Six Days in the Shadows of the Tsars & Revolutionaries: A Rotary Reflection

The tour — a group of elegant travellers from the Rotary Club of Trivandrum South, led by Mr. Benny Thomas of Holidayshop — landed in the capital of the Russian Federation at a time when the skies over the nation were clouded with the fear of war. Putin and Zelensky were striving in opposite directions, each shaping a divided world, while Trump seemed to be waging his own battles through tariff wars.From the pages of history, I recall my class teacher once telling us that the Russian Civil War was one of the bloodiest and most chaotic periods in Russian history — a time marked by unimaginable violence, suffering, and destruction. The war was fought between the Bolsheviks (Reds) and various opposing forces — the Whites, foreign interventionists, nationalists, and others. It is estimated that 7–12 million people perished, most of them civilians, due to combat, famine, disease, and mass executions. The conflict witnessed unspeakable atrocities on all sides — summary killings, torture, and brutal reprisals were common.The pages of history are often soaked in blood, yet filled with fascination — and it was with that image in my mind that I set foot in the city of Moscow.

Though I, like everyone else in the group, was a bit apprehensive about touring during a time of war, the skies over Moscow soon dispelled our fears. The city surprised us with its stream of private flights, beautifully laid and wide roads, impeccably maintained public facilities, and proudly preserved historical monuments. Yet beyond all these, what stood out most were the people — deeply proud of their history and grand lineage. With the warm and elegant commentary of Mrs. Eliona, the representative of Holidayshop, Moscow came alive before us — grand, graceful, and steeped in history. Her vivid narration painted a bright and beautiful picture of the city in our minds, gradually erasing any lingering thoughts of conflict. The vast expanse of Red Square, where Vladimir Lenin’s body has been on display in the Lenin Mausoleum since 1924, left us in awe. His remains are preserved through an elaborate and ongoing process of embalming and scientific maintenance — a remarkable feat of chemistry and precision, quite unlike traditional mummification. The Bunker-42 Museum added yet another dimension to our experience. Hidden deep underground, it revealed the secrets and tensions of the Cold War era, immersing us in the world of Soviet-era secrecy, resilience, and military preparedness.

While travelling on the neatly maintained and exceptionally comfortable bullet train from the grand city of Moscow to the historic city of St. Petersburg, I carried with me a picture painted long ago by literature — a vision of St. Petersburg as a bleak, oppressive, and chaotic city mirroring the psychological torment of Raskolnikov in Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky. In my imagination, its streets were narrow, crowded, and unclean — filled with noise, poverty, and despair. The stifling summer heat, as described by Dostoevsky, seemed to thicken the air with moral decay and mental anguish, deepening Raskolnikov’s inner turmoil. I envisioned a city teeming with beggars, drunkards, and desperate souls — a place where crime, corruption, and suffering thrived, reflecting the grim inequalities of society. But the moment I arrived, that image dissolved completely. The bright, grand, and elegant streets of St. Petersburg, a city envisioned and built by Peter the Great and later adorned by Catherine the Great, unfolded before us in splendour through the charming narration of our new guide, Kathy. The Winter Palace, with its 457 rooms and architectural perfection, stood as a breathtaking symbol of imperial opulence — a place where, as Kathy wittily remarked, the 54 lovers of Catherine the Great once shared her golden days. The Summer Palace, nestled in the countryside, amazed us further with its gold-gilded rooms, mahogany furniture, and marble-carved pillars — each detail reflecting the refined taste and grandeur of the rulers who once shaped this magnificent city.

As we walked through the chilly, wind-swept streets of St. Petersburg, along the shores of the Neva River, I could almost hear the echoes of gunfire from October 1917 — the shots that signalled the beginning of the Russian Revolution and the dawn of the Soviet Union. By the end of the sixth day, I realised that Fyodor Dostoevsky’s portrayal of St. Petersburg was not a reflection of the city itself, but rather of the tormented mind of Raskolnikov. In truth, St. Petersburg stands today as a jewel in the crown of the Russian Federation — radiant, refined, and full of life.

The food we were served during our journey was not merely good — it was truly outstanding. The spread included cuisines from Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Russia, offering a vivid reminder of the rich tapestry of flavours that once united the republics of the former Soviet Union, now proud independent nations beyond the borders of the Russian Federation.

What began as a journey under the shadow of apprehension transformed into an unforgettable exploration of history, resilience, and beauty. Russia revealed itself not as a land bound by fear or ideology, but as a nation of proud people, magnificent cities, and timeless stories — where every stone whispers a tale, and every turn opens a page from history’s living book.

Bijoy Pulipra