New Delhi: Russia has hailed Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's recent gesture to grant Rs one crore for setting up an international school of art at Roerich art gallery in Naggar village of Kullu in Himachal Pradesh, saying it has warmed the hearts of many people in that country.

"It is with profound satisfaction and gratitude that Russia regards the constant care of the Indian side and personally of the country's Prime Minister about the safeguarding and memorialising of the unique heritage of Roerich..." a statement of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs release said.

Moved by the timing of the announcement of the grant to rebuild the Roerich Museum – which was on the eve of the Tricentenary of St Petersburg – official spokesman of the Ministry Alexander Yakovenko said, "Such attention by the Indian leader to the problems of the Museum is receiving warm response from Russians and Indians."

For them, the St Petersburg-born Roerichs are an abiding symbol of long-standing friendship and spiritual affinity of Russia and India, he added in the release.

Showering praises on Nicholai Roerich, a world famous artist from Russia who made Manali his home for two decades from 1928, Vajpayee had said, "He was the world's greatest artist. He was a confluence of art, culture and tradition."

Pointing out that all big cities of Europe had Roerich's museums, Vajpayee added, "We are fortunate that he came to India and considered it his own home."

The Prime Minister had in 2002 given Rs one crore for the upkeep of the gallery after visiting it during his summer retreat.

PTI