Narendra Modi takes Kyoto lesson for Varanasi

Kyoto: A day after India signed a pact to develop Varanasi on the pattern of Kyoto Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a presentation from Kyoto Mayor Daisaka Kadokawa on how the ancient tradition of Japan’s cultural capital has been preserved while building it into a modern city.

During the over 40-minute presentation on Sunday, Mayor Kadokawa explained how Kyoto was cleaned up by its citizens.

He told Mr Modi that local students actively participated in cleaning up the city and reducing the garbage to 40 per cent.

Posters and billboards were discouraged and on Sunday the two remaining posters will be removed in the city, he said, adding that this exercise has been going on for several years.

Modi, who represents Varanasi constituency in the Lok Sabha, wants to develop the sacred Indian city into a ‘smart city’ by using the experience of Kyoto.

Mr Modi presented a book to the Mayor in which he wrote, “I represent Benaras. I came to know how the city of Kyoto was developed.”

Later Mr Modi said, “the reason I came to Kyoto was primarily cultural. Kyoto has maintained its cultural heritage despite troubles. It has incorporated modern needs with its cultural heritage. This city was built on the foundation of its cultural heritage. In India, we are also trying to create a heritage city.”

Kyoto, with around 2000 temples and shrines, has been at the crossroads of history since the end of the Nara Period (794 A.D.). It was the capital of Japan for over 1,000 years till the Emperor moved to Tokyo.

A Partner City MoU was signed by Indian Ambassador Deepa Wadhwa and Kyoto Mayor Kadokawa at a ceremony attended by Mr Modi and Shinzo Abe on Saturdahy.

The MoU, provides for cooperation in heritage conservation, city modernisation and cooperation in art, culture and academics.