(Transcript)

My dear Russian friends, you know very well that I love Russia and always have ever since I was a small girl. So it is a privilege to talk to you today after such a long time. Svetoslav and I have been married for several years and we got married here in India because he loved India and we both loved being here. Of course I had many occasions to visit your country, your beautiful country, rich in every way, in art, beauty, music and everything. And it’s beautiful. You can not imagine how much it means to me <?????> to me to talk to you today <?????????????????> I am completely alone. The loss of Svetoslav to me has been tremendous. I never had such a wonderful companion and friend. We both worked together, talked together and saw the world together. <?????????> except China and Japan I think I visited most <??????> of the world. <???????> but I always came back to Russia because I love it so well, especially to Leningrad, which was his home where he was born.

He was such a good-looking baby and such a wonderful-looking man, kind, considerate in every way, and we enjoyed life together. We visited museums and <???> so many <???> all over your country, your beautiful country. We remember so well your museums, Tretyakov Gallery in particular when it has been rebuilt and Svetoslav's (?) exhibition has been shown. It was a <???> wonderful <???> exhibition <???> Svetoslav’s, <????> paintings, small and big. And it was crowded, it was just packed full. <???> And we enjoyed the cold, the winter. We... we are not unused to the cold, because, you see, our home in <????>, Kullu, was particularly beautiful. And I often thought, how happy all of you would have been to be in Kullu. Kullu was the home of his people, his mother and father and no one of us lived there. And the most beautiful scenery <???> Himalayas... snow on the mountains and flowers... the spring. <?????> became our home, my home. I was treated there as a daughter <????> Madam Roerich, Professor Roerich, George Roerich, his brother. And of course Svetoslav too was apart of being my husband was a really good friend.

He would love to see the Himalayas. He had daffodils to daffodils, crocuses, violets. All kinds of flowers by excess fill the valley Kullu. Of the most beautiful thing fruit in abundance: pears and apples, cherries, he had the most marvelous cherries. <????????????> And we loved them. There was nothing that was wanted. But the best of all, really, was my home coming. When I reached Kullu I went on <????>. And then there was a <?????????> waiting for me. We saw all of pujarees of the different temples playing wonderful music of those <???>. And then I was put on a horse. And then we went right up slowly to what was known and is known as a temple, wonderful temple for the gods. The old, old temple it’s existed thousand of years ago. There is a small little temple there, where we all used to pay our respects to the gods. And they put a rupee or two rupees there for the pujarees, the priests of the temple. And we’d walk up to the beautiful scenery which faced the Keypan Paws (?) Mountains. Keypan (?) is a fascinating mountain full of snow. <???????> And there was nothing that we <???> wanted to see <????> this wonderful mountain, full of snow. All the mountains were full of <???> the range.

You can not imagine, my friends, what it meant to me when up to his house, to the Roerichs’ house. Professor Roerich, Madam Roerich, George. <????> George was a brother and he was a Sanskrit scholar. He wrote a dictionary in Tibetan, Mongolian, English and some other languages which is published in one volume. There we went, right on top of the hill facing <????> range. There Madam Roerich and Professor Roerich welcomed me. And the small girls (?) ran and hide and then <???> . But they welcomed me as a daughter of the house. They were very lovely, these people. <???> not treated otherwise. Svetoslav arranged our room downstairs. He got all the furniture from the hall, beautiful furniture, made there. And it was carried over there to what was known as my room. I can’t tell you the peace and beauty I felt there. From my window I could see the beautiful range, other mountains, especially the Keypan Paws (?). Of course I never went to Keypan Paws (?), because it was too far away. But still it was part of my whole life there. There was nothing right there <???> of the world, nothing so magnificent, and the people there are so magnificent. They have their own music, and they have their trumpets, and they have their local dances, which are fascinatingly beautiful. And everyway have, you know, as Kullu, three hundred and sixty five temples, and all these temples participating in my welcome home. Up we went, right up, to the house of the Roerichs. And where I was welcomed as part of the family. Every bit of that home belongs to me, <????> belong to me, I think, from my childhood <???>.

In the morning <?????>, all looking the mountains. The windows will be opened, large windows <???>, large windows. <?????> It was so beautiful, and the only thing <????> I tell you much about, the mountains. But I want to tell you, that India is so beautiful and so rich in its forestry (?) , and the people are so nice, so gay and lovely (?), from the north to the south. And I see the Volga as the great river of Russia. And I look at the Ganges, Ganga. I hope one day or always (?), that these two great rivers go (?) like brothers right to the end of time facing life as it was and is, and nothing can break the continuity of friendship between our countries, Russia and India. And whether we live in the south or the north makes little difference.

Here I am talking to you in the south, Bangalore, and the people are lovely, kind, intelligent, beautiful. We have also here <????> kinds of <???> and we have met so many Russians here. The Russians that we met were nice. But we were treated very badly towards the end of our stay when Svetoslav died. They thought that we have no place in their country. And we belonged only to Russia. Even when he died the behavior of these people was so bad. It was impossible to describe or even think.

