Venkatesh Kumar, a TV BRICS expert in India, shared information in an exclusive commentary on how Leo Tolstoy’s legacy is being honoured in India.

According to Venkatesh Kumar, events are organised every year at Russian Embassy in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Trivandrum to commemorate the birth and death anniversary of the great Russian writer. These events include conferences, seminars, readings, and other cultural events.

Expert believes that Tolstoy’s legacy, especially his philosophy of non-violence, had a profound influence on Indian leaders like Indian scholar and politician Tarak Nath Das and political and spiritual leader Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Gandhi, inspired by Tolstoy’s ideas, used the concept of “ahimsa” (non-violence) in his struggle for Indian independence. “Gandhi had a great fascination for Tolstoy,” states the expert in his work “Count Leo Tolstoy and Tamil: Early Echoes”.

Tolstoy’s ideas of non-violence, social reforms, and spiritual enlightenment are still honoured in India. His works, translated into Hindi and other Indian languages, remain popular among Indian readers.

“I see that his principles are always immortal because they are timeless! India should have more followers, and people should start reading him more, like me, who fell in love with his literature and philosophical thought the day I stepped on the threshold of Yasnaya Polyana”

Venkatesh Kumar TV BRICS expert in film production

Leo Tolstoy’s legacy in India is an example of how ideas and creativity can cross geographical and cultural boundaries to inspire people to fight for justice and peace, the expert said.

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