PIONEER NEPALI
STUDENTS IN JAPAN-A CENTURY AGO
Student Diary
The students were asked by the Prime Minister's office
to send regular progress reports. Accordingly they sent
reports about their studies and even recorded a monthly
statement of accounts, bank transactions, etc. Some of the
extracts from the records maintained by the students are as
follows:
"Fuji Boeki Goshi Kaisha stood as guarantor for the
students as required by the University regulation. By
studying Japanese in the last few months we have been able
to speak common words and carry on simple conversation
but not enough to understand lectures of the professors.
The standards of science subjects, Physics, Chemistry,
Math, etc. are very high. Professors dictate lecture notes
from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily in Japanese language and the
students depend entirely on those notes. The notes are so
complete and extensive that the students need seldom
consult printed books."
"The Professors of the Department of Arms Technology
speak French instead of English. The professors of
Technology of explosives, and arms, are military officers.
French and German are used in higher studies... so if we
could hire teacher or translator, with your permission
(permission from Prime Minister Office of Nepal) it will
be easier for us. We will try to get a teacher with reasonable
salary".
The Japanese classmates used to help translating class
notes and also extend cooperation when necessary, according
to the diary notes.
The students also informed the authorities in Nepal
that they had employed a full time language teacher at  100
per month, when all of them were living together. The
teacher introduced by the Fuji Boeki Co. used to live together with the students. The purpose of this kind of
arrangement was to learn Japanese customs, manners,
etiquette and other essential knowledge about the Japanese
society besides the language, according to the diary.
Available note books left by the students show that
they maintained detailed statement of expenditures such as
expenses from Birgunj (Nepal) to Bombay and from there to
the final destination, Yokohama. They were required to keep
all records including the supply of provisions. Fuji Boyeki
Goshi Kaisha, Yokohama supplied all groceries regularly.
They used Riksha as means of transport. A doctor was also
engaged at 600 per anum to visit all the houses where the
students lived. Jang Narsingh, Bal Narsingh and Hem
Bahadur went to Osaka for practical training on arms and
explosive making, Bichar Man went to Kyoto for silk reaming
training, Deep Narsingh and others also went to different
districts of Japan on the training programme.
At one time, officials of Prime Minister Chandra
Shumsher were worried about the conflicting news sent by
the students and the guide, Swami Giri. The guide wrote that
the students should be sent to America, as their study was not
satisfactory in Japan. On the other hand, the students wrote
that the guide, Swami Giri, indulged in misconduct that was
uncalled for. He had become alcoholic and used to speak at
random. "This also affects us because he has come here as our
guardian deputed by the Nepal government. To mention a
few, among others, he eats meat, etc. We told him to refrain
from all these. His reply was that "caste" had been lost the
day the ship was boarded; the "caste" will return after you go
back to Nepal; you too can eat, there is no harm in this,
etc..." Swami is sick and needs medical treatment. He refused to take medicine when we advised him and on the
contrary started doubting us unnecessarily.
Harigopal Banerji, Superintendent of the Foreign
Department of the Prime Ministers Office wrote to
Mr.Hayashi, Consul General of Japan in Bombay, requesting
him to send progress reports of the Nepali students in Japan.
The Consul General forwarded the letter of October 10,
1903 to the Foreign Ministry of Japan according to the
Diplomatic Records Office, Tokyo. In 1903 Chandra
Shumsher happened to meet Rev. Kawaguchi9 from Japan.
During his conversation with Rev. Kawaguchi, Chandra
Shumsher asked him on his return to Japan to write about
the condition of Nepali students stay and study in Japan. At
the same time Rev. Kawaguchi had sought an interview with
Chandra Shumsher to get a letter of recommendation to the
Dalai Lama of Tibet to release his friends who were
imprisoned for having links with foreigners. He felt a moral
obligation to rescue them from the prison. At first he sought
help from the Chinese government, but gave it up, as the
Tibetan government did not like any diplomatic interference
from China. Tibet was much feared by the Nepalese, so he
thought he might have more success if he could approach the
Nepali government. Kawaguchi felt that Nepal had much
trust in Japan as she sent many Nepali students to Japan for
study. So he decided to approach the Nepali government.
Later on the Tibetans were released from the prison at the
request of the Nepali Prime Minister Chandra Shumsher.
Rev. Ekai Kawaguchi was a Buddhist scholar of Japan
who had visited Kathmandu four times (1899, 1903, 1905 &
1913) in connection with his research and studies on
Buddhism. The first visit was on his way to Tibet.
Incidentally he was the first Japanese national to visit
Nepal.10
According to Rev. Kawaguchi's Report the eight
students and the seventeen attendants were staying in Tokyo
comfortably. The attendants were learning different
handicrafts. The Japanese teachers were satisfied with the
students and were even considering higher training. But the
Japanese government felt somewhat uncomfortable as the
British Legation maintained vigilance over the activities of
the students. The students were taken to the government
ammunition factory in Osaka for practical training. The
guide was said to be addicted to wine. On the basis of the
report of Rev. Kawaguchi the guide was called back to Nepal.
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