Prime Minister, Mr Modi blesses Kai Fuchigami, 8-year old GIIS Tokyo student, by placing both hands on his shoulders and joyfully playing with his ears

For many students across the world, the opportunity to see or interact with a head of state is limited to media channels, but meeting or interacting with an inspiring leader in person is a memorable learning experience.

On 2nd September 2014, GIIS students received a rare opportunity to interact with none other than the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Mr Narendra Modi who was in Japan on a state visit.

Mr Modi was attending a community interaction with the Indian diaspora at an event hosted by the Hon’ble Ambassador of India to Japan, Ms Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa, and was attended by various top officials and dignitaries of Japan’s Indian community.

Prime Minister, Mr Modi walked over to the GIIS Tokyo students and asked the 11-year olds about their names and their school’s name.

An opportunity of unparalleled significance and honour was bestowed upon students and teachers of GIIS Tokyo Campus, when the Embassy asked them to sing the opening song for the HE Prime Minister Mr Modi’s interaction with the community.

In the august presence of the Prime Minister, GIIS Tokyo students along with their peers from another school, sang a special rendition of “Vande Mataram” (“I praise thee, Mother"), exclusively arranged by the teachers of GIIS Tokyo.

HE PM Modi holds Kai Fuchigami as he poses with GIIS students

In his address to the Indian community, Mr. Modi recalled that during the 1980’s, Vande Mataram was his favorite song he used to sing every day and so he couldn’t resist singing along with the GIIS Tokyo students.

After the beautiful rendition of the song, HE Prime Minister Mr Modi praised the students and greeted them in person. HE Prime Minister Mr Modi then posed for a group photo with students of GIIS Tokyo.

During the group photo, Prime Minister Mr Modi asked Master Kai Fuchigami, a Japanese student from GIIS Tokyo, to stand in front of him and then placed both his hands on Kai’s shoulders and joyfully moved his ears making him nod his head.

Later, Mr Modi suggested to the Indian community to teach the young generation about Indian culture by organising competitions on Indian traditions, like best ‘safa’ or head-turban tying competition. He added, “I encourage students to learn about culture through playful means. All families should speak in their mother tongue at meal times to retain an atmosphere of Indian culture.

At the closing, GIIS teachers Ms Sarbani Choudhury and Ms Ashwini Bapat had the Ambassador’s privilege and distinction of singing the national anthem in the august presence of the Prime Minister. Also present at the event were Ambassador Aftab Seth, Country Director, GIIS (Japan); Mr Atul Temurnikar, Chairman and Co-Founder, Global Schools Foundation; and Ms Rajeshwary Sambathrajan, Principal, GIIS Tokyo Campus.

As the event came to end, the Prime Minister shook hands with members of the community and wished them well. The entire proceedings were beamed live on Doordarshan TV channel and several other channels.

For the students of GIIS Tokyo Campus, year of 2014 would best be remembered as a truly historic year, when they not only saw their favourite leaders, but also got an opportunity to meet them in person. Earlier, in April 2014, students of GIIS Tokyo Campus were thrilled to have an audience with Japan’s ‘Prince’ during a private visit to the school, when he joined to enjoy a rich multicultural performance by Japanese and Indian students of GIIS.