What can be a better way to pay tribute to a man than to have a museum for him at a place where he loved to liveIJ In a fitting tribute to former Russian Ambassador Alexander M Kadakin, who died on January 26, the Russian Embassy in New Delhi is making a Memorial Museum at his residence-cum-office within the Embassy.
The museum will be inaugurated at the Embassy on the occasion of Russian Diplomatist Day on February 10. Kadakin’s diplomatic career in India spanned nearly four decades after he first came to India in 1971 as a probationer diplomat.
A study and a home office of the Ambassador will be reconstructed as it was during the last years of his life.
The work table with some of the outstanding Russian diplomat’s personal belongings and historical photos of milestones of Ambassador’s career will be displayed for guests to have a glimpse of the man whom Russian Government terms ‘Son of Russia’ and Indian Government calls a ‘Great Friend of India’.
Sources said all those small to big items that Kadakin used for his daily usage in his residence office has been carefully collected and put in the order the way he used and preferred to keep.
Things like pens, computer, lamp, small decorator boxes and other working table accessories along with photographs and his personal furniture will be kept for the visitors to see and visualize the working style of this great Russian diplomat who had made India his second home for several years.
“The photographs on display will cover his entire journey in India where he started as a young probationer diplomat and went on to become the longest serving ambassador,” said a Russian diplomat. This one room that is being prepared for Memorial will be kept open for the visitors at the Embassy but will be out of bound for general public due to security reasons.
“All those who are allowed within the premises of the Embassy on special events like the National Day or some other functions will be given access to the Memorial,” said a diplomat.
The Embassy also houses the Ambassador’s residence which will be soon occupied by Kadakin’s successor. But then, there will always remain a corner in that house where Kadakin will live forever!