Russia revives India literature

Russia is broadcasting classic literature in Hindi and Urdu to India through radio wave to revive cultural the project from the Soviet era aimed at building cultural links with Indians, reported local daily The Hindu on Wednesday. The Voice of Russia has begun producing and broadcasting radio dramas based on the works of famous Russian playwrights. It has already aired several plays by Anton Chekov, including his most famous Cherry Garden, said the report. The plays, adapted for radio and broadcast in 15-minute installments in Hindi and Urdu, have met with enthusiastic response from Indian listeners, according to the report. The report quoted Irina Maksimenko, chief of the Voice of Russia South Asia department, as saying that the new project will play an important role in promoting cross-cultural understanding. Those who missed the original broadcasts can listen to them by going to the Voice of Russia websites at hindi.ruvr.ru and urdu. ruvr.ru. Encouraged by the success of Chekov plays, the station now plans to adapt for the radio works by other Russian classics, such as Alexander Ostrovsky and Leo Tolstoi. The Voice of Russia, used to be called Radio Moscow in the Soviet days, will discuss the project at an All-India conference of the Voice of Russia Listeners' Clubs in New Delhi this week. India has one of the largest radio listeners around the world, with radio surviving as one of the most popular media along with television.