The teacher is not Indian but a Belarusian.

For many in this tiny country which was known as Silicon Valley of the erstwhile Soviet Union, India has always been a mystery. They avidly watched Hindi movies that were received, dubbed in Russian, from Moscow. None, however, dreamt of visiting India.

The meagre incomes just didn't permit the luxury of foreign travel. Things, however, changed after Belarus became independent in 1992. More of India can be seen- thanks to the exhibitions of Indian goods - sarees, shawls, handicrafts and apparel that are being held regularly.

An ISCON temple too has opened and aroused interest among many in the is former communist culture. New avenues have opened up.

Tiny advertisements in the city's buses featuring the Taj Mahal are enough to drive hoards of Belarusian girls to the exhibitions that he has been organising for the past few years says Navin Kohli. Settled in Minsk for over a decade, Navin has married a Belarusian girl. Business is good, he says as he directs his sales staff to look after the customers in the exhibition that has Indian consumer goods for sale.