Trilingual dictionary an achievement for Indo-Russian relations

New Delhi, Sep 8 (UNI) The first-ever comprehensive trilingual Russian-English-Hindi dictionary was released at the Russian Centre for Science and Culture yesterday.

Compiled by English and Foreign Language University Vice-Chancellor and noted Russian language teacher Abhai Maurya, the dictionary is aimed to further strengthen the relations between India and Russia.

The dictionary -- whose release coincides with the ''Year of Russian Language the World Over'' -- contains 70,000 words, derived words, word combinations and expressions meant for a broad spectrum of users including translators and professionals in the fields of science and technology, defence personnel and students from both the nations.

Dr Ram Prakash of Kurukshetra University recalled the assurance given by Russia to India in the past, ''whenever you need us, just stand at the Himalayas and call for us. We would be there.'' He noted that earlier defence and technology provided the basic tenets of bi-lateral relations between the two countries, while today they have been complemented by energy, language and culture.

Prof Ramadhikari Kumar of Jawaharlal Nehru University observed that after Soviet Union's disintegration, there was a lull in teaching and literary materials from that country to India for more than a decade. This period of inactiveness, however, gave Indian scholars a chance to write books on Russian language, grammar and literature, he said, adding that this lexicon could be termed as a ''book of practical Russian grammar.'' The dictionary promises to bridge the gap between the old and new words in Russian language, methodology and syntax. This dictionary contains Russian words having Hindi pronunciations and meanings in English and Hindi. Moreover, it has a Russian planner, Russian grammer in charts and phrases that would help Indians in Russian-speaking areas.

Dr Maurya said Russia was rich in terms of oil and gas and it was in India's national interest to be with its time-tested, age-old friend. With a huge job market, such works on language could prove to be of immense help for people of both the countries, he added.

Noting that the job of a lexicographer is extremely difficult as it was very easy for him to make an inadvertent error -- grammatical, synctactic or the larger issue of localisation, he said it ''took three years of my devoted effort, where I worked single-mindedly and with commitment.'' UNI