How the past has shaped Armenian's future

What is your book about?

If you mean how I got interested in the subject: as a PhD student of Indian maritime commerce I found Armenians being mentioned in all European sources. My inquiry took me to their church in Barabazar, the Armenian College and a few leading members of the community in Calcutta. It was while talking to them that I decided to pursue this research as a post-doctoral research.

What has your research revealed?

Writing about Armenian commerce in the pre-colonial period, Armenian scholars tend to show the importance of New Julfa in Persia in this network. New Julfa was important as it was the main centre of Armenians in the East since the evacuation of rich merchants and others of Julfa in Armenia in early seventeenth century by the Persian Emperor Shah Abbas. But my research demonstrates why from the late 17th century Indian settlements became important for Armenians, and how from the early 18th century Armenians in these settlements became more and more financially independent of New Julfa (commercial contact notwithstanding). My research emphasises how, beginning from scratch sometimes, these merchants built up their networks, based at places like Madras, Calcutta etc. The identity formation in the colonial period is an eye-opener.

Do you think the community in India will remain just a footnote in history or will there be a revival?

The community needs to open up and broaden their horizons a bit, and not focus on a single entity or region else they will remain just a footnote. However, I see change coming from other corners that have raised hopes and are good, healthy signs. Armenian and Indian citizens marrying without having to ask for the community's approval. Armenia always looked to the West but new business relations between Armenia and India have begun in the wake of economic liberalisation. These have opened up new opportunities and people are not looking up to the old authorities.