Somewhere in central Kolkata stands a small church with a grey stone facade and a bell that still rings on Sunday mornings. Most people walking past have no idea it is Armenian. The community that built it was part of a trading network that linked Isfahan, India, Amsterdam, and Canton.
In this video we trace how Shah Abbas relocated Armenians to New Julfa near Isfahan in 1604, how merchants reached Surat, Madras, and Calcutta, how the first Armenian-language newspaper, Azdarar, appeared in Madras in 1794, and why this community has almost disappeared from the memory of the cities it helped build.
We also address the darker side of colonial trade, including the indigo business, and the community’s contributions to charity, schools, and culture.
Subscribe if you enjoy the history of the Armenian diaspora, and tell us in the comments whether you knew about Armenians in India.
Chapters (approximate, adjust after editing):
00:00 Introduction
02:00 Isfahan and New Julfa
07:00 Surat and Madras
12:00 Calcutta and the Church of Holy Nazareth
17:00 The printing press and Azdarar
21:00 Trade, colonialism, and responsibility
25:00 The community today
29:00 Conclusion
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3 Comments
The Armenians despite being very small sized community were great traders!!; The Muslims can learn a lot from them!!! My respects & salutes to the Armenians for their contributions to humanity!!!
In hyderabad Telangana India there is grave yard with Armenian graves
Armenians thank you for your great report of Armenians in India.Armenians read all about it .