India has honored Russian scholar Dr. Lyudmila Khokhlova, acclaimed Indology professor and linguist, with the Padma Shri award for her contribution to the field of literature and education, and advancing Indian languages and culture.

The Moscow State University scholar has a decades-long academic career spanning historical linguistics, the origins and evolution of Sikhism, and the study of Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati, and Marwari. She has authored six books and 92 publications, while teaching generations of young India specialists.

President Droupadi Murmu presented India’s fourth highest civilian honor to Dr. Khokhlova on Tuesday in New Delhi.

Earlier in January, speaking to RT when the award was announced on India’s Republic Day, she said: “I wish for Indians to keep moving forward, continue their rapid economic development and preserve all the glorious spiritual traditions since ancient times.”

“This award means a lot to me both personally and professionally. And I will work as much as possible to make myself worthy of this award,” she added. Dr. Khokhlova is an Associate Professor in the Department of Indian Philology at the Institute of Asian and African Studies, Lomonosov Moscow State University.

Fewer than ten Russian scholars have received the Padma Shri since it was instituted in 1954.