News and Events /RUSSIAN LANGUAGE TEACHING MATERIALS PRESENTED

New Delhi, February 28, 2007: Mr. Alexander V. Fyodorov, Deputy Head, Directorate of Asia and Africa, Russian Centre of International Scientific and cultural Cooperation (ROSZARUBEZHCENTR), Moscow, formally presented Russian Language Teaching Materials to representatives of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University and Jamia Milia Islamia at a solemn function at the Russian Centre of Science & Culture (RCSC), 24, Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi, jointly organized with the Indian Association of Teachers of Russian Language and Literature (INDAPRYAL) on February 27, 2007.

Making the presentation, Mr. Alexander V. Fyodorov expressed his happiness over the present status quo of Russian language studies in India. The very fact that Russian President Vladimir Putin declared 2007 as the Year of Russian Language the World Over, promptly approved of by the UNESCO, offers enormous opportunity to promote the learning of Russian among the peoples of different cultures in countries across the world, he pointed out. As a vehicle of culture, this will go a long way in bringing peoples much closer, Mr. Fyodorov added.

Earlier, welcoming an elite gathering of scholars, teachers and students belonging to various higher educational institutions and parents, Director of the RCSC, Mr. Fyodor A. Rozovskiy, after formal introduction of the prominent personalities at the presidium, noted that the learning of Russian language, with its international stature and status, is gaining fast momentum. He said that the Russian Government has granted three post-graduate scholarships to Indian students this year, and added that similar programme would be held in Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram.

Chairperson, Centre for Russian Studies, JNU, Prof. R. N. Menon, said that after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, there was great dearth for language teaching materials, books and monographs. He suggested that students' exchange programmes have to be restored so as to improve the learning and teaching of Russian.

Making his Presidential Address, Prof. Ramadhikari Kumar, President, INDAPRYAL, said he was grateful that the Russian gesture in providing the teaching materials would be a decisive move in facilitating the learning of language and literature. He referred to the new programme of cultural exchange beneficial to the students community aspiring to acquire skill in Russian language.

Acknowledging the significant support received from the Russian side in the form of valuable teaching materials, Prof. Neelakshi Sooryanarayanan, Reader, Delhi University, admitted that it would provide a great impetus to improve learning of language.