Kalimpong, Oct. 19: A collection of paintings by Russian painter Nicholas Roerich and his son Svetoslav are on display at the bungalow in which Nicholas?s wife had stayed after his death.

The exhibition, organised by the cultural department of the consulate-general of the Russian Federation in Calcutta, is part of a series of programmes being held to celebrate the2004 as the year of the Roerichs.

The vice-consul of the Calcutta consulate-general, Yuri N. Zozulya, was present at Kalimpong today.

?The entire Roerich family has helped to consolidate Indo-Russian relations. In many ways, the Roerichs remain the bridge that connects Russia and India on the cultural front. Today?s exhibition is an effort to strengthen that friendship. Apart from this, the exhibition is also part of the celebrations of this year being dedicated to the Roerichs by their admirers.? he said.

Echoing his words, the consulate?s cultural department executive Ekaterina Zozulya said: ?Through the exhibition we wanted to show that the work of both father and son was greatly influenced by this country where they spent a large part of their lives.?

Nicholas Roerich, born in Russia in 1874, is said to have started his famous Roerich Expedition to Central Asia from India. His son Svetoslav, born in 1904, followed his father?s footsteps to India, later marrying actress Devika Rani.

Today?s exhibition, however, showcased only printed versions of 140 paintings done by the father-son duo.

The copies were brought from Calcutta after the consulate?s cultural department managed to get permission to use the premises of the bungalow for a day.

?The printed copies of the works were carefully selected and brought here for the exhibition,? said Zozulya.