The first month following the inauguration of the ‘Year of India in Russia’ on 31 March 2009 witnessed a string of events in Moscow and other Russian cities related to the ‘Year of India’.
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Wing Commander (Ret) Rakesh Sharma visits Moscow
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Wing Commander (Retd) Rakesh Sharma visited Moscow during 7-11 April to attend the functions commemorating the 25th anniversary of the joint Indo-Soviet expedition to space. He was the first Indian cosmonaut to venture into space aboard the Soyuz spacecraft from 3-11 April, 1984. The Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre (JNCC) of the Embassy along with the Hindustani Samaj of Moscow organized a function in his honour on 8 April at the D P Dhar Hall in the Embassy premises. In his address, Wing Commander (Retd) Rakesh Sharma thanked all those who were involved in the success of his space mission, including his co-pilots Commander Yury Malyshev and Flight Engineer Gennadi Strekalov, whose widows, Mrs. Nadezhda Malysheva and Mrs. Lidia Strekalova respectively, were present on the occasion. Mr. A.N. Berezovoi, a member of the ground support team of the expedition, also attended. The programme concluded with a reception attended by about 120 guests. The event formed part of celebrations of the ‘Year of India in Russia’. Click here to view the Gallery
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Yogacharya Shri B.K.S. Iyengar conducts classes
Yogacharya Shri B.K.S. Iyengar’s visit to Moscow from 20-27 April 2009 marked an important event on Yoga under the ‘Year of India in Russia’. Ambassador Prabhat P. Shukla hosted a reception at his residence in Shri Iyengar’s honour which was attended by about 200 guests, including Yoga enthusiasts from the fields of politics, art and culture and media. Mrs. Naina Yeltsina, widow of late President Mr. Boris Yeltsin, singer Valeria and TV anchor Ksenia Sobchak were among those who attended. During his visit, Shri Iyengar and his students conducted Yoga classes at the All Russia Exhibition Centre (formerly VDNkh). His visit to Moscow was coordinated by the Yoga Journal, Moscow. Click here to view the Gallery |
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Secretary Culture attends SCO meeting
On the Cultural front but unrelated to the ‘Year of India in Russia’, Mr. Jawhar Sircar, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, visited Russia to attend the 6th meeting of the Ministers of Culture of SCO member-States held from 26-28 April, 2009 in Kazan. |
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National Book Trust Team in Moscow
A 3-member delegation led by Shri Amar Mudi, Joint Director (Administration & Finance) from the National Book Trust of India visited Moscow from 26-29 April, 2009 for discussions with the Russian Federal Agency for Press and Mass Communication and the Moscow International Book Fair (MIBF) authorities on India’s participation in the MIBF from 2-9 September as ‘Guest of Honour’ country under the ‘Year of India in Russia’. |
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Ram Navami celebrations in Moscow held
The Russia-India Friendship Association gathered to mark Ram Navami on 29 April at the Bakhurshin Theatre in Moscow. Padma Shri Mr. Gennady Mikhailovich Pechnikov, who played the role of Rama and has presented Ramlila in Moscow for over 40 years, talked about his various visits to India and the International Ramayana Festival held in Khajuraho in 2000. Episodes from the Russian Ramayana Theatre were screened. The Padma Awards ceremony of 2008 in which Mr. Pechnikov was presented the Padma Shri by President of India was also shown. Ms. Padma Puttu, JNCC Kuchipudi dancer, presented a composition depicting an episode from Ramayana. About 50 guests attended the event, which was a component of the ‘Year of India’.
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Kathak Dance at Book presentation ceremony
On the occasion of presentation of Gerasim Lebedev’s early-19th century book “Impartial Contemplation of Eastern India’s Brahmanical System, Sacred Rituals and Folk Customs” at Yaroslavl, JNCC artists led by Shri Praveen Gangani presented a Kathak Dance programme at Yaroslavl on 16 April as part of the ‘Year of India in Russia’. A festival of Indian Culture “Rangoli 2009” was organized by the Tver State Medical Academy on 18 April as part of the ‘Year’. JNCC artists led by Shri Radheshyam Sharma, Tabla Teacher and Shri Praveen Gangani, Kathak Teacher presented their programmes. |
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Director Film Festivals visits Moscow
Shri V.B. Pyarelal, JS (Films), Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and Shri Shankar Mohan, Director, Directorate of Film Festivals visited Moscow from 12-15 April to hold discussions with Russian officials regarding the proposed Indian film weeks to be organised in various cities of Russia under the ‘Year of India’ as well as India’s participation in the Moscow International Film Festival and the St. Petersburg Film Festival in June, 2009. The delegation called on Russian Deputy Minister of Culture, Alexander Golutva. |
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Bilateral Economic Relations update
A significant development in the sphere of bilateral Economic relations during the month of April was the resumption of export of Indian Plant Products to Russia. Temporary restrictions on import of plants/plant products from India to Russia were withdrawn on 27 April following the signing of a MOU in New Delhi between the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of India and the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance of the Russian Federation. Temporary restrictions on import of plant products from India had been imposed by Russian authorities on January 22, 2008 and were partially lifted on February 12, 2008. |
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PM Dr. Manmohan Singh visits London for G-20 Financial Summit
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh visited London to attend the G-20 Financial Summit from 1 to 3 April, he was accompanied by a senior delegation which included Deputy-Chairman, Planning Commission, Mr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, who is the Sherpa for the G-20 process from India.
In London, the Summit programme started with the reception by Her majesty the Queen on the first, which is followed by a dinner by the Prime Minister of the UK for the visiting G-20 leaders. The Prime Minister attended the intense programme which started with the Leaders’ Breakfast Meeting followed by Summit Plenaries in the morning, Leaders’ Lunch; and then another Plenary in the afternoon. Prime Minister will also had bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Brown of the UK on the first, and a separate bilateral meeting with President Obama of the US on the second of April. The G-20 came into existence in 1999 following the Asian Financial Crisis. |
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Work plan on Agricultural cooperation concluded
In pursuance of the Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in the field of Agricultural Research and Education signed on 19 November 2007 in New Delhi between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences (RAAS), the two sides have concluded a Work Plan for the year 2009-2010 in the areas of bio-fertilizers/organic farming, reclamation of saline soil, cultivars, animal health, R&D projects in exchange of germplasms (wheat, corn and sunflower) and farm mechanization.
Bilateral cooperation envisaged includes exchange visits of scientists, exchange of information and materials, and joint research projects in mutually identified areas. The Work Plan was signed by Dr. Mangla Rai, Director General, ICAR and Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Ministry of Agriculture of the Government of India in New Delhi and Academician G.A. Romanenko, President, RAAS in Moscow by exchange of document. |
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