11月から本学院で学ぶリシタ・シングさんからの寄稿です。
リシタさんは文部科学省補助事業の「アジア高校生架け橋プロジェクト」第４期生235名の中の1名としてインド・ヴァラナシから来日し、今年度3月まで学院生と共に過ごします。この自己紹介では、古都ヴァラナシが育んだ自分のものの見方と、日本で学ぶことへの想いを語ります。
नमस्ते! (Greetings!)
As a 10 years old kid, I read this quote in one of the books; “When we become more open to the different, to the unusual, to the other, to the new; we grow as a species.” That time, I could neither understand the profoundness of the lines nor could make clear definitions of “unusual” and “other.”
Today, as a 17 years old and more importantly, as an exchange student living in Japan, I can not only understand the lines but can read in between the lines as well.
I am Rishita Singh, an Asia Kakehashi Scholarship Student from India. I come from the cultural capital of India, Varanasi and the politically very happening state of Uttar Pradesh. My interest in politics and history is partly because of the environment around me and partly because of the fact that I believe that half of the world ‘s problems could be solved just by good governance and learning from the past. Further, I love to read, write and dance. I love exploring places and people. This scholarship program gave me this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet new people, understand new cultures, share my Indian culture and make my country proud.
This project is also helping me to realize the relevance of the aforementioned quote. What is “unusual”? Who are “others”? What is more important, borders or bridges?
I will make sure that I can make the best use of my term in Japan (from October 2021 to March 2022). And that I can go back with lots of experiences and learning and leave an impact here, in Japan.
धन्यवाद! (Thank you!)
１年E組でヴァラナシの文化について紹介するリシタさん
