Russian woman in city to discover relations between her guru, Sayajirao

VADODARA: She was born and brought up in Russia but can speak chaste Marathi. Doing a study on princely states ruled by Maratha kings, Dr Irina Glushkova dishes out details about the kings and their lineages with ease. But ask her how she speaks Marathi so fluently and she replies, "It is because of the erstwhile Baroda state's ruler Sayajirao Gaekwad." Irina owes her love for Marathi language and Maratha rulers to Sayajirao.




She was taught Marathi by Narendra Kalelkar who was associated with Sayajirao Gaekwad. Irina learnt the language during her visit to Pune in the 1970s and she is on a mission to gather details about relations between Sayajirao and Kalelkar. "Kalelkar was an expert in linguistics and he used to head the department of linguistics in Deccan College in Pune. He taught me Marathi and that is probably how I started admiring the language and Maharashtra. Kalelkar maazhe guru aahet (Kalekar is my guide)," Irina told TOI.

"It was Sayajirao who sent Kalelkar to France for linguistics course. He later came to Baroda and was probably associated with the Oriental Institute before shifting to Pune. Kalelkar got expertise in linguistics during his France visit and I guess that is why he could teach me this language with ease. I don't know about relations between Sayajirao and Kalelkar and what brought the latter to Baroda state," Irina, who stays at Moscow, said and added that she is scanning libraries and meeting to dig out details.

She met Samarjitsinh Gaekwad, scion of royal Gaekwad family at Laxmi Vilas Palace on Sunday evening, and left him surprised too. "You speak Marathi even better than me," quipped Samarjitsinh. Irina requested him to help her get details of Kalelkar.

"I have been to Indore, Gwalior, Dewas and Dhar to study about Maratha rulers. I will be now going to Pune for digging out more information. I have heard and read a lot about Sayajirao and his reformist steps. And, when I read about celebrations of Sayajirao's 150th birth anniversary in TOI I was delighted at the co-incidence. I would love come to back to this city and be a part of it," said Irina who visited the city for the first time.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vadodara/Russian-woman-in-city-to-discover-relations-between-her-guru-Sayajirao/articleshow/11085469.cms