India Tomonkai

About the India Tomonkai

Under the leadership of its first chairperson Kensaku Konishi (who graduated in 1978 from the School of Education), the India Tomonkai was founded in 2008 by 11 members living in the National Capital Territory of Delhi (capital: New Delhi) and Gurgaon region of North India, a key area of the country’s political and economic activities. With many Japanese citizens returning home at the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2019, at one point, the future of the India Tomonkai became uncertain. Nevertheless, with the encouragement of our current chairperson Satoshi Ogata, we were able to regain our footing, with more than 30 members as of September 2022.

The Tomonkai plays a significant role as part of the infrastructure that supports the lives of Japanese people in India in an environment where the living conditions can be harsh and information may not be sufficiently obtained. We take pride in the fact that despite our differences in industry and company affiliation, our alumni, who have in common the experience of intense hours of study at the same alma mater, can overcome the challenges they face at work and the inconveniences of everyday life and function together as a mutual support network to help each other thrive. Indeed, I believe many of us were saved by this network when the pandemic spread and we experienced a lockdown unparalleled anywhere in the world for the first time in our lives.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, our main activities were social gatherings for drinks on seasonal occasions and the Waseda vs. Keio Golf Tournament in spring and autumn. On September 4, 2022, the eagerly awaited 23rd Waseda vs. Keio Golf Tournament resumed. I am thrilled that the spark of activities of the India Tomonkai, which had been almost extinguished, was rekindled by seeking out and reorganizing alumni before and after the tournament and by undertaking preliminary preparations and practice sessions. Although we unfortunately lost this year’s tournament, I feel that the ties between the newly acquainted alumni have been further solidified through this activity.

The India Tomonkai is also registered with the Alumni Association’s “Work & Study Abroad Pre-Consultation” program. If you are planning to study or work in India soon and have concerns about the local living conditions or any other issues, please feel free to reach out to us through the Alumni Association.
Ryuuhei Ushikubo (Graduated in 1994, School of Political Science and Economics)

Message from the Chairperson

June 15, 2022. The call began with the words, “Students, ATTENTION!” Members joined shoulders to sing Waseda’s anthem and the Waseda cheering song, “Konpeki no Sora (Deep Blue Sky),” in high spirits. Smiling faces of the India Tomonkai members could be seen in Delhi, India, after a long absence. Having refrained from large gatherings in the past 2 years owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, conversations transcended time and generations, spanning nostalgic tales of student days and episodes of hardships encountered in India, and the social gathering turned out to be a very lively event. I still vividly recall the joyful moment when I felt the bond between us as Waseda alumni.

India has always been a place that fascinates people. While some parts of the country remain undeveloped, income and education levels have risen, along with the number of young people with potential. Many people flock to India, some to actively work with its people to develop the country, others who are fascinated by its unique cuisine that is characterized by a wealth of spices and its unique culture rooted in Hinduism and other ancient religions.

In addition, our fellow Waseda alumni are indeed working hard in every corner of India. I hope that together we can develop the India Tomonkai as a forum where we can make new friends, share our joys and hardships, and build relationships in this fascinating and vibrant land of India.

Come Together WASEDA, Shine WASEDA, in the Charming Land of India!
Satoshi Ogata (Graduated in 1985, School of Science and Engineering)

The attractive points of India

India, officially the Republic of India, is the world’s seventh-largest country by land area and the second most populous, with more than 1.3 billion people, making India the world’s largest democracy and a multiethnic, multifaith, and multilingual country. It also has the fifth-largest economy in the world, with a sustained and robust economic growth rate of more than 8%. The country is currently comprised of 29 states and seven Union Territories. The relatively high degree of autonomy of the state governments and the different languages and cultures of the individual states seem to testify to an “India that cannot be described in a single word.”

Indeed, if one were to describe India in a single phrase, it might be “the incredibly diverse and exciting country beyond imagination.” Today, several top executives of prominent global companies are from India, and while the country is a treasure trove of talent, it is also a mishmash of the super-rich and the poor. Approximately 80% of the people of India are Hindus who follow traditional and devout religious precepts, and while there are many people in the streets dressed in colorful traditional Indian costumes, there are also many expatriates and business travelers in the urban commercial areas, where Western cultural influences are evident.

Step into a city, and you will find high-rise buildings and condominiums; step into the back alleys, and you will find markets and low-rise, omnibus buildings. The roadside is lined with folk art shops and stalls, but there are also large shopping malls. Order a cup of chai (Indian milk tea) from a curbside open-air tea stall and pay electronically with your smartphone. If you venture out on the streets, you will find cows, a means of transportation of Hindu deities, roaming the streets amid traffic jams, and rickshaws (three-wheeled taxis), the transport of the common people, honking their horns loudly. India interprets the gods of the world as incarnations of the deities of Indian mythology. For better or for worse, this sublime chaos may be the charm of India.

When talking to Japanese people living in India, I often hear stories of them being startled, frustrated, or annoyed by the way people in India think and behave, which are ways that are beyond their imagination. I believe that for those who can accept the ways and still find the enjoyment that comes with the effort, India is an extremely appealing country.
Ryuuhei Ushikubo (Graduated in 1994, School of Political Science and Economics)