The Roerichs' heritage under threat of plunder

BISHKEK (TCA). The city-dweller is a rare visitor to art exhibitions. But if Kyrgyzstanis, like many years ago, were lucky enough to see paintings by Nicolas and Svyatoslav Roerichs, they would be captivated by their world of mountains and human faces, full of beauty and cosmic energy.

The artists' wonderful gift leaves nobody unmoved. Nobody, that is, except for some allegedly cultural workers, who became engaged in an indecent swindle of the Roerichs' heritage. Members of the Roerichs Tien-Shan Society in Kyrgyzstan are worried about the destiny of these valuable works of art, as this society did much to familiarize the citizens of our republic with the artists' paintings.

Svyatoslav Roerich brought from India his family's archives, consisting of 288 pictures, and bequeathed them to the Roerichs Soviet Fund in Moscow in 1990. Soon after, this fund was transformed into the Roerichs International Center. But in spite of Svyatoslav's testament, the Russian Ministry of Culture includes the artists' paintings in the register of the State Museum Fund. Practically, this means that the family's heritage has been nationalized, and the museum established by Svyatoslav will no longer exist.

This resembles Stalin's slogan: no man - no problem. Instead of bringing joy to the artists' admirers, the current illegal owners of the works of art are rumored to have sold some off. At present nearly fifty paintings are missing from the collection. It should be added that following somebody's suggestions or instructions, the Russian mass media has more than once published articles similar to those published in infamous 1937 blackening Nicolas Roerich. Thank God the slandering reporters failed to claim the world famous artist, philosopher and humanist had been on the staff of the KGB as a spy.

Fortunately, this idea went down like a lead balloon, but the process of the heritage nationalization has already continued for 14 years. It seems that the principle "Be quick and grab what you can" applies here. The fact that Svyatoslav, the owner of the paintings, personal things, a library, and relics, gave all these treasures to his father's museum, not to the state one, has been ignored. The Roerichs Center, which has been publishing the Roerichs' works for many years, holds international conferences, issues the journal 'Culture and Time', has allotted necessary rooms for the gift, and as a NGO became a member of the UN. Alas, it cannot have its legal property back. Moreover, strong efforts are being made to nationalize the Roerichs museum. This proves once more how dangerous it is to deal with state officials - in the name of the state they do what they want. Most probably they hope that the workers of the fund will get tired of the struggle and abandon their claim.

In India, where the memory of Svyatoslav Roerich is treated with love, the press is full of information about festivities for his hundredth jubilee, exhibitions are staged, and the Roerichs' heritage in Himalaya Valley is taken care of. A museum is just about to open, and commemorative postage stamps will be issued. The celebrations will continue throughout the year, and Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has been elected an honorable curator of the Roerichs International Memorial Trust in Himalaya Valley. As for the Russian officials, they do not care about anything of this kind. To defend what they have unjustly captured is their most important and "sacred" goal. All this not only bothers the Roerichs Tien-Shan Society, but also fills it with indignation.

By Olga Sevastyanova,
TCA contributor

"The Times of Central Asia", April 8, 2004