THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Forest Minister Binoy Viswam inaugurated the 110th anniversary celebrations of the establishment of the first Russian diplomatic office in India. The event was organised by the Honorary Russian Consulate and Russian Cultural Centre here on Thursday.
The first Russian Consulate in India was opened in Mumbai in November 1900. It was historically significant that Russia had opened a Consulate in Mumbai 47 years before India’s Independence, Viswam said. Russia had wanted to open a diplomatic office in India since 1860, but the British administration was against it. Russia had also wanted to strengthen commercial, cultural and literary ties with India, Viswam said.
Mumbai at the time was also a comfortable stopover for Haj pilgrims from the Asian republics under Russian rule, he recalled. The Russian Consulate which opened in Mumbai in November 1900 was moved to Kolkata in 1910. Later, on April 12, 1947, Russia opened its Embassy in New Delhi signalling a new era in strategic partnership between the two nations, Viswam said. Honorary Russian Consul Ratheesh C Nair presided over the function.