Oman has once again captured the spirit of historical exploration by recreating the legendary Silk Route journey of the famed 9th-century 'Jewel of Muscat,' which sailed to Singapore fourteen years ago. Inspired by this great voyage, Ratheesh C Nair embarked on a remarkable journey, retracing a 555-year-old path from Russia to India via Muscat.
An alumnus of Vinnitsa Medical University in the USSR, Ratheesh currently serves as the Honorary Consul of the Russian Federation and Director of the Russian House in Thiruvananthapuram. During a recent conversation, he shared insights about his epic expedition connecting Russia, Oman and India.
The commemorative journey was inaugurated by the Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the Russian Federation Council on Science, Education and Culture, alongside Metropolitan Ambrose. The event's logo was unveiled by Dennis Alipov, symbolising the memory of the remarkable journey undertaken by Russian merchant and traveller Afanasy Nikitin 555 years ago.
Titled 'Voyage @555', this historic expedition follows the route traversed by Nikitin, which predated Vasco da Gama's arrival by nearly three decades. Nikitin, known for his travel journal 'Voyage Beyond Three Seas', documented his experiences in Gujarat, India. Ratheesh’s journey commenced at the Teril monument, marking the starting point of Nikitin’s adventure.
Jointly organised by the Russian Embassy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Russian Nuclear Corporation Rosatom, and Sberbank Anniversary, Ratheesh’s travels have taken him along the Volga River to Astra Khan, followed by a road journey to Darband. He then crossed into Iran via Azerbaijan, visiting several locations highlighted in Nikitin's writings.
Expected to reach Gujarat via Oman on October 13, Ratheesh will participate in events across 20 locations in India, including discussions, lectures at universities, and exhibitions of paintings inspired by Nikitin’s travels, created by artist S Radhakrishnan. Local organisations have also arranged receptions throughout the journey.
Ratheesh has received numerous accolades for his extensive travels, including the Order of Friendship from the President of Russia in 2023, the Pushkin Medal in 2007 and the Medal of Cooperation in 2020 from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia. He has also been honoured with the Dostoevsky Medal (2022), the Nikolai Napalkov Medal (2023) and an award from the Government of Moscow (2024).
In addition to his diplomatic roles, Ratheesh chairs the Indian Centre of the Russian Geographical Society and the South India Business Forum. He is also an accomplished writer, having authored five books on diplomacy and international relations, in addition to contributing articles to various periodicals.
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