As global attention turns to New Delhi with President Vladimir Putin’s visit, another story of India–Russia ties is quietly unfolding far from the limelight. In western Russia, Abhay Kumar Singh, a native of Patna, has become the first politician of Indian origin to hold office in the Russian Federation.
Singh serves as a deputat, the Russian equivalent of a state legislator, in the Kursk regional assembly. Known historically as the site of World War II’s largest land battle, Kursk now carries a modern distinction: electing Singh not once, but twice, in 2017 and 2022.
A member of President Putin’s ruling United Russia party, Singh has emerged as a symbol of opportunity in Russia, showing that a foreign-born individual can rise in the political system through determination and dedication.
Singh’s journey to Russian politics began in 1991 when he moved to the Soviet Union to study medicine. The early years were harsh: temperatures often plunged to –30°C, and he faced a challenging language and a nation on the brink of collapse. He witnessed the fall of the Soviet Union, India’s economic reforms, and the chaos of rationing and shortages during the 1990s, experiences that shaped his resilience.
