CHAPTER 4
CULTURAL AND INTELLECTUAL
LIFE OF ARMENIANS IN INDIA
Contribution
of Indo-Armenians in Independence of Armenia
The Armenian merchants in India, seeing the strength of East India Company,
tried to unite in companies to be able to stand the competition with the British.
First attempts to unite were done in Madras where a considerable population
of Armenians were living. However, this union was not successful, the Armenian
merchants of Madras suffered a defeat. This defeat was not because of lack of
experience or enterprise. The British, Dutch and French merchants were backed
by their powerful countries and they could do everything against the unprotected
Armenian merchants. In this unequal competition, the lack of support from home
state made the Armenians to wake up. The once indifferent Armenian merchant
started to think about independent Armenian state.
Interaction and competition with erudite European merchants, who had political
and cultural experience, had a big impact on the Armenian merchants. They got
familiar to the ongoing European progressive ideologies, and used those during
drafting of their political views. The Armenian merchants acquired progressive
views. They became more sensitive, more responsible. The Armenian merchant became
a patriot while in Armenia patriotism was suppressed in narrow ideas connected
with the church and religious rituals.
In the second half of the 18th century Madras was one of the centres of the
Armenian freedom movement. There was a group of Armenian patriots headed by
Shahamir Shahamiryan. This group was under the influence of enlightened English
philosophical ideas and conducted an active propaganda in favour of the freedom
of Armenia, as well as the establishment of an independent Armenian state.
Armenian merchants in South India, though primarily concerned with commerce,
were real patriots. It is noteworthy to mention that two Armenian millionaire-merchants
offered their millions to Catherine II of Russia to liberate the Armenians from
Persia and assume suzerainty over them. But their dream did not materialise.
Although being very far from their homeland – Armenia, the Indo-Armenian progressive
thinkers were following the developments in the world with great attention.
They were closely observing the freedom movement of the Greek people and were
calling for uprising of Armenians in Armenia following the example of the Greeks.
In 1806 a register-book Events or Activities was published in Madras where the
outcomes of all the meetings of the Madras Armenian Committee were registered.
From this register it could be understood that this colony led a very active
public life. They discussed on their meetings urgent issues, including the issue
of freedom of Armenia. Majority agreed that Russia was the only force, which
would free Armenia. Even one of the members of the community called for writing
a letter of gratitude to the Russian Government for its humane attitude towards
the Armenian nation.
The patriots of Madras have also discussed the issue of separation of the state
from the church. They propounded the idea that Armenia must not be an authoritarian
state but a constitutional republic.
The Armenians of Madras also sent special petitions to Alexander I, Tzar of
Russia and Heracluis, King of Georgia.
In 1827 the Indo-Armenians, to their great pleasure received the news of deployment
of the Russian army near the border of Turkey. Afterwards when Yerevan, the
capital of Armenia was taken by Russian troops and Armenia was freed from age-old
Persian yoke, hundreds of congratulation letters were sent to Echmiatsin from
India to express their joy and happiness. Indo-Armenians assumed that the time
has come to establish a free, independent Armenia. Many of them decided to return
to their ancestral land and start developing their own country.
Publishing
Work
The Armenians of Madras were the pioneers in the advancement of the Armenian
language and literature in India. The first Armenian press started in
Madras in 1772 by Jacob Soolthanoomian and its first publication titled Exhortation
was printed in the same year. It was mentioned in the titlepage that this pamphlet
has been composed for the ‘awakening of the Armenian youth from the weak and
idle drowsiness of the sleep of slothfulness’.
This book discusses and analyses the Armenian nation. The author concludes that
all the existing misfortunes of his nation have been originating from ignorance
and laziness. They have forgotten about the heydays of Armenia, her strength
and power. Now they can not achieve anything by only crying and cursing their
fate. They need to wake up and struggle.
Shahamiryan wrote also a collection of laws which consisted of 521 articles.
This is considered to be the first constitution for Armenia. As it was the first
attempt for such a serious work and also having in mind that the writer was
not a scholar, we can assume about the quality of his work. But this work is
valued by scholars for its progressive ideas and ambitious projects.
In 1789 Rev. Shumavon (Arathoon Shumavonyan) started a printing press for publication
of books in Armenian language. He was the editor, compositor, printer and moreover
he made the paper himself from cotton pulp. The first publication was a reprint
of The Martyrology of the Virgin Marianeh. The Nawab of Madras and Arcot, Valaji
Mohamed Ali Khan, permitted Rev. Shumavon to publish works in Persian and Arabic
as well.
It is interesting to note that the first journal in Armenian language was published
not in Armenia, but in India. This was an event of worldwide significance for
the Armenians. This first Armenian journal, entitled Azdarar was published in
Madras on October 16, 1794 by Rev. Shumavon who thus became the Father of Armenian
journalism. He worked unceasingly for the enlightenment of his compatriots and
earned the high esteem of his nationals not only in India but in all parts of
the world as well. This monthly journal contained subjects of social, commercial
and literary interest. However, Azdarar existed only 18 months. In February
1796 it was closed due to financial difficulties. This monthly journal inspired
the publication of about two thousand Armenian journals in different countries.91
The example of the Madras Armenians was emulated by the Armenians in Calcutta
and the first printing press started here in 1797. The title of the first publication
was Truth of the Christian Religion. In 1811 another press started in Calcutta
and its first publication was an elementary book in Armenian. This press was
at work until 1883.
The second Armenian magazine in India entitled The Mirror was published in Calcutta
in 1820. After some time it was closed down and followed by another magazine
which also met the similar fate. They could not get sufficient financial support
to continue. After M.D.Thaliadian's Azgaser Araratian (which was the fourth
Armenian journal in India) journal's closure in 1852, further attempts were
made in Calcutta, Madras and Bombay to revive Armenian journalism but without
success. From 1794 till 1863, some eleven Armenian journals were published in
Calcutta, Madras and Bombay, of which five were printed and six lithographed.
Except Azdarar and Azgaser, these journals do not reveal much literary talent
as all the other editors were businessmen and had no literary attainments or
any pretensions to scholarship.
An Armenian journal Ara in English started in Calcutta in 1892 by J.D.Melik-Beglar.
On pages of Ara there were articles on Armenian politics, history and literature.
But this journal also had a short life, only three years.
Another English journal
Armenian (editor J.Barseghian) was also published in Calcutta from 1908 to 1909.
Though at that time there were wealthy Armenian landlords, merchants, shipowners,
jewellers, colliery proprietors and racehorse owners in India, adequate financial
support was not given to enable these scholars, editors, publishers to continue
with their important works.
After an interval of forty years, Zebedia John Hananian revived Armenian journalism,
publishing New Azdarar in Calcutta in 1950. For over six years Hananian succeeded
in presenting to his compatriots in India and elsewhere a publication which
greatly enhanced the proud prestige of his nationals in India. Initially only
Armenian articles were published in it but later on English articles also found
their place. Unfortunately, due to financial difficulties, Hananian had to close
New Azdarar in 1956.
It is regrettable that Armenian journalism, which was initiated in India, does
not exist here anymore now.
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