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Hiroshima University Awards Honorary Doctorate Degree to Mr. Hasan Rahaya, Former Student from Southeast Asia who Survived the Atomic Bomb (Indonesia)



On March 16, 2013, Mr. Hasan Rahaya, a former student from Southeast Asia was awarded an honorary doctorate degree during a ceremony held at Universitas Darma Persada in Jakarta, Indonesia.



In 1944, Mr. Hasan Rahaya was a government sponsored overseas student who visited Japan as a student from southeast Asia, and in April of 1945 attended the Hiroshima University of Literature and Science, one of the predecessors of Hiroshima University. However, although that year he was able to narrowly escape with his life from the atomic bomb, he was forced to discontinue his studies in Hiroshima.



After his return home, he endeavored to strengthen the ties of friendship between Indonesia and Japan while contributing to the development of Indonesia as a member of the Parliament and more. He also was deeply involved in the establishment of Universitas Darma Persada and the Association of Indonesian Alumni from Japan (PERSADA), which was established mainly by people who had studied in Japan. Additionally, he tried to convey his experience in Hiroshima to many people, and contributed to the promotion of peace activities. It is for these reasons that our university decided to award him with an honorary doctorate degree.



Approximately 100 people were in attendance at the start of the award ceremony including his family, people related to PERSADA and Universitas Darma Persada, and alumni of Hiroshima University. Shin-ichi Uye, Executive and Vice President of Hiroshima University, gave a congratulatory speech after presenting the honorary doctorate degree to Mr. Hasan Rahaya. Afterward, he gave an address and spoke of the relationship between Japan and his own life. He said, that there were no words to express his appreciation for being awarded this honorary doctorate degree.



Subsequently, Dr. Oloan Siahaan, Rector of Universitas Darma Persada who had studied in Japan as one of the first War-Reparation-Grant Students and Mr. Rachmat Gobel, Chairman of PERSADA and the head of Panasonic Gobel Indonesia and other companies gave congratulatory speeches.



Finally, H.E. Yoshinori Katori, the Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Indonesia conveyed appreciation for Mr. Hasan Rahaya. He said that Mr. Hasan Rahaya had endeavored to strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries.



Furthermore, on the day before the ceremony, there was a party of the Hiroshima University Indonesia Alumni Association at a restaurant in Jakarta and Mr. Hasan Rahaya was the special guest. About 40 people, alumni and HU related persons, took part and celebrated Mr. Hasan Rahaya's honorary doctorate degree, among them the presidents of the alumni associations at Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung and Makassar.



There were three students who attended the Hiroshima University of Literature and Science as students from southeast Asia that are designated to receive honorary doctoral degrees, and following Mr. Hasan Rahaya who received the degree this time, Hiroshima University also plans to award a degree to Mr. Pengiran Yusof (former Prime Minister of Brunei) in late April this year.

(Revised on Oct 21, 2013)



From the left: Mr. Rachmat Gobel (Chairman of PERSADA),

Dr. Oloan Siahaan (Rector of Universitas Darma Persada),

Mr. Hasan Rahaya, Dr. Shin-ichi Uye (Executive and Vice

President of HU), H.E. Yoshinori Katori (the Ambassador of

Japan to Republic of Indonesia)


Executive and Vice President Uye presenting the Honorary

Doctorate to Mr. Hasan Rahaya


Congratulatory address by Mr. Rachmat Gobel, Chairman

of PERSADA


There was a large attendance at the ceremony




At Jakarta, the Jakarta Alumni Association celebrated their senior Mr. Hasan Rahaya's

honorary doctorate degree awarding

【Inquiries】

International Exchange Group,

Education and International Office (International Center),

Hiroshima University

E-mail: kokusai-kikaku(AT)office.hiroshima-u.ac.jp

(※Please replace (AT) with @.)


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