Tetsu Nakamura Illuminates Afghanistan January 15th, 10:30
"We have continued to be much more 40 years of war in Afghanistan, I think that there is no time to have a war now. Enemy ally together, I think that there is time to recover the Land,"
this Is a word left in our interview during his lifetime by Tetsu Nakamura, a doctor who has worked on humanitarian assistance and reconstruction for many years in Afghanistan, where fighting and terrorism continue.
It's been over a year since Mr. Nakamura passed away.
In Afghanistan, there are now people who have inherited that wish and have begun various activities.
(Islamabad bureau chief, Michitaka Yamaka)
"Uncle of passion"
On the cover is Tetsu Nakamura, who is surrounded by children, women, and greenery and smiles.
This is the picture book "Kaka Murad" published last year.
In Dari, one of the official languages of Afghanistan, "Kaka" means "uncle" and "Murad" means "passion".
Mr. Nakamura was familiarly called by the local people because the pronunciation is similar to "Nakamura".
The picture book was produced by an Afghan NGO to widely convey the achievements of Mr. Nakamura.
It is drawn in an easy-to-understand manner for children about medical support and desert greening efforts that Mr. Nakamura made his life work.
Mr. Zabi Mahdi, the representative of NGO, met Mr. Nakamura in 2016 while studying abroad in Japan.
It was a lecture by Mr. Nakamura on infrastructure development such as agriculture.
Afghanistan was hit by a drought and food production was extremely difficult, and he was shocked to learn that Mr. Nakamura was working hard to support the local people.
Mr. Zabi Mahdi
"
Mr.
Nakamura was Japanese, but he worked hard for Afghanistan regardless of religion or denomination. The appearance impressed all the Afghans who heard the lecture. I gave it. "
Someday the continuation of "dream"
However, December 4, 2019.
Mr. Nakamura was shot by an armed group while traveling by car in Jalalabad, Nangarhar, eastern Afghanistan, where he was based, and became a person who never returned.
Zabi Mahdi
"I was struck by deep sorrow. Mr. Nakamura spent his life devoting himself to Afghanistan, but he couldn't save his life."
Mahdi looks back at the time and drops his shoulders.
At the very least, I would like to pass on Mr. Nakamura's achievements to the next generation without weathering them.
Mr. Mahdi visited and listened to people who knew Mr. Nakamura during his lifetime, and spent half a year completing the picture book.
What is depicted is Mr. Nakamura, who is close to the residents suffering from illness and poverty.
Gently tell the parents who visited the clinic with their sick child, "I will definitely recover."
In addition, he thought that clean water was needed to stop the disease, so he planned an irrigation canal and operated heavy machinery himself.
The irrigation canal was completed after six years, and the desertified land was transformed into a lush land.
Nevertheless, the eradication of poverty and the realization of peace throughout Afghanistan, which Mr. Nakamura had hoped for, are still halfway.
On the last page of the picture book, the thoughts entrusted to a child named "Murado" after Mr. Nakamura are written.
"Someday Murad will fulfill the dream that Kaka Murad had."
Spreading "Nakamura style" hydraulic control
Some people were inspired by Mr. Nakamura and actually started to move.
Grab Gulbuddin.
At the university in Jalal-Abad, where Mr. Nakamura was based, he teaches agriculture and hydraulic engineering techniques.
It is said that he was greatly influenced by the words of Mr. Nakamura, who once commanded the construction of the irrigation canal.
Gulbuddin
"Professor Nakamura has
always said that'one
agricultural canal is more important than 100 clinics'. Afghanistan's problems can be solved by agriculture, not by war or violence."
Encouraged by these words, Gulbuddin studied abroad in Japan to study agriculture.
In 2018, I participated in Mr. Nakamura's lecture and received direct guidance on hydraulic engineering technology.
What I learned was to use familiar rocks and trees instead of concrete for the embankment.
In addition to keeping costs down, it can be repaired by the locals alone.
Gulbuddin returned to Afghanistan last year.
The state is also showing a positive attitude by encouraging the local irrigation canal construction plan in Nangarhar to incorporate the hydraulic engineering technology taught by Mr. Nakamura.
Nangarhar State Government employee
"Mr. Nakamura's irrigation canal project created employment locally and improved lives. I would like to spread the method to other areas."
Mr. Gulbuddin wants to convey not only Mr. Nakamura's hydraulic engineering technology but also his spirit while interacting with the students every day.
Mr. Gulbuddin
"
Mr.
Nakamura taught me that I can do it if I do it. I want to firmly inherit that wish and realize the dream that everyone can live with peace of mind in the lush green land."
"A model of life"
Mahdi and his friends who made Nakamura's picture book "Kaka Murad".
About 1200 copies were distributed free of charge to elementary schools in Afghanistan.
It seems that the feelings have definitely reached the children.
Girl child
"Mr. Nakamura came to Afghanistan from far away Japan and made our lives really good. I will never forget what I did for us."
Boys
"Mr. Nakamura worked hard for our country while being a foreigner. I want to say thank you very much. In the future, I will become a person like Mr. Nakamura and become a country. I want to contribute. "
The picture book was also published in Japan on December 4, last year, the anniversary of Mr. Nakamura's death.
Mr. Mahdi believes that making as many children as possible aware of his life will lead to giving back to Mr. Nakamura and leading to peace in Afghanistan.
"My hope is to have children live by following Mr. Nakamura's way of life. And to moisturize all the dry land in this country, we will all realize what Mr. Nakamura has left behind. That's it. "
Illuminate the future even after dying
During his lifetime, Tetsu Nakamura enthusiastically told us in an interview that "the green land in Afghanistan will increase, and if everyone eats, there will be no conflict and there is no need to go to war."
Inheriting that wish, an increasing number of people in Afghanistan have begun to move toward the reconstruction and development of their homeland, and those who have a dream of studying abroad in Japan and becoming a bridge between the two countries.
Mr. Nakamura continues to illuminate the future of Afghanistan as a light of hope for young people.
Islamabad bureau chief
Michitaka Yamaka
Joined in 1998
After working in Hakodate, Sapporo, International Department, etc.,
Islamabad bureau from 2019