“Russkiy Mir” in India

August-October 2024

In August 2024, the Voyage@555 project was launched at the initiative of Ratheesh Nair and with the support of the Russkiy Mir Foundation, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Russian Embassy in India, Rossotrudnichestvo, and the Russian Geographical Society. It recreated the journey of Afanasy Nikitin, a 15th-century Russian merchant and traveler, to India. The project’s goal was to acquaint the people of India and other countries visited by Nikitin with the natural beauty and potential of Russia and to establish and strengthen cultural, scientific, and trade relations. The journey along Afanasy Nikitin's route took 45 days.

On October 20, 2024, a panel discussion summarizing the results of the project was held in Trivandrum. As part of Ratheesh Nair's initiative, representatives of Russian and Indian universities held a series of online meetings, resulting in agreements on cooperation in academic exchanges and joint research. 

Seven Indian states organized free online Russian language courses and an essay competition on Russian literature. 

The Russkiy Mir Foundation supported the translation of Afanasy Nikitin's book "Voyage Beyond Three Seas" into three regional languages of India: Malayalam, Kannada, and Tamil. These books were donated to organizations promoting Russian-Indian cultural cooperation. 

September 2025

On September 15, 2025, a book of works by Anton Chekhov, published in Malayalam with the support of the Russkiy Mir Foundation, was solemnly presented in Trivandrum. The edition includes a translation of the famous drama Swan Song and six selected short stories. The event was attended by over 100 guests, including Russian language teachers and students, writers, journalists, politicians, and cultural figures. 

The presentation took place in a warm and creative atmosphere. The honor of presenting the first copy of the book to the renowned writer K. V. Mohankumar was bestowed upon the Chairman of the  Kerala state Chalachitra Academy (Motion Picture Academy of the Kerala State), popular theater and film actor Prem Kumar.

In his speech, Prem Kumar highly appreciated the joint contribution of the Russkiy Mir Foundation and the Honorary Consulate of the Russian Federation to the popularization of classical literature in the languages of India. He noted that Anton Chekhov is rightfully considered a master of modern short stories and one of the most influential playwrights of all times. 

November 2025

In November 2025, Tatyana Shlychkova, Executive Director of the Russkiy Mir Foundation, participated in the 13th All-India Conference of Russian Compatriots in New Delhi, where she spoke about the foundation's grant program.

Tatyana Shlychkova also spoke at the plenary session of the International Conference "India and Russia: Building Bridges Between Societies through Language, Literature, Translation, and Culture," which was held with the support of the Russkiy Mir Foundation. Her speech focused on the foundation's activities, including projects to develop humanitarian cooperation with India and promote the Russian language, literature, and culture.

On November 13, 2025, the Russkiy Mir Foundation and Jawaharlal Nehru University signed an agreement on friendship and cooperation. Under this agreement, the parties collaborate to promote the Russian language, literature, and art in India. Teachers, students, PhD students, and anyone interested in studying Russian receive support through seminars and academic meetings, short-term academic programs, and joint cultural programs. There are plans to establish a Russian Center at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi by December 31, 2026. 

On November 15, 2025, the solemn opening of the Russkiy Mir Foundation's first center in India took place in Trivandrum. During the ceremony, Tatyana Shlychkova and Ratheesh Nair cut the symbolic red ribbon, after which the flame was lit in accordance with local cultural traditions. Tatyana Shlychkova, Ratheesh Nair, and the ceremony's distinguished guests then addressed the Russian language students and teachers who were present there.

The opening of the Russian Center in Trivandrum also coincided with the 18th Festival of Russian Language and Literature and the Sergey Yesenin Award presentation. The award was established in 2008. It is presented annually to Indian writers and translators for their translations from Russian.

In 2025, the prize was awarded to RUDN University graduate Chittayil Suresh for his translation of works by contemporary Russian writers into Malayalam. 

To celebrate the award ceremony, a literary festival was held. Students from Cameroon, Tajikistan, Myanmar, South Africa, and Kenya recited the poems by Yesenin in various languages—Russian, English, French, Burmese, and Swahili. The renowned poet and translator Rose Mary recited the poems in Malayalam.

January 2025

In January 2026, the Russian Center organized a literary evening dedicated to the 130th anniversary of Osip Mandelstam's birth in cooperation with the Honorary Consulate of Russia in Trivandrum. The event brought together more than 50 people.

