Memorandum, adopted by participants of the Eighth International Social and Scientific Forum «Culture and Peace – the Sacred Stronghold of the Mankind» November 05, 2010
In the world history, the 20th century was notable for numerous constructive and destructive actions, unknown before. As for the former, the International Treaty on Protection of Artistic and Scientific Institutions and Historical Monuments” holds the unique distinction. It was created by a great Russian painter, thinker and a public figure, Nikolay Konstantinovich Roerich. The Pact was named after him and signed by Leaders of twenty-one countries of American Continent in Washington on April 15, 1935. N.K. Roerich proposed a distinctive feature of the Pact, the symbol called “The Banner of Peace”. The three amaranth spheres symbolize Unity of the past, the present and the future in the circle of eternity, Unity of Art, Science and Basic World Religions in the circle of Culture.
Just before the World War Two the Pact was meant to introduce into the public minds the concept of culture as the supreme value of life, as the only chance of further evolution of the mankind. The Pact was unique because it provided for protection of historical monuments and culture not only during wars but also at peace time, when no cannons rumble and no bombs explode but cultural values die of ignorance. In addition, the Pact was the first to announce the need for protection of the human being, the creator and the bearer of culture, his spirit and mind.
In 1954 and 1972 international treaties on preservation of global cultural heritage were adopted on the basis of the Pact.
The Roerich Pact is becoming more topical in the modern society, going through serious crises, continuous armored conflicts, decay of cultural and historical traditions. The Pact attracts the man’s attention towards his inner spiritual world, renovating and developing on energy of culture. The Roerich Pact considers culture as the universal phenomenon leading to a new spiritual outlook, new cognitive synthesis and the cosmic thinking. Culture creates a bridge between generations and opens the doors to the Future.
Today a variety of ideas of the Roerich Pact are implemented by the International Center/Museum named after N.K. Roerich, initiated by Svyatoslav Nikolayevich Roerich in Moscow in 1990. Under the supervision of Director General Ludmila Vassilyevna Shaposhnikova, the Center/Museum organizes international conferences, exhibitions dedicated to the Pact, publishes researches and archive papers related to the Pact, updates the humane provisions of the Pact through international cooperation.
The Pact’ history connects Russia and India: the idea of protection of cultural monuments appeared in N.K. Roerich’ mind at the turn of the 20th century in Russia, his motherland. However, when the Treaty was signed in Washington, he greeted the leaders of the governments from the top of the Himalayas in India. Thus, the Roerich Pact of Culture united Russia and India in a creative action and went down in official history, but also the history of Spirit, peoples’ memories and hearts. The provisions of the Pact deeply impressed Rabindranath Tagore, the Indianan prime-minister Jawaharlal Nehru. At the turn of the third millennium, the ideas of the Roerich Pact can be heard on the India soil in cultural programs of the Museum Complex named after the Roerichs in Kullu, in cultural campaigns launched by the Italian Community “the Living Ethics” in Darjeeling and in Crookety, the estate in Kalimpong, where Е.I.Roerich spent her last years with her elder son Yuri, in memorial places, associated with S. N. Roerich’ life and creative work, in Bangalore, among scientists and cultural workers, in Indian press.
The Forum was a reminder of the global historical significance of the Roerich Pact, it revealed the need for thorough studies and popularization of N.K. Roerich’ creative heritage, being the bridge between the present and the future of Russian, Indian and global cultures.
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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
© The International Council of Roerich Organizations by name of S.N. Roerich. http://www.roerichs.com/Lng/en