Indians in Russia

Russian Indians
Regions with significant populations
Moscow · St. Petersburg · Astrakhan
Languages
Russian · Various Indian Languages · English
Religion
Hinduism • Christianity • Sikhism
Related ethnic groups
People of Indian Origin

Russian Indians include Indian expatriates in Russia, as well as Russian citizens of Indian origin or descent.

Demography

According to the Indian embassy, there are approximately 14,000 Indians in Russia. In addition to this, there are also about 1500 Afghan nationals of Indian origin living in the country.[1]

History

In the late eighteenth century, Russian traveller Pallas noted the presence of hundreds of Multani Vaiṣṇava Hindu merchant families in Astrakhan at the mouth of the Volga river.[2]

The Hindustani Samaj is the oldest Indian organization to be set up in Russia, in 1957.[1] The Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Center was opened in 1989 for propagating Indian culture in Russia. Its idea was conceived after the great success of the Festival of India, held in 1988 in the USSR.[3]

In May 2022, two consignments of medicine were sent to Russian soldiers during the invasion of Ukraine, under the initiative of Disha: Russian-Indian friendship society. This society was founded in Moscow by Rameshwar Singh, who is an influential Indian origin journalist and businessman in Moscow.[4]

During the invasion of Ukraine, dozens of Indians were recruited to serve in the Russian Armed Forces. Most of them were deceived by recruiters promising them money and jobs.[5] According to a Russian official, as of February 2024, around 100 Indians had been recruited.[6] Indians were sent to work on the front, with nine of them having been killed as of September 2024. Following a visit in Moscow by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in July 2024 Russia promised to discharge all Indians fighting in its army. As of September, 45 Indians had been released.[5]

Religion

A majority of Indians living in Russia are Hindus, with other populations including Christians of Indian origin, Muslims, and Sikhs. Hinduism is practised in Russia, though most ignore it, primarily by followers of the Vaishnava Hindu organization International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Brahma Kumaris and by itinerant swamis from India.[7] There is an active Tantra Sangha operating in Russia.

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Embassy of India, Moscow (Russia)". indianembassy-moscow.gov.in. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  2. ^ Entwistle, Alan William (1982). The Rāsa Māna ke Pada of Kevalarāma: A Medieval Hindi Text of the Eighth Gaddī of the Vallabha Sect (Phd thesis). University of London. pp. 89–90.
  3. ^ "Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Center, Moscow, Russia | Official website of Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Government of India". iccr.gov.in. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  4. ^ Bhattacherjee, Kallol (2022-05-29). "Indians in Russia send relief supplies for Russian soldiers". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  5. ^ a b "'Please save me': The Indians duped into fighting for Russia". BBC. 2024-09-18.
  6. ^ Singh, Vijaita (2024-02-21). "About 100 Indians were recruited as Russian Army helpers in the past year, Russian official says". The Hindu.
  7. ^ "Russia". 2001-2009.state.gov. Retrieved 2024-01-10.