Russia’s Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education, Konstantin Mogilevsky, has called for expanding Hindi studies at the university level, citing growing interest among students.
“We want more of our students to study Hindi,” Mogilevsky told TASS in an interview. He pointed out that India, now the world’s most populous country, has more people using Hindi in daily life than English. “We need to respond to this,” he added.
Growing demand across Moscow and beyond
Mogilevsky highlighted the rising number of Russian students taking up Hindi. “Young people who want to study Hindi today have more opportunities than before,” he said, according to Russia Today.
In Moscow, Hindi courses are offered at the prestigious MGIMO, RSUH, the Institute of Asian and African Studies at Moscow State University, and the Moscow State Linguistic University. “The number of students enrolled in Hindi is increasing, and the number of groups is two to three times larger,” Mogilevsky explained.
Beyond the capital, institutions such as St. Petersburg State University and Kazan Federal University have also seen more students signing up for Hindi classes.
Strategic backdrop: India-Russia ties
The language push comes as India and Russia deepen their partnership despite rising tensions with Washington. The Trump administration on August 27 doubled tariffs on Indian imports to 50 percent, citing New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil that are seen as fuelling the Ukraine war.
Since 2022, India has emerged as a key buyer of Russian crude. At the same time, New Delhi has strengthened its engagement with Moscow, Beijing, and even North Korea, all countries at odds with the US.
At a recent summit hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping in Tianjin, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was photographed holding hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin, underscoring the symbolism of the partnership.
Long-standing partnership
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has repeatedly described Moscow as one of New Delhi’s most reliable allies. In August, he said, “We believe that relations between India and Russia have been among the steadiest of the major relationships in the world after the Second World War.”
The Kremlin has also confirmed that President Vladimir Putin will make an official visit to India in December, further cementing the relationship.
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