The Russian Embassy celebrated its national day on Monday, June 12, by launching an illustrated album dedicated to the 70th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and India. The Charge d’Affaires of Russia in India, Mr Anatoly Kargapolov and the Chief Guest, Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr M J Akbar, released this commemorative coffee table book while recounting shared memories. And in keeping with the festive spirit of the day and contemporary tastes, the Embassy had got in an all-girl jazz band, Real Jam, to perform classic numbers, including two Hindi hits from the 80s, Goron ki na Kaalon Ki and Jimmy Jimmy. Around 800 guests from the Indian bureaucracy, diplomatic circles, experts from think-tanks, artists, scientists and culture aficionados attended the do and interacted in the well-lit gardens. While everybody missed the ever hospitable ambassador and Indophile, the late Alexander Kadakin, his warmth radiated through the evening.
Photos by Pankaj Kumar