Historical Significance of the Roerich Pact

Panel Discussion at Jawaharlal Nehru University India, New-Delhi

On the 22d of October, 2010 a meeting between members of the Forum and tutors, students and postgraduate students of the State University had been taking place in the networks of the conference “The Roerich Pact and the Banner of Peace as a phenomenon of the world culture”.

In the conference-hall sitting around the table guests were greeted by Rector of the University, professor R. Kumar. He said that the Roerich family is known well in India and the Russian center for sciences and culture successfully propagandizes their cultural heritage. “The Roerich Pact rings a bell in the heads of our students but they haven’t heard much about it and this meeting would be very useful for them”, - he mentioned.

A report of professor O.A. Urozhenko was dedicated to the Roerich Pact. She noted that in Austria, Germany, Bulgaria, Mexico, Spain, Russia conferences, exhibitions, forums, dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the Pact, were being held during the year. One of the most signifying conferences had been organized in Moscow in the International Roerich Center. And today’s meeting in India carries on the line of high spirituality that was laid by N.K. Roerich.

O.A. Urozhenko mentioned that the Pact means both protections of cultural monuments and of human being, humans’ spirituality. India is one of the few countries that keep backgrounds of deep spirituality. These backgrounds nourished and continue to nourish now lots of people. India knows different ways to the Truth – the ways of jhnana-yoga, bhakti-yoga, karma-yoga and others. “Speaking about the heritage of the Roerichs, we can’t but mention E.I. Roerich who did her best for the approval of the Pact” – emphasized Olga Alekseevna. She brought her words about peculiar spiritual path – path of the Banner of Peace. “The Pact can stay only on paper if we don’t apply if to everyday life. Today the everyday culture way is the pivot that is able to transform the world” – told O.A. Urozhenko.

Special role in the adoption of the Pact in the international space and space of Russia belongs to the Center-Museum of the Roerichs in Moscow. Founded on a plan of S.N. Roerich in 1991, it stores carefully the heritage of the Roerich family, donated by the younger son. Due to heroic efforts of director, academician, laureate of the prize of J. Neru L.V. Shaposhnikova, in the conditions of world depression the International Roerich center focuses on the creative energy of culture, continuing the business of the Roerich Pact”.

O.A. Urozhenko told as well about her work in the Urals State University named after Gorky, where students study Buddhism, Indian culture and, in particular, Indian dances. She presented professor R. Kumar with a book, written in co-authorship with V.V. Demenova, named “The space of meanings of the Buddhist metal sculpture”.

Director of the Khakassian scientific research institute of language, literature and history, Grand Ph.D. of historical sciences V.N. Tuguzhekova (Abakan) and Grand PhD. of philosophical sciences A.V. Ivanov (Barnaul) offered collaboration in the field of international exchange for students to Rector of the University named after J. Neru. A.V. Ivanov donated some issues of the Institution directed by him.

Valentina Nikolaevna invited to cooperation with the Khakassian scientific research institute of language, literature and history Indian scholars, whose interests lie in the field of Scythian culture. “History of Turkic kaganates is closely connected with India. Indian scientists would be curious about this topic, I suppose” – Valentina Nikolaevna said. She mentioned that KhSRILLH relies on traditions and customs of Mongolia, China, and India in its work. And the huge stratum of the research is archeology. Mythological thinking of Khakass has much in common with that one of Hindu. Great attention is attended to astro-archeology. It is employed in studying of the Salbykian barrow and ancient natural observatory – mountain ridge Sounduki.

Rector of the university, professor R. Kumar expressed his readiness for collaboration. “Cooperation is possible with the chair of history and the school of aesthetics and art of the university. Probably, later we would open a section for studying the heritage of the Roerich family,” – he said.

In the discussion also took part professor Varyam Singkh and professor Arun Mohanty from the Center of Russian and Middle-East researches of the University named after J. Neru. Arun Mohanty, who had been exploring questions connected with the heritage of N.K. Roerich, the study of Agni Yoga, notes of E.I. Roerich for a long time, appeared in front of the university students.

He spoke on the meaning of The Banner of Peace and the Roerich Pact in nowadays conditions, about E.P. Blavatskaya, who spent a lot of years in India, told about his meeting with Jurii Nikolayevich Roerich in Moscow. Arun Mohanty’s speech perfectly supplemented earlier reports about the Roerich Pact.

In the end of the meeting members of the Forum had an opportunity to communicate in informal way with Indian scientists and students.

Review has been prepared by E.S. Kulakova

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• The Roerich Pact and the Banner of Peace as a Remarkable Phenomenon of the World Culture
Reports and Speeches at the International Social and Scientific Conference.
Delhi – Kullu – Shimla – Kalimpong October 22– November 5 2010