On January 24, the Russian Center hosted a presentation of the book of poems by Sergey Yesenin in Malayalam and a seminar entitled "The Role of Literature in Strengthening Bilateral Relations between Russia and India." The collection was published with the support of the Russkiy Mir Foundation. The book includes selected poems by Sergey Yesenin translated into Malayalam, as well as a detailed biography of the poet.

February 2026

Under the auspices of the Russian Center of the Russkiy Mir Foundation and the Honorary Consulate of Russia in Trivandrum, a meeting was held on February 11 to commemorate the 189th death anniversary of the great poet Alexander Pushkin. The event was attended by the Russian language teachers and students.

Dr. Hrishika Katyayan, Associate Professor at the Russian Language Department of the University of Kerala, presented a paper on the legacy of Alexander Pushkin, noting that it shaped both the literary tradition and the cultural identity of Russia.

During the meeting, Ratheesh Nair stated that similar events would be held in the future to promote Russian literature not only in Trivandrum but also in other cities.

On February 15, Trivandrum hosted a series of events dedicated to the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia and the 120th birth anniversary of the outstanding Tatar poet Musa Jalil. In honor of the poet's anniversary, a literary evening and a presentation of his poems in Malayalam were held. Musa Jalil's name is forever inscribed in the history of Tatar national and world literature as a symbol of courage, loyalty to the Motherland, and unwavering resilience.

The event was attended by poets, writers, Russian language teachers, students, and members of the general public. Ratheesh Nair announced the plans to publish a collection of poems by Musa Jalil and Rasul Gamzatov in Malayalam. 

March 2026

On March 23, 2026, the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) held its second international conference titled "Russia and India: Towards a New Agenda for Bilateral Relations." Nikolay Sergeichev, Head of the Department for Russian Centers and Event Organization at the Russkiy Mir Foundation, participated in the panel discussion titled “Development of Cultural Cooperation.” He dwelt on a number of the foundation's successfully implemented grant projects focused on India and its plans for further development of cultural and educational cooperation between the two countries. He pointed out that a Russian Center was to open at Jawaharlal Nehru University in 2026. There are also plans to establish a Russian Center at the University of Pune. Last year, Russian professors gave lectures there as part of the foundation’s Russian World Professor program. This program will be continued in 2026. 

On March 31, 2026, classes for the first group of students taking a free Russian language course began at the Russian Center. The group included the members of the Indo-Russian Youth Club (Capital Center of the Central University of Kerala). 

According to Ratheesh Nair, priority will be given to students when organizing free Russian language courses. In addition to a Russian language course, the program will also include classes aimed at familiarizing students with Russian culture and traditions. 

April 2026

On April 23, the Russian Center hosted a literary evening dedicated to World Book and Copyright Day, as well as the 140th anniversary of Nikolai Gumilev’s birth and the 95th anniversary of the birth of the Russian children’s book writer Vitaly Korzhikov.

The event's principal guest, Professor K. S. Ravikumar, writer, critic, and former Rector of Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, noted that Nikolai Gumilev was a central figure in the Silver Age of Russian poetry, and his legacy is of both literary and historical importance.

The professor also emphasized that Russian children's literature played an important role in raising generations of children in the Russian world and expressed gratitude to the Russkiy Mir Foundation for its initiatives in publishing Russian books in various Indian languages.

Professor Ravikumar is the son-in-law of Doctor Puthussery Ramachandran, a famous poet who translated the works by Yevgeny Yevtushenko and Anna Akhmatova. Professor Ravikumar also promised to provide the Russian Center with the publishing rights for individual poems.

May 2026

On May 15, 2026, the Russian Center hosted a literary seminar dedicated to the 135th birth anniversary of the birth of the outstanding Russian writer Mikhail Bulgakov. 

The writer and former head of the Russian Language Department of the University of Kerala Professor Govindan Nair, laureate of the Pushkin Medal, who translated the novel The Master and Margarita into Malayalam directly from Russian, noted that the ability to combine the absurd comedy with serious thoughts about freedom, truth, morality, and artistic honesty makes Bulgakov unique among writers. 

At the end of May, Trivandrum celebrated the Day of Slavic Writing and Culture.

To celebrate the occasion, a roundtable discussion was held featuring speakers from the Russian community, the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (the Orthodox Church in Kerala), and historians. The speakers emphasized that Slavic culture is the unique identity of Russians, and they are proud of this identity.

Students studying the Russian language, history, and international relations also took part in the event.

*The article is based on information from open sources