Order of the Rising Sun award to an extraordinary personality

Swami Vivekananda, a spiritual genius of commanding intellect and power once said “When you are born, leave a mark”. In this precious quote, he refers to any act beneficial or benevolent to mankind. Vivekanda was an inspiring personality, celebrated spiritual leader, reformer and world spokesman for the greater cause of humanity. Not everyone can do good work to ‘leave a mark’, as Vivekananda stressed. Only a few people in the world can do this successfully by dint of their rare talent, sacrifice, patience, tolerance, devotion, hard work, profound concentration, astounding sense of compassion and amazing responsibility towards society, state, country and global human welfare. They are considered ‘glorious’ and uncommon persons.

Professor Dr Abul Barkat is such a ‘glorious’ personality whose self-perfection and service to humanity are rare ideals in this society. Recently, he has been conferred the highest state award in Japan. The media of the country published this news on the 3rd and 4th of November with great importance. The news highlighted that the former Professor and Chairman of the Department of Economics of Dhaka University, the founding Chairman and Professor of the Department of Japanese Studies, Dr Abul Barkat have been conferred with the highest state award by the Government of Japan, “the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon” 2022. It is mentioned that in 1875, the Great Emperor Meiji of Japan introduced the Order of the Rising Sun in a royal decree, the first such title to be introduced in the country's history.

The Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh mentioned in a statement that the conferral recognizes Professor Dr Abul Barkat’s significant contribution to laying the foundation of Japanese studies in the academic sphere in Bangladesh. He contributed much to establishing the Department of Japanese Studies at Dhaka University and providing students with opportunities to acquire a bachelor’s honours degree in Japanese studies.

The title is only awarded to public and private individuals and institutions, except military members. On November 3, the Japanese government announced awarding of the title 'Fall Imperial Decorations 2022’ in gold, silver and bronze categories. Professor Dr Abul Barkat is one of the foreign nationals awarded the gold medal this year.

Those who know Professor Abul Barkat must admit that whatever work he starts, he finishes it entirely and with deep concentration. It also applies to establishing the Department of Japanese Studies at Dhaka University. He founded this department and made it world-class. The talent, effort, time and financial support he has given are unparallel.

He is a born teacher; self-perfection and true service are his ideals and the order is continuing till today. Through benevolence, he left a ‘mark’ on the East and West alike. Always stressing the universal humanistic side, Barkat attempted to infuse vigour into human thought. A man of uncommon organising ability and thrust for education, gradually he became an orator by divine insight, an influential spokesperson promoting Bangalee national consciousness, unity, and freedom. 

Initially, he did not want to take charge of the Japan Study Centre due to his various obligation and business. He informed the university authority about this. Because he believes that half-hearted work does not lead to any success. So he politely declined the offer. But later on, due to the repeated request of the then Vice Chancellor of the university, he agreed to take charge of the centre.

Japan Study Center was established at Dhaka University in 1994. Professor Dr Abul Barkat took charge of the Center, in addition to his preoccupation with his parent Department of Economics, on June 23, 2012. Before that, the Japan Study Center suffered from shortages of teacher-staff, a lack of educational materials, and an absence of an academic-infrastructural environment. Professor Abul Barkat renovated and promoted the centre and established it as a world-class department at the university.

In an interview, Professor Barkat said, “The Japanese government has given me the honour because of the spread of higher education concerning Japan. That is due to the establishment of the Department of Japanese Studies at Dhaka University. I founded it in 2017. Before that, it was the Japan Study Centre, and there was nothing favourable in the centre. Gradually, I have made it a full department and put all my effort into it”.

Categorically, he said that the Japanese studies department teaches the Japanese economy, history, politics, language and culture, business, technology, and many more. Japanese Studies are interdisciplinary. He mentioned, ‘I thought Dhaka University would celebrate its 100 years, but there is no such department at this university related to particular area studies. All prominent universities in the world have a department, naming area studies, but we don’t have one here. That’s why I gave my full concentration and effort on it, and never did it with the expectation of a reward.’

He said, “among the countries, Japan’s investment is the highest in Bangladesh. Japan has been a significant development partner of Bangladesh since its independence. About 300 Japanese companies work in this country. So our relations with Japan will increase in the future, and our ties with them in all aspects of the economy, trade and culture will be closer.

As a result, the demand for education in Japanese studies will also increase. That is why I have worked with this department keeping this issue as a mission. In the beginning, there had no teachers; there were infrastructural limitations. I started addressing these slowly in 2013. Finally, in 2017, the Japanese Studies Department was established. I am hopeful that the first four-year degree holders will graduate with honours this year, and their employment is almost ensured.”

Indeed, Professor Dr Abul Barkat never does any work with the expectation of reward, and he does the job with heart and soul and completes it fully. We know many examples of this. Through his research, he alerted us long ago about the rise of fundamentalism and militancy. He was threatened with death several times for his bold step against fundamentalism.

The outline of well-planned development that we see in the election manifesto of Bangladesh Awami League in 2008 deserves his share of the credit. He nourishes the development philosophy of Bangabandhu, and the Father of the Nation, and presented the idea of planned development to make Bangabandhu’s dream of ‘Golden Bangla’ a reality in that election manifesto.

We also know about his 2012 invaluable research on Padma Shetu (Bridge) with our fund.  Padma Shetu is now a visible reality under the visionary leadership of Bangabandhu’s daughter, Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The Padma Bridge has taken Bangladesh to a new height. Among his other credible activities, during his tenure as the Chairman of the state-owned Janata Bank, he established the Bank as a successful bank. Under the guidance of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, he prepared the draft model of world peace that is praised by world leaders. The United Nations have unanimously accepted the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s World Peace model.

For a long time, Prof. Barkat is leading the Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA), the only professional organization of economists in Bangladesh, He is also the president of BEA. The Human Development Research Centre (HDRC), established on his sole initiative, is today a leading research organization. Besides, he is associated with a host of professional and social organizations in the country and abroad.  He has been successful in everything he has done. Because he worked from the core of his heart and used his talent and hard work; he does not work with the expectation of name and fame and any reward.

All over and beyond Bangladesh, Professor Dr Abul Barkat is widely known for his tireless working ability, humanity and patriotism and devotion to the welfare of the people. In epitome, he is endowed with excellent human qualities, unique organizational skills and rare leadership ability. The precious quote of Swami Vivekananda “when you are born, leave a mark” is most appropriate for him. We congratulate him on being awarded Japan’s highest state award.

Writer: The writer is a researcher and development worker