Yashino Harisho from the University of Tokyo light candles on Diwali with Super 30 founder Anand Kumar and the students

This Diwali was a celebration of bonhomie beyond barriers for students of Super 30.

The students celebrated the festival of lights with University of Tokyo official Yashino Harisho and others on Thursday evening. The guests, students and the organisation’s founder, Anand Kumar, spent the evening lighting diyas, bursting crackers and soaking in the festive spirit.

“We came all the way from Japan to be with the Super 30 students, as Diwali is an occasion to share joy and happiness. We had heard about it but being part of it with the students of Super 30 is a special experience,” said Harisho, director, India operations.

The Japanese guest said officials of the university were impressed with the work of Super 30 for educational and economic upgrade of weaker sections of society. He also promised to provide scholarship to one of the Super 30 students for pursuing higher education at the foreign varsity.

“The university would provide full scholarship to meritorious students for various inter-disciplinary courses. We hope more students join it,” he added. As a part of the gesture, Japan’s CGC, one of a high-growth firm, also sent gifts and sweets for the Indian students. The visiting Japanese team also interacted with students and told them about the global platform that Japan would provide to them.

Harisho said: “Earlier too, Japan had taken a keen interest in drawing international students but studying Japanese was a bit of a stumbling block for them. However, the Japanese university has started teaching in English (the medium of instruction) in some undergraduate and postgraduate courses for non-Japanese students to remove the language barrier.”

Super 30 student Amardeep Kumar, the son of a constable, was visibly excited after meeting the Japanese delegation. Amardeep said: “It was a great moment to celebrate the festival with them.” He was even more excited as the foreign deputation offered to provide scholarship to a Super 30 student to study at the University of Tokyo. He added: “Earlier, I was thinking that my journey was only till the IIT but now I can dream of even studying at the University of Tokyo.”

Anand said: “It feels great that people from Japan and other countries have been attracted to Bihar owing to the Super 30. I hope more and more students get an opportunity to study there. It will be good for them as well as for the state and the country.”