The Armenians of India

by David Zenian Several churches, cemeteries and less than 200 Armenians are all that's left of the once powerful Armenian colonies of India, a country of more than one billion inhabitants, but their legacy is still alive and strong. Maybe Indian schools do not teach who the Armenians are, but that was no reason for a young Indian quiz show contestant not to know the name of the first Christian nation of the world. The question came up recently in the popular Indian equivalent of America's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire".

by David Zenian A small group of young and old alumni, diplomats, government officials and guests joined teachers and students to mark the 180th anniversary of the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy of Calcutta in April this year, with their thoughts on the years gone by for guidance, and their eyes set on keeping alive an institution which has served generations of Armenians since 1821. Not an easy task, considering that the once vibrant Armenian community of Calcutta has shrunk to a mere 150 or less people, taking away with it the student pool.

by David Zenian As the Seljuk conquest of Armenia in the 11th century and the loss of the last Armenian Kingdom in Cilicia in 1375 led to the creation of Diaspora communities worldwide, the bold efforts by a group of Armenians in the Indian city of Madras in 1772 was the first step in the long struggle for an independent Armenian state.