Visit of Deputy Prime Minister Sobyanin
Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Co-Chairman of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation, Sergei Sobyanin visited India on 14 – 16 February to prepare for the visit of Prime Minister Putin. During the visit, he called on PM and had meetings with Ministers of External Affairs, Commerce & Industry and Petroleum & Natural Gas as well as with the National Security Advisor. He also visited the India DEFEXPO 2010.

Industry and Trade Conclave
Russian Minister of Industry & Trade Viktor Krishtenko visited India on 16 – 18 February. In Delhi, he had bilateral discussions with Minister of Commerce & Industry and also participated in India DEFEXPO 2010. He visited Goa to participate in the ceremony of formal induction of MIG 29K Aircraft into the Indian Navy, where he had a bilateral meeting with Defence Minister A K Antony.

Agreements on Military-Technical Cooperation
In the military-technical sphere, the 15th Meeting of the Sub-group on Shipbuilding under the Indo-Russian Inter-Governmental Commission (IRIGC) on Military Technical Cooperation was held at Lonavala near Mumbai from 08 to 11 February under the Co-Chairmanship of Vice Admiral N.N Kumar, Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition, Integrated Headquarters (Navy) and Mr. L.V.Strugov, Chief of the Shipbuilding Department, Federal Agency of Industry of the Russian Federation. Over 50 representatives from the Department of Shipbuilding Industry, Rosoboronexport and various OEMs and Indian representatives from the Ministry of Defence, IHQ (Navy) and Mazagon Docks Limited (MDL) Mumbai and shipyards participated. Various issues pertaining to shipbuilding were discussed and resolved and a Protocol on resolving the remaining issues through mutual cooperation was signed. IRIGC Mid -Term Review meeting on Land Systems was held from 24 to 26 February at Heavy Vehicles Factory, Avadi, Chennai.

Cultural Events at the Nehru Centre
Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre (JNCC) of the Embassy participated in several cultural events during the months of February and March. On the occasion of ‘Memory Day’ of renowned painter Svytoslav Nikolaevich Roerich, the International Centre of the Roerichs, Moscow, organized a programme of Indian classical dance on 1 February. JNCC Kathak Teacher Shri Praveen Gangani and his students presented Kathak compositions during the programme.

Red Square Scene of Classical Indian Dance and Music
The State Historical Museum situated on the Red Square, Moscow organized a programme of Indian classical dance and music on 7 February at its Ceremonial Hall (Hall of the Parade). The programme featured Kathak dance by Shri Praveen Gangani, Kathak Teacher and Concert by Shri Radheshyam Sharma, Tabla Teacher. The programme was part of the on-going display of exhibition “Divines & Mortals” of National Museum, New Delhi which was inaugurated at the Museum on 7 December 2009 under the Year of India in Russia. About 100 people witnessed the programme. Shri Gangani presented another dance performance at the State Historical Museum on 14 February. On the occasion of the official closing of the exhibition, a concert by Shri Sharma was presented on 15 February at the Ceremonial Hall of the Museum, as part of which he also presented a composition with Russian musicians Maral Yakshieva on Piano and Sergey Letov on Saxaphone. Ms. T.G. Igumnova, Deputy Director of the Museum, attended the event.

Tabla Performance At The Embassy
On the occasion of an Inter-School Chess Tournament, the Embassy of India School organized a cultural programme on 18 February. Shri Sharma presented a tabla performance on the occasion. Apart from students and teachers of the Embassy of India School, representatives of School No. 1279, School No. 1941, Hindi School No. 19, School No. 1239, the French School, Marina School and the Anglo-American School were present. Shri Manish Prabhat, Director, JNCC, was the Chief Guest.

Hindi Texts Presented to Moscow School By JNCC
JNCC presented 60 sets of Hindi Text and Work Books for children of School No. 19 of Moscow. The text books covered Classes I to VIII and were accompanied with books for the teachers. On behalf of the Embassy of India, the books were presented by Shri Manish Prabhat, Director, JNCC, to Ms. Tatiana Melnik, Director of the School. Cultural programmes by children of many Russian Schools and the Embassy of India School were also presented on the occasion. Director JNCC presented certificates and prizes to Russian children who participated in a painting competition titled “India: The Golden Land” organized by School No. 19, which has 400 students studying Hindi from Classes I to XI. It had been awarded the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for its contribution to Indo-Soviet friendship in 1989.

Embassy Hosts Exhibition By Renowned Russian Painter
A painting exhibition “Way to the Teacher” by renowned Russian painter, Ms. Ludmila A. Eliseeva, was held at the DP Dhar Hall of the Embassy on February 25 to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the creative works of Ms. Eliseeva. It was inaugurated by Shri P. P. Shukla, Ambassador, jointly with Ms. Ludmila A. Eliseeva, her spouse Mr. Vyacheslav N. Guschin, Honored Artist of Russia and Mr. Yuriy Andreevich Ageshin, Executive Director of the Research Centre on Private Law of the Presidential Administration. Others who spoke on the occasion were Mr. Vladimir Vladimirovich Nadezhin, President of Charitable Association “Delfis”, Mr. Vladimir Alexeevich Tarakanov, Member of Board of Directors of Regional Department of the Union of Artists of the Russian Federation, Ms. Nina Vasilievna Morosova, Vice-President of Society for Cultural and Business Cooperation with Poland and Ms. Ludmila Leonidovna Sekacheva, Representative of the Committee on Culture of the State Duma. Kathak Group “Manjari” led by Ms. Natalia Krotova presented a dance composition ‘Holi’ on the occasion. The programme, which was attended by about 70 guests, concluded with a reception.

Cultural Competition Highlights 10th Anniversary Celebrations
The Centre for Development of Cultural Relations between Tatarstan and India, a voluntary cultural organization, celebrated its 10th anniversary by holding ‘Shringara’ Indian cultural competition of music and dances in Kazan, capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, on 27 February. JNCC extended its support by participating in the celebration, with JNCC teachers Shri Sharma and Shri Gangani being members of the jury along with Director General of the Centre, Mr. Ishtiang Gilkar. A performance by the JNCC teachers along with their students was presented in the evening. JNCC gifted Indian musical instruments and books on India to the organization.

Student Cultural Evening For The Holi Festival
JNCC organized a cultural evening in its premises on 27 February on the occasion of Holi festival. About 70 JNCC students presented their dance and music compositions prepared under the guidance of their teachers.