Benoy K Behl is a film-maker, art-historian. and photographer who is known for his tireless and prolific output of work over the past 40 years. He has taken over 50,000 photographs of Asian monuments and art heritage, made a hundred documentaries on art history and his exhibitions have been warmly received in 54 countries around the world.

His films, including 26 documentaries on 'The Paintings of India' and 26 documentaries on 'The Sculpture of India' have been nationally telecast on prime time in India, as well as repeat telecasts. These have also been screened at scores of universities and museums in several countries around the world. Behl's films have won numerous awards at international film festivals.

Twenty-seven years ago, I had the privilege of being invited to Japan to meet the great painter Prof. Ikuo Hirayama, a "Living National Treasure" of Japan and to show him my photographs of the paintings of Ajanta. This was my first visit to that wonderful country and this meeting started me on a long journey of exploration of the deep cultural ties between Japan and India.

The trip to Japan was truly an eye-opener. My earlier exposure, mainly through western media, had given me the impression that the Japanese are "very different" and difficult for others to understand. This trip to Tokyo, in 1991, plunged me into a world of warmth and courtesy which was truly a joy to experience. The extent of kindness and concern, shown in every moment by all the people that I met, made it a very special visit. In the people of Japan, I found hospitality and decorous grace which reminded me of the culture of India, before we became too "modern".

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