Image of Russia in Textbooks for Teaching Russian as a Foreign Language to Indian Students

The aim is to examine the representation of Russian civilizational and cultural identity in educational materials designed for Indian students. The research explores the linguistic and imagological potential of Russian textbooks for foreigners. It analyzes the curricula adopted by Indian educational institutions offering courses in Russian language and culture. The study focuses on characterizing the textbooks used as primary sources for constructing Russia’s image, identifying the specific strategies employed in shaping this representation. The sources comprise six textbooks produced by Russian and Indian publishing houses, selected for their prevalence in Indian university programs. Methodologically, the study draws upon linguistic imagology, linguistic axiology, and content analysis. The findings suggest that the textbooks portray Russia as a distinctive and original culture, globally recognized for its numerous eminent figures across diverse fields, a country that upholds both traditional and modern holidays while actively engaging with the international educational community. Furthermore, the study highlights that the diverse techniques used to shape Russia’s image effectively convey knowledge about the country in line with educational objectives, gradually fostering a coherent and multifaceted perception of Russian society and reality.