TOKYO, 06 August (H.S.) — Connect India Japan, an organization dedicated to deepening bilateral ties, has launched a public campaign urging the Indian government to name a street in New Delhi after former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The initiative, spearheaded by Nupur Tewari, Founder and CEO of Connect India Japan, seeks to commemorate Abe’s pivotal role in elevating the strategic, economic, and cultural partnership between the two nations.

Abe, who served as Prime Minister of Japan during key periods in the late 2000s and 2010s, visited India four times during his tenure. He is widely credited with laying the groundwork for modern Indo-Pacific strategic relations, notably through his historic 2007 Confluence of the Two Seas address to the Indian Parliament.

Under his leadership alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the bilateral relationship was formally upgraded to a Special Strategic and Global Partnership, driving significant collaboration in defense, infrastructure, technology, and regional security.

Nupur Tewari said, Naming a street after Shinzo Abe is about preserving a memory and offering a permanent symbol of gratitude in India's capital. She said, It moves his contributions beyond history books and into the daily lives of citizens, creating a living reminder of the bond between our two countries.

Tewari, an Indian national who has resided in Japan for over two decades, described the movement as an expression of Ongaeshi (恩返し)—the Japanese concept of returning kindness and carrying gratitude forward.

India gave me my roots, and Japan gave me my wings, Tewari stated, emphasizing that Connect India Japan was established to build bridges across economic, cultural, and emotional spheres. This campaign is a gesture of gratitude from the people of India to a leader who genuinely believed in India's potential and its strategic future alongside Japan.

The campaign envisions the named street as a public educational touchpoint for future generations, symbolizing the deep-rooted trust between two ancient civilizations and modern democracies. Connect India Japan aims to engage both government officials and civil society to bring the proposal to fruition in the capital.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Sachin Budhauliya