Eminent scholars discussed stories penned by Russian playwrights and short story writer Anton Chekhov

By Vidya Swarge

@RCSCMUMBAI

Mumbai: The India-Russia Friendship Society of Western India and the Russian House in Mumbai, recently jointly hosted a webinar dedicated to the birth anniversary of Russian playwright and short story writer Anton Chekhov.

The event, which has participants from Russia and India, began with opening remarks from Dr Elena Remizova, the Director of the Russian House.

Following her remarks, Dr Anagha Bhat-Behere spoke about the translations of Chekhov’s works in Marathi. Interestingly enough, the late Dr Suniti Deshpande, who taught Russian at the Russian House was one of the translators of Chekhov’s stories from Russian to Marathi.

Ms Vidya Swarge, Professor of Russian at the Russian House, Mumbai spoke about the important events in the playwright’s life as well as how his stories had a message that resonates with the world well over a century after his death.

Writer and journalist Mr Ajay Kamalakaran spoke of his experiences in places associated with Anton Chekhov such as Moscow, Sri Lanka and Sakhalin, before reading the story Vanka.

Dr Sudheendra Kulkarni, President of the India-Russia Friendship Society of Western India spoke of the universality of Chekhov’s writing as well as the writer’s three most important guiding principles.

The speeches and presentations were followed by a brief Q&A session.