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Jan 2 2012
Armenian Consulate opened in Indian Madras
January 02, 2012 | 23:51
MADRAS. - The Armenian Ambassador to India Ara Hakobyan visited Madras
last week to inaugurate the Armenian Consulate in Madras, India, the
Hindu reports. The first Honorary Consul of Armenia in Madras is
businessman Shivkumar Eashwaran.
The Armenian presence in Madras began to increase from 1688 when the
East India Company, finding the Armenians `sober, frugal and wise',
gave them the same trading rights as English freemen. These privileges
were granted after negotiations between Coja Panous, Calendar of
Isphahan, and the Company in London. The agreement was dated June 22,
1688, and was in due course communicated to the principal Armenian
merchant in Madras, `Gregorio Paroan', and his fellows.
It was also promised that as soon as there were 40 Armenian merchants
in Madras, they will be granted land to build a permanent church.
The first famous house of an Armenian in Fort St. George is currently
called Admiralty House. It was built by Coja Nazar Jacob Jan who
arrived in Madras in 1702.
Aga Nazar Jan was the first of the great Armenian merchants of Madras
and was followed by the legendary Coja Petrus Uscan, Aga Shawmier
Sultan, and Aga Samuel Moorat. When Samuel Moorat died in 1816, his
son Edward Moorat ran through his huge patrimony in enjoying a life of
luxury. With his death, the Armenian presence in Madras began to fade.
One Armenian of this era who left a different kind of heritage was the
Reverend Harutyun Shimavonian, who started in Madras in 1794 the first
Armenian journal in the world, Azdarar, and published several Armenian
classics before he died in 1827.
Jan 2 2012
Armenian Consulate opened in Indian Madras
January 02, 2012 | 23:51
MADRAS. - The Armenian Ambassador to India Ara Hakobyan visited Madras
last week to inaugurate the Armenian Consulate in Madras, India, the
Hindu reports. The first Honorary Consul of Armenia in Madras is
businessman Shivkumar Eashwaran.
The Armenian presence in Madras began to increase from 1688 when the
East India Company, finding the Armenians `sober, frugal and wise',
gave them the same trading rights as English freemen. These privileges
were granted after negotiations between Coja Panous, Calendar of
Isphahan, and the Company in London. The agreement was dated June 22,
1688, and was in due course communicated to the principal Armenian
merchant in Madras, `Gregorio Paroan', and his fellows.
It was also promised that as soon as there were 40 Armenian merchants
in Madras, they will be granted land to build a permanent church.
The first famous house of an Armenian in Fort St. George is currently
called Admiralty House. It was built by Coja Nazar Jacob Jan who
arrived in Madras in 1702.
Aga Nazar Jan was the first of the great Armenian merchants of Madras
and was followed by the legendary Coja Petrus Uscan, Aga Shawmier
Sultan, and Aga Samuel Moorat. When Samuel Moorat died in 1816, his
son Edward Moorat ran through his huge patrimony in enjoying a life of
luxury. With his death, the Armenian presence in Madras began to fade.
One Armenian of this era who left a different kind of heritage was the
Reverend Harutyun Shimavonian, who started in Madras in 1794 the first
Armenian journal in the world, Azdarar, and published several Armenian
classics before he died in 1827.