Roerich Estate to be revived

ROERICH ESTATE MAY YET BE SAVED
The birth centenary of the famous Russian painter sees his controversial legacy being restored
Times of India

EVER since the death in ‘93 of Russian painter Svyatoslav Roerich, who had made Bangalore home, the passing away of his wife Devika Rani a year later, Tataguni, his residence-cum-studio and estate on Kanakapura Road, has been in the thick of controversy. Various claimants alleged the property had been willed to them, priceless paintings and jewellery went missing, legal battles ensued and Tataguni was on the verge of being lost forever. Till recently, the fate of its restoration plans were unclear. The house was leaking, the studio was derelict and litigation was still on.

Now, Tataguni’s lost glory is slowly being restored. The year-long celebrations of Roerich’s birth centenary will culminate on October 24 this year and the Department of Kannada and Culture has planned a series of events to mark the celebrations. “On October 17, the new ‘Roerich House’ at Tataguni will be inaugurated by a prominent Indian diplomat. The studiocum-residence has undergone restoration by the Public Works Department,” says registrar of the Kannada and Culture Department M Shamachar.

The foundation stones for samadhis of Roerich and his wife were laid in 2003 and steps to turn the estate into an art gallery, a museum of the couple’s art works housing carvings and painting collections and preservation of Tataguni were set in motion. The foundation of the Roerich Memorial was also laid by Russian ambassador to India, A Kadakin. “A publishing house in Russia is cataloguing the complete works of the artist, including those with private collectors. The state government sought permission from the Supreme Court to use the Roerich premises in Tataguni estate to hold an exhibition of his works there for the 2004 centenary celebrations, but the SC has granted permission hold the exhibition only at the gallery, not in Tataguni,” says a department official. About 200 of Roerich’s paintings are presently stored at Venkatappa Art Gallery under police protection.

After the JD government enacted the ‘Roerich and Devika Rani Estate Act’ for administration of their artefacts, a Roerich trust and the Roerich Estate Board were also created. The board, headed by the state chief secretary runs the estate. There is a Russian-Indian International Roerich Memorial Trust in Naggar, Kulu, Himachal Pradesh, which has recently been declared a heritage site by the Government of Himachal Pradesh. Art lover Sheila Chandy, who worked closely with the Roerichs in the early 80s feels that Tataguni should be accorded the same status and the legacy of Roerich and his works must be preserved. “Roerich’s life circled around his studio and Tataguni. His best works were created there. He loved the place and always said he was lucky to have bought it. Tataguni can be converted into a cultural centre and museum which must be open to all,” she says.

Tataguni Estate

457 acres of land 25 kilometres from Bangalore on Kanakpura Road. Once a Mecca of sorts for artloving cognoscenti and cultural theorists Once a treasure-trove of the Roerich’s priceless paintings