CHAPTER 2
PROMINENT ARMENIANS IN
THE HISTORY OF INDIA
Pro-British
Armenians
In their behaviour and mentality Indo-Armenians were divided. One part was living
with the Indian people, sharing with them their hardships. The others were keen
to be closer to the British adopting their culture, way of life and views.
As we have already mentioned, Gorgin Khan's elder brother, Khojah Petrus Arathoon
was loyal to the British. He was the head of the Armenian community in Calcutta
and was held in high esteem by his compatriots for his benevolence and his charities.
Khojah Petrus built the Saidabad Armenian Church in 1758 at his own expense.
He repaired and embellished the Calcutta Armenian Church in 1763. Joseph Emin
(ref. to p.46) in his book Life and Adventures calls Khojah Petrus “the earthly
God of the Calcutta Armenians.”
Khojah Petrus was famous as an able diplomat as well. Colonel Clive, who called
Khojah Petrus "Armenian Petrus", highly appreciated him and appointed him as
his confidential agent in the negotiations with Siraj-ud-Dowlah in 1757. These
negotiations resulted in overthrowing of Siraj-ud-Dowlah and appointing Mir
Jaffir as the Nawab of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
In 1760 Colonel Clive again used Khojah Petrus's diplomatic abilities as well
as his connections in the delicate proceedings, which resulted in overthrowing
of Mir Jaffir, and his son-in-law, Mir Qasim came to power.
Khojah Petrus Arathoon was also connected with the "Black Hole" incident (referred
in Chapter 4). He secretly supplied provisions to the stranded English fugitives
in their ships at Fulta after the fall of Fort William, which enabled them to
survive for six months, until the arrival of the English Army of Retribution
from Madras, under Admiral Watson and Colonel Clive, in December 1756.
For his loyalty to the
British Khojah Petrus suffered a lot. In 1763 when the British were fighting
against Mir Qasim, Major Adams, Commander of the British troops, fearing that
Gorgin Khan or other Armenian commanders might harm the British prisoners who
were in the hands of the Nawab, kept Khojah Petrus as a hostage in his camp.
Despite his valuable services to the British, Khojah Petrus was later accused
of disloyalty, intrigue, espionage and serving the Nawabs of Bengal from Suraj-ud-Dowlah
to Mir Qasim, and almost was expelled with his family from Calcutta by the English
Council.
The Calcutta Council was presented the following note on March 24, 1763:
"The evil designs of
the Nawab [Mir Qasim] against us appearing now in a glaring light, and it being
wellknown through whole country that Coja Petruse, the Armenian acts as the
Nawab's spy in this place, Mr.Batson proposed that he and his family be turned
out of Calcutta immediately and desires it may be put to the vote."
However, the President of the Calcutta Council pointed out that ordering a merchant
of long standing out of the settlement would be arbitrary and would shake all
confidence. Khojah Petrus was honourably acquitted by the Government. He was
able to clear himself but he had suffered a lot.
There was another Armenian merchant who was also connected with the "Black Hole"
incident. His name was Agha Petrus Nicholas (he was also from Saidabad) whose
piety, integrity and humanity won him the favour of Ali Verdi Khan, the Nawab
of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. At that time he had a great influence at the Court
of Murshidabad.
The Armenians of Saidabad greatly relieved the hardships of the prisoners of
the "Black Hole". Agha Petrus Nicholas bribed the Nawab's superior officials
and thus released the women prisoners. He gave hospitality to these women for
a few days and then sent them to Chinsurah, from there to Calcutta - and all
these were at his own expense. One of these women was Mrs. Frances Watts, the
wife of William Watts, Senior Member of the Supreme Council of Calcutta and
Chief at Murshidabad.
The Apcars
– a prominent Armenian family in India
For more than a century the name Apcar was prominent in commerce and industry.
Aratoon Apcar came to India in 1795 from Iran. He was not only a brilliant businessman
but also patriotic and religious person. He founded schools, donated financial
assistance to Armenian Churches in India. His firm, Apcar & Co., continued
to handle enormous business until the World War I. At that time Apcar &
Co. owned several steamships known as the Apcar Line. They were sold to the
British India Steamship Navigation Company and renamed the B.I. Line.
His son, Seth Apcar was the first Armenian Sheriff of Calcutta. He was awarded
the Order of the Lion and the Sun (Sheer-O-Khorshid) by the Shah of Iran, which
was presented to him by the Governor-General of India.
Another son – Alexander
was the Consul for Siam (Thailand) until his death in 1895.
Alexander Apcar’s son, Sir Apcar Alexander Apcar, K.C.S.I., became a prominent
businessman and landlord and was the President of the Bengal Club and the Bengal
Chamber of Commerce. He succeeded his father as the Consul for Siam and
held that office until his death in 1913.
His sister, Diana Apcar has been the first lady–ambassador of Armenia to Japan.
She was appointed in 1918 when Armenia gained independence for two years. (In
November 1920 Armenia became a Soviet Republic).
Seth Apcar’s son, Aleck Apcar, was the pioneer in opening up trade between Calcutta,
Balasore, Ghatal and Midnapore. He was also a coal merchant, a qualified civil
engineer and an architect. Being a prominent businessman and landlord, he was
invited to become a municipal councilor and offered prestige positions in important
institutions.
Arratoon Apcar's younger brother, Gregory Apcar, was noted for his charities
particularly to the Armenian Church and Armenian College. His son, J.G.Apcar
was known as "Father John". He got his education in Harrow and Cambridge. J.G.Apcar
was a member of the Bengal Assembly and a municipal commissioner.
Gregory Apcar's grandson, Walter Gregory, got his education in Eton and Cambridge.
He was the Standing Counsel of Bengal. Later he acted as Advocate-General of
Bengal, and then was Acting Puisne Judge of the Calcutta High Court.
Apcar’s distant relative was Emin Joseph Emin who was the first prominent representative
of the Armenian freedom movement of the second half of the 18th century. This
personality is interesting in the sense that how the Armenians on the hospitable
soil of India could prepare the freedom movement in Armenia.
Emin came to India from Iran in 1750. That time Armenia was divided between
Turkey and Iran, and the Armenian nation was suffering a lot under their yoke.
Seeing the sufferings of his people, Emin’s life aim became to free his compatriots
from foreign oppression.Thus all his life he dedicated to this patriotic task.
Emin underwent military training course in England, met English aristocracy
trying to rouse their sympathy for the Armenians. With the financial help of
Armenian merchants in India Emin tried to organise a joint Armenian and Georgian
force to fight for freedom of Armenia. But under some circumstances this idealistic
goal was not achieved. Bitterly disillusioned, he returned to Calcutta and joined
the British Army under Hastings. Emin Joseph wrote his Memoires where he described
all his numerous and dangerous adventures. The book is entitled as Life and
Adventures of Emin Joseph Emin, 1726-1809, written by himself, which was first
published in London in 1792. The second edition was prepared and published
in 1918 by Emin's great granddaughter who also included all the preserved letters
written by Emin in English.
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