Kalimpong, March 31: The Russian connection continues to foster cultural bonds in Kalimpong.

Memories of Helena Roerich and her relationship with Kalimpong still draws personalities like the Russian ambassador, Alexander M. Kadakin, who had come here to pay homage at her stupa in Durpin.

Helena, best known for her espousal of Agni Yoga teachings, had come to Kalimpong with her elder son George in 1947 after her equally famous husband, Russian painter Nicholas Roerich, passed away in Kullu. Helena had spent her last eight years in Crookety, a bungalow in Chandraloke.

After offering a bouquet of flowers at the memorial stupa, Kadakin said: “The 125th birth anniversary of Helena Roerich is in February this year. We have come here to pay our respects to Helena who spent her last days here. The stupa and the bungalow she stayed in should be promoted as heritage sights. They should be maintained well and people should know about them. At present, there is no mention of the stupa in the tourist guide books, where it should be included.”

Referring to the Roerich family as a bridge that connects Russia and India on the cultural front, Kadakin said the year has been declared the International Year of Roerich by her fans all over the world. Besides being the 125th birth anniversary of Helena, this year is also the 130th and 100th birth anniversaries of Nicholas Roerich and her younger son Svetsolav Roerich.

“Apart from celebrating the Roerich year in India, we will also bring out a postage stamp and a special coin in the family’s name in Russia,” said Kadakin. Not only is Crookety being converted into a museum dedicated to the family, but work for preservation of Roerich family sites in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka is also on.