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India Updates
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PRIME MINISTER TO BE THE CHIEF PATRON OF THE INTERNATIONAL ROERICH MUSEUM TRUST
New Delhi ~ June 26 2001
Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee has consented to become the Chief Patron of the International Roerich Museum Trust which manages the Roerich estate at Naggar Himachal Pradesh. Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh and President of the Trust
convened the 11th meeting of the Trust yesterday in New Delhi. A unanimous resolution was passed at the meeting to request the
Prime Minister to become the Chief Patron. Shri Vajpayee gave his consent when Prof. Dhumal and Shri Anant
Kumar Minister for Culture & Tourism called on him yesterday.
The Trust also thanked the Prime Minister for his announcement of a generous grant of Rs.1 crore for the restoration of the famous Roerich Art Gallery at the scenic Kullu Valley near Manali. Shri Vajpayee had visited the Art Gallery when he was vacationing at Manali in the last week of May. Describing Nicholas Roerich the great Russian explorer and painter who made Kullu Valley his home from 1927 until his death in 1947
as a Mahrishi the Prime Minister had lauded the Roerich family for bringing India and Russia closer through their precious artistic and
intellectual contribution. The initial grant of Rs.1 crore will be used for implementing the much-needed restoration work at the Roerich art
Gallery. The Trust intends to develop the gallery into a world-class museum and artists' retreat. It will also soon
establish collaborative links with the Roerich museums in Moscow and New York.
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