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DNA Daily News & Analysis, India
June 22 2013
How the past has shaped Armenian's future
Saturday, Jun 22, 2013, 19:02 IST | Place: Mumbai
Joanna Lobo
Bhaswati X Bhattacharya is a fellow in residence at the Centre for
Modern Indian Studies at Gottingen. She has published articles in
academic journals and has been working to publishing a book on her
research into the Armenian community which will be released soon.
What is your book about?
The book is about Armenians in India from 1700 to 1947. I begin with
the trade network in the pre-colonial period, see what is changing in
the colonial times, how the identity formation takes place during the
late colonial period, and the effects of all this on the current
situation of the community.
What is your interest in Armenians in India?
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.
http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/1851551/report-how-the-past-has-shaped-armenian-s-future
From: Baghdasarian
June 22 2013
How the past has shaped Armenian's future
Saturday, Jun 22, 2013, 19:02 IST | Place: Mumbai
Joanna Lobo
Bhaswati X Bhattacharya is a fellow in residence at the Centre for
Modern Indian Studies at Gottingen. She has published articles in
academic journals and has been working to publishing a book on her
research into the Armenian community which will be released soon.
What is your book about?
The book is about Armenians in India from 1700 to 1947. I begin with
the trade network in the pre-colonial period, see what is changing in
the colonial times, how the identity formation takes place during the
late colonial period, and the effects of all this on the current
situation of the community.
What is your interest in Armenians in India?
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.
http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/1851551/report-how-the-past-has-shaped-armenian-s-future
From: Baghdasarian