India, Nov. 19 -- Anagha Bhat-Behere, an assistant professor at Savitribai Phule Pune University's foreign languages department, has been awarded the Dostoevsky Star Award for outstanding achievements in Russian studies and promotion of the language.

Alexei Dmitrievich Dostoevsky, the great-grandson of the celebrated 19th-century Russian novelist, Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky, presented the award to her in New Delhi on November 12.

"The number of research works, academic books written by you and academic programmes organised by you are bright examples of your efforts in bringing Russia and India closer," reads the official communication.

Bhat-Behere described the moment as a "double whammy" as the award was presented by Dostoevsky's ...