Thread by @hchaturv

Born in Russia his home had Sanskrit Name ..most probably 'Uruswati' ...and a painting of Majestic Kanchenjunga peak of Himalayas.. that painting defined his life..1/n

Gets the title of 'Artist' becomes an important figure of Art Academy in Russia ...1903-1905 travelled in Russia studying neglected conditions of Ancient monuments and Arts ..started actively campaigning, writting articles ..creating cultural revolution for protection of CULTURE

He submitted reports and creates public movement against distortion destruction and unskilled restoration of historical sites and Arts.. creating cultural revival revolution in Russia around 1905-1915, important time in Russian history 3/n

Moves to Europe ...among many famous artists, scientists, literary figures ..meets Rabindranath Tagore and Romain Rolland, Nobel prize for literature in 1915, and author of biography on Sri Ramakrishna,
Introducing him to Vedanta and Indian spirituality ..4/n

Moves to US .. struggles out.. displaying his paintings publicly in churches and community centres...taking Arts to the common people ..next he works on creating institution on integrating different arts and bringing different artists under one roof ..5/n

Greatest Artists: Musicians, painters, sculptors, Dramatists of the times would join him displaying their works and performing for common public through his academies.. creates public movement..taking Arts to common public ..thus protecting cultural traditions through arts

Artistically he became known as his generation's most talented painter of Russia's ancient past and important aspect of preserving archaeology..he also succeeds in getting famous as stage designer ... creating public institutions of Arts.. Gallery and academies

With writings of Sw. Vivekananda and words of Sri Ramakrishna growing interest in Indian- Tibetan spirtual traditions ..with his wife being the major source initiates 'Agni Yoga' ..and takes his first Himalayan expedition..

Initially settled in Darjeeling in same house where 13th Dalai Lama stayed during his exile to India...from where he could first time see the Himalayan Peak ..he saw first as a kid in his home in Russia..he spent time painting Himalayas and meeting Buddhist, Tibetan monks...

He leaves for US for about 2 years ..setting up Master school of Arts with versatile curriculum..forums and organisations uniting global artists ..and American Agni yoga Society...in 1924...he is 48 yr old

Returning to India in 1925..along with his son and six friends sets on 5 yr Himalayan expedition starting from Sikkim through Punjab, Kashmir, Ladakh, Karakoram Mountains, Kashgar, Altai Mountains, Mongolia,Central Gobi and Tibet with a detour through Siberia to Moscow !!

Despite valid docs.. he and group were detained for 5 months in sub zero temperatures..five in the group died..finally 51 yr old treks south from Tibet to Himachal and then begins the story of his life !

1927...about 53 yr old .. Russian in British ruled India...in a place called Naggar, Himachal ..sets : Uruswati Institute : focussing on studying complete Himalayan Culture integrating science Arts and spirituality ... under one roof managed by the family of four with two sons

Creating World's only research institute focussing on Himalayas...
World's highest altitude research lab
Cancer Research institute in 1928
Repository of Himalayan languages, arts, mystic traditions, architecture
Research on medicinal plants and minerals of Himalayas

In next 10 years : the Uruswati Institute would colloborate with 300 universities across the world including Harvard which published several hundred journal articles of his research.. corresponding with best of Artists Scientists and Thinkers across

From Rabindranath Tagore and JC Bose both of whom had close personal relationship with him ..Nobel laureate Einstein, CV Raman, De broglie, Milikan
Collaborating with national and international research labs Harvard, Yale, Pasteur Research institute (Paris) ..

In 10 yrs time the institute was globally recognised..
Colloborating on emerging research
Publishing papers
Creating repositories
Studying: Archaeology, Geology, lang, earthquake prediction, cancer Research, medicinal plants, scientific efficacy of traditional knowledge

60 yr old in 1930's..goes on second trans Himalayan expedition from Kashmir Karakoram, Mongolia, Tibet back to India collecting samples, studying language, noting traditional knowledge, arts and mystic practices,flora fauna, documenting and preserving the region through paintings

Some research projects were funded by US govt. interested in samples of vegetation that survives in cold arid Himalayan conditions ..
He recorded the regions and culture through paintings,
Collected medical herbs and minerals ..bringing all back to Himachal based research labs

The institute had collected 7000 manuscripts across Himalayas.. samples of rare minerals,herbs, treatise on Kaalachakra and mystic Buddhist practices, 11 Vol Sanskrit-Tibetan-Russian dictionary..
Several hundred journal articles..
1000's paintings
Chemical and Bio labs

Writing up a charter of Peace adopted by United Nations during world war..
UN pact on preservation of arts science institute and historical monuments written by him signed by 28 countries and is named after him
Some distant planet is named after him..

19,000 paintings of him are housed at world's best galleries and museums across US, Europe, Russia, India ..
In 2013, his one painting sold for £7,881,250..making it most valuable painting sold at Russian arts auction..

All of it .. creating institution and harmony across globe..establishing research labs and philosophy, research article to paintings, corresponding with Greatest minds..cancer research to linguistics.. traditional knowledge repository to inventing instruments..herbs to minerals

All done by One family.. in an adopted Nation..in deep Himalayas..
Every painting had Himalayas which for him was symbol of heighest of spirituality and life..
Passed away in 1947..
Him : Nicholas Roerich
Wife: Helena
Son : George
Son : Svetoslav

And this painting of Sri Ramakrishna in Himalayas.. with deep symbolism ..was named
"Bhagavan" by him ..
My fav. and DP.

Naggar..Roerich Estate

Collaborators of Uruswati Institute 1930...Naggar, Himachal..#Roerich