New Delhi: BJP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Tuesday met Pyotr Tolstoy, the great-grandson of the great Russian writer and philosopher Leo Tolstoy. He described the meeting, which took place during the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in Parliament House in New Delhi, as a special moment that reminded him of the historical intellectual ties between India and Russia.
Sharing information about the meeting on the social media platform X, Raghav Chadha wrote that he had the opportunity to meet Pyotr Tolstoy, the great-grandson of the great writer Leo Tolstoy. He said that Tolstoy’s legacy is not limited to literature; his ideas have influenced thinking about peace, non-violence, and humanity around the world.
Leo Tolstoy’s ideas influenced the world
Raghav Chadha said that Leo Tolstoy is among the greatest writers and philosophers in history. Author of famous works like *War and Peace* and *Anna Karenina*, Tolstoy was not only a literary genius but also questioned social inequality and privilege.
According to Chadha, Tolstoy witnessed the horrors of war as a soldier and subsequently became a strong advocate of peace, nonviolence, compassion, and truth.
Mahatma Gandhi and Tolstoy had an ideological connection
Raghav Chadha described Leo Tolstoy’s legacy as special for Indians, noting his ideological and spiritual connection with Mahatma Gandhi.
He explained that Tolstoy and Mahatma Gandhi began corresponding in 1909 on topics such as truth, love, and nonviolence. Tolstoy’s ideas influenced Gandhiji’s principles of nonviolence and Satyagraha. These principles later became important tools in India’s freedom struggle.
Chadha also mentioned that Mahatma Gandhi named one of his settlements in South Africa “Tolstoy Farm” in Tolstoy’s honor.
Meeting Becomes a Symbol of India-Russia Friendship
Raghav Chadha said that meeting Leo Tolstoy’s descendant, himself a distinguished parliamentarian, in the Indian Parliament after more than a century was a special experience.
He wrote that this meeting was a beautiful reminder that while there may be geographical distances between countries, great ideas are not bound by borders. Tolstoy’s intellectual connection between Russia and India is an important part of the friendship between the two countries.
Chadha has also represented India in Uzbekistan
Previously, Raghav Chadha represented the Indian Parliament at the 12th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from September 4 to 6.
During this conference, he highlighted the expansion of real-time digital payment systems in India. He stated that UPI will reach over 240 billion transactions in fiscal year 2025-26. He also mentioned the upcoming initiative to integrate QR codes with Uzbekistan’s payment system.