Russia is taking significant steps to deepen its educational and cultural engagement with India by expanding Hindi language programs across universities nationwide. According to Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Konstantin Mogilevsky, there has been a sharp rise in the number of Russian students enrolling in Hindi courses — a trend that mirrors India’s growing global influence and population dynamics.
“We want more of our students to study Hindi,” Mogilevsky stated in an interview with TASS. He noted that India, now the world’s most populous country, has a majority of its citizens using Hindi in daily life, often more so than English. “We need to respond to this,” he added.
This strategic educational expansion reflects more than academic interest. It aligns closely with the evolving geopolitical and diplomatic relations between India and Russia. Since 2022, India has significantly increased its imports of Russian oil, maintaining close bilateral ties despite global tensions over the Ukraine conflict. Leaders from both countries continue to emphasize collaboration, especially under multilateral platforms like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
Universities such as MGIMO (Moscow State Institute of International Relations), the Institute of Asian and African Studies at Moscow State University, the Russian State University for the Humanities (RSUH), and the Moscow State Linguistic University have seen their Hindi language departments grow substantially, with two to three times more students enrolled in recent years. These trends extend beyond Moscow, reaching institutions in cities like St. Petersburg and Kazan.
Mogilevsky emphasized that young Russians who aspire to engage with India’s culture, politics, and growing economy are increasingly viewing Hindi as a valuable asset. The initiative also signals an effort to foster mutual understanding and closer people-to-people ties through cultural diplomacy.
This emphasis on language as a bridge between nations reflects a broader commitment to long-term cooperation. President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit India in December 2025, further reinforcing bilateral warmth. At the recent SCO summit in Tianjin, Chinese and Russian leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Putin, reaffirmed their dedication to regional peace and prosperity — with language and cultural exchange forming a key part of that vision.
The expansion of Hindi education across Russian universities is a step toward building a generation fluent not only in language but also in cross-cultural understanding. It represents a powerful form of diplomacy — one that educates, connects, and endures beyond headlines.
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