[15:55/26:45 Mary Joyce Punacha’s voice]: Who, the name you must say.

[15:58/26:45 Devika Rani Roerich]: Huh?

[15:59/26:45 Mary Joyce Punacha’s voice]: The names, a... [snip in the record]

[16:01/26:45 Devika Rani Roerich]: And, … friends, Kadakin, Shaposhnikova and...

[16:12/26:45 Mary Joyce Punacha’s voice]: Starostin (?? – very unclear).

[16:12/26:45 Devika Rani Roerich]: ...few others. They demanded all sorts of things from us. Even when Svetoslav was dead, thinking that was their right to possess all that he had. That was the most unkind, ambitious and <??????>. I just has lost my husband. I stood there down <???>, looking at them, wondering how they could be so cruel. <????????????> in my husband’s. He was just... dead. And they wanted to from him different things, little things that belonged to him, about which I knew little. Kadakin threatened my secretary Miss Mary Joyce Punacha that he would burn her if she refuse to hand over the body to Svetoslav... of Svetoslav’s.

[17:46/26:45 Mary Joyce Punacha’s voice]: And bring your coffin back. [snip in the record]

[17:48/26:45 Devika Rani Roerich]: ...with... [snip in the record]

[17:49/26:45 Mary Joyce Punacha’s voice]: Your coffin, your coffin. If you go to the... [snip in the record]

[17:56/26:45 Devika Rani Roerich]: ...that his coffin would go to Russia <????> would bring my coffin back to India, where I would be dead and come back dead to my own country. All sorts of cruel <???> things, which could <???> how do you manage that people who had a position in their country... [phone rings] ...could behave like that thinking that they would bring my coffin back and they leave his in Russia. He was not dead. How he died I don’t know. But that was their idea that they would send my coffin back to India and his coffin should be in Russia. The horror of civilization can not be imagined and <???> believed, they <???> not believed... at all... that civilized people could think of those who helps (?). Of course, I will always be Indian, he will be Russian, dead, going to be received by them and service would be in his name, because he is an Orthodox Russian belonging to the Orthodox Church... [snip in the record]

[20:29/26:45 Devika Rani Roerich]: ...organized the funeral so beautifully in my estate. And all the villagers welcomed him, <???> received by him. We have now got his grave in the estate.

[21:03/26:45 Mary Joyce Punacha’s voice]: All of you are welcome to visit his... Samadhi.

[21:07/26:45 Devika Rani Roerich]: And everybody comes to visit him from far <???>, visit his Samadhi. He can not be dead really, because his spirit is there. His spirit is all over India, he loved India, he can not leave India. That’s why I wish, my dear friends, to tell you that I love Russia also, without the cruelty of these people who surrounded us when my husband died. They wanted his body to be taken.

[22:00/26:45 Mary Joyce Punacha’s voice]: Without... [snip in the record]

[22:03/26:45 Devika Rani Roerich]: ...Russia, but the way it was taken is so cruel. And thank God, it was not so. His body remained in India, proud and beautiful. He came from a very old family, and the Russians love him, all Russians love him. We never thought that we’d be separated until death came. I am alone now, far from Svetoslav, or maybe his spirit is here. We believe that. And we hope with Mary to build several temples, several academies of art and culture all over India in his name, also in the West, in Paris, London, New York, where they have the Roerich Museum. And several of the paintings are exhibited. It is impossible to think of the Roerich Museum without the art of the Roerich’s being there.

So, my friends, I wish you good luck. And I’m happy to tell you that my feelings to Russia are just as good and fresh as ever were. And my wish is that <?????> the Ganges and the Volga run together through eternity, ever fresh, ever beautiful. These are my greetings to you, my dear friends. God bless you all, bless you always, bless you and your country. <???> I hope that He will bless you again. And let us hope these two rivers will flow to inter... eternity for ever and ever. That’s all I got to say to you, and I hope that we shall be all together more and more each year.

Mary, my secretary, she is my companion now; she will see to it, she looks after me with so much love and care. And we both wish you all love, friendship, understanding, and friendship that Lord (?) only knows. Bless you always, bless our rivers, bless our lands. Nothing unhappy should happen, only good. <???> Jesus Christ <????????>.

<???> — undecipherable word or words

(?) — unclear, guessed word

Девика Рани Рерих говорит после смерти С. Н. Рериха

(Расшифровка записи. Из-за множества пропусков перевод даётся приблизительный)

Он любил видеть Гималаи. Там у него были нарциссы, крокусы, фиалки. Все виды цветов в огромном количестве наполняли долину Кулу. Самым прекрасным было изобилие фруктов — груш и яблок, вишен, там у него были самые замечательные вишни. Мы любили их. Там не было ничего, чего бы нам не хватало. Когда я прибыла в Кулу, нас там уже встречали. Жрецы разных храмов играли замечательную музыку. Там меня посадили на лошадь, и мы стали медленно подниматься к тому месту, которое было известно как храм, удивительный храм богов. Этот древний, древний храм существовал тысячи лет назад. Сейчас там небольшой храм, где все мы обычно выражали своё почтение богам. Пуджари, жрецам храма, поднесли рупию или две. И мы поднялись вверх, чтобы увидеть замечательную панораму отрогов Кейпан. Это замечательные горы, где много снега. И нам ничего не хотелось больше видеть, кроме этой снежной горы.

