New Delhi, March, 13th , ‘Nicholas Roerich, ‘Legacy & Quest’, a book on the life of Russian painter Nicholas K. Roerich, edited by Manju Kak, was released in the capital of India. The festive ceremony gathered cultural and public people of India, Russian diplomats and lovers of the Roerich’s creative work from other countries.

Chief Guest for the event is Dr. Karan Singh, President, ICCR and the guest of honor is HE Mr. Alexander M. Kadakin, Ambassador, Russian Federation. 

The book is a collection of essays with more than 130 copies of the artist’s paintings; the research works by Ludmila Shaposhnikova, the Nicholas Roerich Museum, Moscow, and Marina Bernandi, the head of the Italian organization “Living Ethics” are among the research essays in the book.

“Nicholas Roerich is forever in our hearts”, said Dr. Karan Singh, President, ICCR. “He knew the Himalayan mystery; the Himalayas which attract a lot of tourists of the world, became his home. The book is a step to preservation of the great artist’s heritage which is a treasure of Russia as well as of India”.

Mr. Alexander M. Kadakin, Ambassador, Russian Federation, who presented the edition together with its author, Manju Kak, stressed that well known author, critic and art and cultural historian, Manju Kak has made highly appreciated work by collecting in one book numerous  scientific essays of world-known scholars. “The essays make it possible to understand Roerich’s versatile personality and his cultural, artistic and spiritual heritage”, added Mr.Alexander M.Kadakin.

Nicholas Roerich created about 7,000 paintings which are in many world museums, four of them are in the National Art Gallery of the Modern Art in New Delhi, the largest art museum of India. India is Roerich’s spiritual home, it is here that he created more than a thousand of his famous Himalayan series, here he spent his last days at Kullu, Himachal.

The book presentation was followed by screening of the 35-min film, Messenger of Beauty, by the Theosophical Society of India.

The former Roerich’s mansion in Naggar, Himachal Pradesh, India, where the artist spent his last years and where he died, needs urgent repair, stressed Mr. Alexander M. Kadakin, Ambassador, RF. “The most important task for today is restoration of the Roerichs’ house; nothing has been done yet. The building needs the most urgent repair works, otherwise it might be lost”, added Mr. Alexander M. Kadakin. “We together should undertake all possible effort to preserve the monument for the future generations”.

The Ambassador also suggested that it is necessary to create a mutual effective project which will make it possible to continue the Helena Roerich Art College work there. The College has been successful during the last years thanks to Helena Adamkova, the former curator of the IMRT, nevertheless now its activity should be systematized; the College might be connected with one of the high educational institutions of Himachal Pradesh. The College might be also registered in accordance with the present law, suggested Mr. Alexander M. Kadakin.

The IMRT was founded more than 20 years ago, in July, 1992. The old mansion which remembers Javāharlāl Nehrū and Indira Gandi, who then were guests of the Roerichs and planned creating Indian – Russian association of friendship, has become now a famous spiritual and cultural pilgrimage place. The IMRT plays now an important role in the lives of the state population; it is an object of interest of the Northern India which is annually visited by about 100,000 people. Naggar is in Kullu, Western Himalayas.