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Armenian Consulate opened in Indian Madras

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  • Armenian Consulate opened in Indian Madras

    news.am, Armenia
    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.

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