Вы и представить себе не можете, друзья мои, что это значило для меня, когда я поднялась в его дом, в дом Рериха. Там были профессор Рерих, госпожа Рерих и Юрий. Юрий, брат Святослава, был специалистом по санскриту. Он составил словарь тибетского, монгольского, английского и других языков, вышедший в одном томе. Мы поднялись прямо на вершину холма, откуда открывался вид на горную цепь. Там меня приветствовали госпожа Рерих и профессор Рерих, они приняли меня как дочь. Они были очень красивые, эти люди. Святослав устроил нам комнату внизу. Всю мебель он принёс из зала, красивую мебель, местной работы. Её перенесли в ту комнату, которая считалась моей. Не могу передать, какой мир переживала я там, как было прекрасно. Из моего окна была видна красивая горная цепь, другие горы, особенно Кейпан. Конечно, я никогда не ходила на Кейпан, потому что это было слишком далеко. Но всё же эти горы были частью моей жизни там. Нет в мире ничего более великолепного, да и люди там такие прекрасные. У них своя собственная музыка, у них свои трубы, и у них есть свои танцы, очаровательно красивые. Там, во всём Кулу, как вы знаете, 365 храмов, и все эти храмы принимали участие, приветствуя меня. Мы поднимались всё вверх и вверх, к дому Рерихов, где я была принята в семью. Мне кажется, что каждая частичка этого дома — моя с самого детства.

Утром все мы смотрели на горы. Окна были открыты, большие окна. Это было так прекрасно, и единственное, о чём я могу рассказывать много — это горы. Но я хочу вам сказать, что Индия столь прекрасна, там такая богатая растительность, такие хорошие люди, весёлые и красивые — от севера до самого юга. Я смотрю на Волгу, великую реку России, и на Ганг, и надеюсь, что когда-нибудь они станут как братья, и будут вместе течь по до конца времён, встречая жизнь такой, как она есть, и ничто не сможет прервать дружбу между нашими странами, Россией и Индией. И живём ли мы на юге или на севере, в этом нет большой разницы.

Сейчас я выступаю перед вами на юге, в Бангалоре, и люди здесь красивые, умные, добрые. Здесь мы встречаем много и русских. Русские, которых мы встречаем здесь, замечательные. Но к концу нашего пребывания здесь, когда Святослав умер, с нами очень плохо обращались. Они думали, что нам нет места в их стране. А мы принадлежали только России. Даже когда он умер, поведение этих людей было таким плохим. Это невозможно описать или даже подумать об этом.

Похороны были прекрасно организованы в моём поместье, пришли все жители деревни, и теперь его могила там.

Пусть все издалека приезжают посетить место его самадхи. Ведь на самом деле он не умер, там его дух. Его дух повсюду в Индии, он любил Индию, он не может покинуть её. Вот почему, мои дорогие друзья, я хочу сказать, что я люблю и Россию, несмотря на жестокость этих людей, окружавших меня, когда умирал мой муж. Они хотели забрать его тело. И очень по-жестокому.

И я благодарю Бога, что этого не случилось. Его тело осталось в Индии, гордой и прекрасной. Он вышел из очень древнего рода, и русские любили его, все русские его любили. А теперь я одна, далеко от Святослава, а может быть, его дух здесь. Мы верим в это. И мы с Мэри надеемся в честь его построить несколько храмов, несколько академий искусств и культуры по всей Индии, а также на западе, в Париже, Лондоне, Нью-Йорке, где у них музей Рериха и выставлены некоторые картины. Немыслимо, чтобы был музей Рериха без его картин.

Так что, друзья мои, я желаю вам счастья. Я счастлива сказать вам, что мои чувства к России столь же хороши и свежи, как были всегда. И моя мечта в том, чтобы Ганг и Волга вместе текли через вечность, вечно свежие, вечно прекрасные. Таков мой привет вам, дорогие друзья. Да благословит вас Бог, хранит вас всегда, вас и вашу страну. Надеюсь, он благословит вас снова. Давайте надеяться, что эти реки будут течь вечно. Вот и всё, что я хотела вам сказать, и я надеюсь, что мы снова и снова будем встречаться каждый год.

Мэри, моя секретарша, теперь мой товарищ, она присматривает за мной с любовью и заботой. Мы обе желаем всем вам любви, дружбы, понимания, такой дружбы, о какой знает только Господь. Да будет с вами всегда его благословение, да благословит он ваши реки, вашу землю. Никаких несчастий не должно быть, только хорошее. Да хранит вас Иисус Христос.

Фонограмма речи Девики Р.Рерих с видеокассеты. Здесь вы ее можете прослушать.

audio/Devika_video.ram