'Mahabharata and Ramayana Popular Epics In Russia': Ilya Leonidovich Vinogradov At NBT's Writing Beyond Borders Session

The National Book Trust of India hosted 'Writing Beyond Borders' with Ilya Vinogradov and Dr Sonu Saini, exploring India-Russia literary dialogue, translations, and cultural exchange. The event highlighted translations, reader engagement, and the role of literature in bridging national identities.

Celebrating cross-cultural dialogue through literature, National Book Trust (NBT), India organised a special session titled "Writing Beyond Borders", which saw moderator Dr Sonu Saini in conversation with Russian author and translator Mr Ilya Leonidovich Vinogradov. The discussion brought together authors, students, scholars and officials from the Russian Embassy in New Delhi to reflect on literature as a powerful medium of cultural dialogue and shared human experience between India and Russia.

Shri Yuvraj Malik, Director, NBT, formally welcomed the Chief Guest, Mr Ilya Leonidovich Vinogradov; the session's moderator, Dr Sonu Saini, Associate Professor, Centre for Russian Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU); distinguished guests Mr Mikhail Antsiferov, Third Secretary at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in India and Ms Anastasia Ilyushina, Coordinator of Youth Projects and Programmes at the Russian Centre of Science and Culture, India, with bouquets of books and traditional shawls.

Opening the session, Shri Yuvraj Malik noted that while NBT has long hosted international delegations through large platforms such as book fairs and festivals, intimate interactions like this between authors allow for deeper and more meaningful exchanges. Recalling NBT's participation in the Moscow International Book Fair in 2025 as Guest of Honour, he emphasised the importance of people-to-people dialogue between India and Russia. He highlighted the growing number of translations of Indian works into Russian and Russian works into Indian languages, calling such exchanges essential to strengthening the shared cultural ethos of both nations.

Mr Mikhail Antsiferov acknowledged the literary cooperation between India and Russia, adding that while large-scale book fairs create visibility, smaller, close-knit interactions where authors can engage openly and freely with readers are also important. Ms Anastasia Ilyushina elaborated on the Russian Centre's cultural mission, stating that literature remains central to its outreach. She remarked, "Reading allows us to live more than one life," underscoring literature's ability to unite people across borders. She stressed that direct engagement with authors inspires young readers and scholars, nurturing a deeper interest in global literature and intercultural dialogue.

The central segment of the programme featured an insightful and wide-ranging conversation between Mr Ilya Leonidovich Vinogradov and Dr Sonu Saini. The discussion traced Mr Ilya L. Vinogradov's literary journey from Murmansk to the national and international stage. Currently, he is serving as Chairman of the Murmansk regional branch of the Union of Writers of Russia and has contributed to prominent literary journals and periodicals. He spoke of his 15-year-long association with India and feeling a deep personal connection with the country, describing his relationship with India as one that has evolved organically over time.

In conversation with Dr. Sonu Saini, who has translated numerous NBT works into Russian, Mr Vinogradov reflected on his personal journey. Though academically trained in physics and mathematics, he said writing had always come first. "I realised I became a writer long before I became a scholar in physics and mathematics. I have been reading and writing since I was a child," he shared.

He also spoke about his experience as a journalist, noting that journalism sharpened his writing by exposing him to diverse lives and perspectives. His writing, he explained, revolves around the human experience, friendship, mortality and emotional bonds-universal themes that resonate across cultures.

He also reflected on the long-standing fascination with Indian culture in Russia, from philosophy and spirituality to cinema and literature. He noted the popularity of Indian epics such as the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, attributing their resonance to Russian readers' deep interest in philosophical and spiritual inquiry. He also referred to the Bhagavad Gita, describing it as one of the greatest books in the world and recalling how it was gifted by the Hon'ble Prime Minister to Russian President Mr Vladimir Putin.

The session concluded with a Q&A segment, during which members of the audience interacted with the author on themes of translation, cultural memory and the evolving responsibilities of writers in a rapidly changing world. In response, Mr Vinogradov spoke about the need to highlight contemporary Russian authors and not just Russian literary giants such as Leo Tolstoy. Likewise, modern Indian writers should be translated into Russian to provide a contemporary understanding of both societies.

Addressing changing reading habits, he acknowledged fluctuations over the past few decades but expressed optimism about a renewed interest in books. "Books are more interesting than gadgets or the internet," he remarked, adding that literature deepens thought and cultivates empathy.

In translation, he stressed the importance of cultural sensitivity and collaboration with authors. Translation, he argued, is not merely linguistic conversion but an immersion into context, rhythm and lived culture. When asked about artificial intelligence in translation, he described AI as a helpful tool but not a substitute for human creativity. "Literature must remain human," he said, emphasising that poetry and storytelling cannot be authentically generated by machines alone.

Shri Kumar Vikram, Chief Editor and Joint Director, NBT, delivered the Vote of Thanks, expressing appreciation to the distinguished guests and participants for contributing to a stimulating and meaningful literary dialogue. He also spoke about NBT's bilingual publishing initiatives, particularly Hindi-English and Russian-language translations of children's books, which have helped children in both countries and diasporic communities engage with each other's cultures.

NBT's efforts in promoting cross-cultural exchange were also highlighted, with over 30 Indian works already translated into Russian. The importance of translating contemporary voices from both countries was reiterated as essential to sustaining literary dialogue. The interactive session reinforced NBT's commitment to promoting international literary engagement and demonstrated the enduring power of literature to build bridges across borders.