For most people, learning a foreign language is a skill. For Dr. Liudmila Viktorovna Khokhlova, it became a lifelong calling.
Born on 31 October 1945 in Russia, Dr. Khokhlova developed a fascination for India at a young age. While most of her peers chose conventional academic paths, she found herself drawn to India’s languages, philosophy and ancient civilisation.
That curiosity soon grew into a passion that would shape the rest of her life.
In 1970, she earned her Master’s degree in Hindi Language and Literature from Moscow State University. But she wasn’t done. Four years later, she completed her PhD in Indian Linguistics from the Institute of Linguistics at the Academy of Sciences in Moscow. Her doctoral research compared Hindi and Rajasthani, an unusual and highly specialised subject that reflected her deep commitment to Indian languages.
Over the next five decades, Dr. Khokhlova became one of Russia’s most respected Indologists. As an Associate Professor at the Institute of Asian and African Studies, Lomonosov Moscow State University, she taught generations of students Indian history, literature, philosophy, Sanskrit and Hindi. For thousands of Russian students, she became their first window into India’s rich cultural and intellectual heritage.
Her contribution extended far beyond the classroom. She authored six books and 92 research papers in Hindi, English and Russian. Her research covered historical linguistics, the evolution of Indian languages, and even the origins and development of Sikhism. She also made significant contributions to the study of Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati and Marwari, helping preserve and promote these languages among scholars outside India.
A significant part of this work explores the origins and evolution of Sikhism. She has translated ‘Jap Ji’ by Guru Nanak from Punjabi into Russian, which opens the Sikh scripture Adi Granth, along with ‘Jap Sahib’, a text composed by the tenth Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh. Both are crucial texts in Sikh philosophical and historical studies. Her translations gave Russian readers direct access to material that had rarely reached them in their own language
Dr. Khokhlova also played a pivotal role in strengthening academic and cultural ties between India and Russia. Through translations, lectures, research collaborations and cultural exchanges, she introduced countless Russians to India’s literature, philosophy and timeless traditions, proving that culture can build bridges where borders cannot.
Recognising her extraordinary contribution, the Government of India conferred upon her the Padma Shri in 2025 in the field of Literature and Education. She is among the very few Russian scholars to receive one of India’s highest civilian honours. Accepting the award, she expressed her hope that India would continue to progress while preserving its ancient spiritual traditions and said she would keep working to remain worthy of the honour.
Dr. Liudmila Khokhlova was not born in India, yet she spent more than half a century safeguarding its languages, celebrating its wisdom and sharing its heritage with the world. Her story reminds us that love for a civilisation is measured not by where we are born, but by what we choose to dedicate our lives to.
References
https://www.google.com/amp/s/timesofindia.indiatimes.com/women/she-was-not-born-in-india-so-why-was-russian-scholar-dr-liudmila-khokhlova-honoured-with-a-padma-shri/amp_articleshow/132257976.cms
