eternity)” (Seikyo Shimbun, 1979)
 

Sanskrit Lotus Sutra Manuscript from the National Archives of Nepal (No.4-21), photographs and Romanized text editions 1 and 2

Photographs(Soka Gakkai, 1998)
Romanized text edition 1 (Soka Gakkai, 2001)
Romanized text edition 2 (Soka Gakkai, 2004)
The Lotus Sutra Manuscript Series was established in 1994 by a committee within the Soka Gakkai with the initiative of contributing to the advancement of Buddhist studies worldwide by publishing photographic and romanized versions of the original Lotus Sutra texts, which are of high academic value. The research and editing work were commissioned to the Institute of Oriental Philosophy, which published the first phase (eight volumes in six manuscripts) and the second phase (five volumes in four manuscripts). Researchers from many countries have presented the Founder with valuable copies of the Lotus Sutra manuscripts.

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"I have already learned a great deal from you in the past. Now my heart is full of gratitude for the blessing of a chance to engage in dialogue with such a great person as you. To me you tower like the Himalayas."

(February 24, 2004: Vice-chancellor of Rabindra Bharati University, Doctor Bharati Mukherjee)

 

1985　Dialogue with Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi

The Founder paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi who was visiting Japan as an official guest. The Founder welcomed the Prime Minister to Japan and discussed such topics as peace, youth, and India-China relations, including the Prime Minister’s speech in the Indian Parliament.
(November 29, 1985, State Guest House, Minato, Tokyo)

 

1995　Made the inaugural World Poet Laureate Award

The World Poetry Society Intercontinental (WPSI) awarded its first World Poet Laureate Award to the Founder. WPSI President Dr. Krishna Srinivas delivered a commemorative speech at the ceremony and said “I am very proud of Mr. Ikeda. I’m proud of his teaching, his mission, and his messages. He is a poet that soars high and far beyond.”
(August 8, 1995, K. G. Bhavan memorial hall, Madras, India)

 

1994　Hosting the “King Ashoka, Mahatma Gandhi, and Nehru" exhibition

The “King Ashoka, Mahatma Gandhi, and Nehru" exhibition was held to mark the friendship between Japan and India. The Founder welcomed 300 guests who attended the opening ceremony, including the Chairperson of the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, Sonia Gandhi, and ambassadors from various countries. (October 18, 1994, Tokyo Fuji Art Museum, Hachioji, Tokyo)

 

1992　Delivering a commemorative lecture at Gandhi Smriti

The Founder delivered a commemorative lecture titled Toward a World without War: Gandhism and the Modern World, at the invitation of Gandhi Smriti, a prestigious institution on Gandhi research. The intellects who attended the commemorative lecture praised the Founder, “We heard the voices of another Gandhi.” 
(February 11, 1992, auditorium of the National Museum of India, New Delhi, India)

 

2002　Honorary Doctorate of Literature conferred by Himachal Pradesh University

The Founder was conferred the first Honorary Doctorate of Literature awarded by Himachal Pradesh University, a prestigious public state university of India. Vice-Chancellor, Shruti D. Sharma commended the Founder as an “extraordinary fighter for the people.”
(August 26, 2002, Nagano Training Center, Karuizawa, Nagano)

 

1997　Honorary Doctorate of Letters conferred by the University of Kelaniya

The Founder was the first Japanese to be conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Letters by the University of Kelaniya, a Sri Lankan university distinguished for its Buddhist research throughout the world. He was awarded for his efforts in ”global activities driven by Buddhist compassion”. (May 5, 1997, Soka University Ikeda Auditorium, Hachioji Tokyo)

 

2004　Honorary Doctorate of Literature conferred by Rabindra Bharati University

The Founder was conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Literature by Rabindra Bharati University, that inherits the spirit of Tagore, the great poetic genius of India. Bharati Mukherjee, Vice Chancellor of the university stated, “The humanistic philosophy of Tagore still lives on in Dr. Ikeda’s creative life.” (February 24, 2004, Soka International Friendship Hall, Shibuya Tokyo)

 

2006　Honorary Doctorate of Literature conferred by Visva-Bharati University

The Founder was conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Literature by Visva-Bharati University, a prestigious university founded by the great poetic genius of India, Tagore. Vice Chancellor, Sujit Basu of the university stated, “I am certain that Soka University founded by Dr. Ikeda is indeed an institution that has realized Tagore’s dream in today’s world.”
(May 29, 2006, Soka International Friendship Hall, Shibuya Tokyo)

 

2008　Soka Ikeda College of Arts and Science for Women declared January 2 Global Harmony Day.

Soka Ikeda College of Arts and Science for Women, founded in 2000, has declared January 2, the birthday of its Honorary Founder Dr. Ikeda as “Global Harmony Day.” A grand commemorative ceremony was held on the day to commemorate the Founder’s achievements and 80 years of contribution to mankind. (January 2, 2008, Soka Ikeda College of Arts and Science for Women, Chennai, India)

Exhibits

A plaque of Tribhuvan University of Nepal

 

The Founder‘s poem featured on the cover of “POET” issued by the World Poetry Society Intercontinental

“POET” is a monthly magazine issued by the World Poetry Society Intercontinental (WPSI). Every month, the Founder’s poem is featured on the cover of each issue.

 

Ikeda Study Series (consisting of 10 volumes)

This Ikeda Study Series (10 volumes) was authored by Dr. Neelakanta Radhakrishnan, a social movement activist of India and Chairman of Indian Council of Gandhian Studies. The first volume was published in 2008 to celebrate the Founder’s eightieth birthday. Dr. Radhakrishnan stated “I have been significantly inspired by Dr. Ikeda in all aspects of my life including my thinking and how I should live. There is no other man who has made such great contributions to the peace and welfare of mankind.”

 

Published dialogues with intellects of South Asia in various languages

Dialogues between the Founder and five intellects of South Asia published in various languages

The intellects (honorific titles omitted) Karan Singh, Lokesh Chandra, Ved Prakash Nanda, Monkombu Sambasivan Swaminathan, Neelakanta Radhakrishnan

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On July 1, 1981, at the 5th World Congress of Poets (WCP), the Founder was conferred the title of Poet Laureate by the World Academy of Arts and Culture as the first Japanese to receive the title. Poet Laureate is a word that derives from a custom of ancient Greek and Roman era, in which the poet who won a poem contest was rewarded with a laurel wreath. The laurel was used to form the wreath based on an ancient myth of the poet-god Apollo. In medieval Italy, Dante Alighieri and Francesco Petrarca were crowned with laurel wreaths as first-class poets. In England, the office of Poet Laureate was established in the 17th century to compose poems for royal celebrations and mourning.

The World Academy of Arts and Culture which conferred the title of Poet Laureate to the Founder is an international poets’ association established with the aim to “promote fraternity and peace in the world through poetry.” The World Poet Laureate Award was also conferred on the Founder by the World Poetry Society Intercontinental in 1995.

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