Russian Literature’s Indian Soul Unites East and West

Russian literature is a ‘sangam’ (confluence) of West and East. Cultural, spiritual and social churnings of past and present run in the reams of writings that have been occupying the minds of readers. Even wars and revolutions have left their scars and legacies that Russian authors have duly woven into words.

Writers tend to take a more nuanced view of all calamities – natural and manmade -- and preserve their memories for posterity. 

The amalgam of West and East and conflicts remind one mystical association of two great souls from India and Russia – Leo Tolstoy and Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi was hugely influenced by writings of Tolstoy whose War and Peace is the most enduring epic that keeps waking up people about the menace of war and soothing productivity of prevailing peace. Sadly, despite being hugely read, the spirit of the book is defied and we continue to see new conflicts. 

Few people would be aware that Tolstoy was a great admirer of Indian spirituality and religions. The influence of Buddhism can be traced in his works. His correspondence with Gandhi makes it amply clear that both of them were in favour of the uniting side of religion. 

Another Indian great writer that has captured Russian minds is Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore whose ideas of liberty, freedom, equality and humanity have transcended across borders in the whole Caucasus region, not only Russia. Many of his works have been rendered into Russian.

Another most enduring bond between Russia and India is Marxism. The after effects of Bolshevik Revolution enchanted many Indian Marxists who used to be a major force in Indian politics, albeit their strength has diminished drastically. Whole cannon of revolutionary literature has been translated from Russian into various Indian languages. 

Lenin is actually also an Indian name adopted by many, and so is Stalin. Just like MK Stalin of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party who is the chief minister of Tamil Nadu.

Renowned Russian classical authors like Sergey Yesenin, Anton Chekhov, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Mikhail Sholokhov, Aleksandr Kuprin, Nikolai Ostrovsky, Maxim Gorky and others are celebrated through lectures, exhibitions and literary readings regularly in India. 

Alexander Pushkin, the poet, playwright and poet of the Romantic Era, has also been widely translated into Indian languages and has been popular among the literati. 

In recent times, though, modern Indian writers are not as popular as their predecessors. One reason could be that their works fail to catch the eye of the media; especially fewer reviews of Indian books are published in Russian magazines and newspapers. I think this should change and there should be more frequent reviews of Indian books in Russia and that’s how these writers will be introduced to Russians. 

Speaking of current world conflicts finding place in writings, I think since countries like India and Russia are among leaders of the Global South, or developing nations, they will make a better case for peace if writers of these lands base their future books highlighting ills of war and rewards of peace.