Larisa Sadekovna Voronova

Member of Perm Regional Department of the International League for Protection of Culture Russia, Perm

The Roerich Pact in the activity of the International Center of Roerichs

It is no coincidence that Culture was the object of Nicholas Roerich's attention and care. It is Culture that helps Mankind evolve, so protection and development of Culture is the most important condition of the Mankind survival. Signing of the Roerich Pact (which was the first document on protection of cultural treasures developed by the great Russian thinker and artist Nicholas Roerich) in 1935 was greeted with enthusiasm by cultural and public figures, governments of several countries, research and cultural institutions, which was confirmed by thousands of complimentary telegrams and letters published in special editions dedicated to the Roerich Pact. Nicholas Roerich proposed a distinctive sign for identification of protected objects of the world cultural heritage – the Banner of Peace.

In modern conditions, the Banner of Peace is not considered just as the sign of the Pact, but in much wider sense. It is connected with the cosmic evolution; it brings better future. Academician of Russian Academy of Natural Sciences and Russian Academy of Cosmonautics L.V. Shaposhnikova wrote: "Definition of the Banner of Peace as the new stage of mankind, as the new evolutionary round in its development, has been connected with the whole complex of evolutionary tasks of the modern time, and, first of all, with the culture, being the basis of cosmic evolution of the man" [1]. The largest scientific and cultural projects organized by the International Centre of the Roerichs are being carried out under the Banner of Peace. A number of programmes were implemented within the worldwide public scientific-and-educational project "Banner of Peace on Earth and in Space". Thus, in 1997 the Banner of Peace was delivered to the legendary cosmic station Mir, where it was kept for one year; after that the Banner was taken to the American Space Shuttle. In 1999 the International Centre of the Roerichs launched the project "The Future World: Towards the 21st Century", when the Banner of Peace was raised by the Antarctic expedition on the South Pole, and then it was awarded to Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General of the UN.

The Banner of Peace is an integral part of the Roerich Pact; its basic essence lies in evolutionary interconnection between the past, the present, and the future in the circle of Eternity. This idea also lies in the Roerich's slogan: "Let's put the steps of future from ancient wonderful stones". This slogan was used as the name for the joint project of the International Centre of the Roerichs – the Museum by Name of Nicholas Roerich, and the International Council of the Roerich Organizations by name of S.N. Roerich, which lasted for two years and was devoted to the 100th anniversary of the Roerichs' expedition "over the ancient times". The project involved great number of cultural, scientific and educational institutions and was to protect architectural and other monuments of culture in 30 provincial cities and towns in Russia, the Ukraine, Byelorussia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.

Annual scientific and public conferences organized by International Centre of the Roerichs under the Banner of Peace are also dedicated to scientific understanding of the Culture and ways for its protection.

Modern society shows widespread unwillingness and inability to preserve cultural heritage of the past. With such a background, the International Centre of the Roerichs – Museum by Name of Nicholas Roerich located on the territory of the Lopoukhins' ancient city estate is an inspiring example indeed. During the three centuries of its history, this historic and cultural monument of the XVII-XIX centuries was many times rebuilt, changed with its owners, its appearance and purpose, and was continuously losing its historical features. Lopoukhins' estate passed to ICR in a critical condition, and it took many years of laborious and conscientious restoration to re-establish its historical look. Being a public organization, International Centre of the Roerichs carried out all restoration work without any financial help from the government. L. V. Shaposhnikova, Director-General of the Museum by name of Nicholas Roerich, was awarded National "Cultural Heritage" Award for her contribution in restoration of Lopoukhins' estate.

The International Centre of the Roerichs uses all possible ways and means to inform the public about the sphere of Nicholas Roerich's activity relating to the Pact and the Banner of Peace.

From the first years of its establishment, the ICR organizes travelling exhibitions of Nicholas Roerich's and Svetoslav Roerich's paintings from its fund; these exhibitions take place not only in Russia, but also abroad. Each of such exhibitions is accompanied by photographic documents telling the visitors about life and creative work of Nicholas Roerich, about his activity for promotion of the Pact and the Banner of Peace, which gives the spectators not only aesthetic and spiritual pleasure from watching the greatest works of art, but also informs them how many-sided was the personality of Nicholas Roerich and of all the members of the unique Roerichs family.

Publishing activities of the ICR is another important part of its work serving to propagate the idea of necessary preservation of the world cultural heritage of the mankind – the idea that is contained in the Pact and the Banner of Peace.

It is impossible to overstress the importance of creative activity of "Kультура и время" ("Culture and Time") magazine aimed to propagate the ideas of the Roerich Pact and the Banner of Peace. It is established and published by the International Centre of the Roerichs. Showing great commitment to excellence and perfection, the magazine became the model for the publishing art and rightfully won love of the readers. Its inclusion in the Media Gold Fund is thoroughly deserved.

Wide popularization of the Roerich Pact and the Banner of Peace is extremely important and necessary, because modern state of the mankind does not let us hope that understanding of the urgency of cultural heritage preservation will suddenly come by itself. Huge and intensive efforts are needed to overcome various difficulties and open counteraction of ignorant bearers of the old state of mind.

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1. Шапошникова Л.В. Пакт Рериха и эволюционное значение культуры. / Держава Рерихов: статьи и выступления. 1997 – 2006. В 2 т. Т. 1. М.: МЦР; Мастер-Банк, 2006. С. 135.

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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