 Statue inside the Holy Resurrection Church of Armanitola | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 0 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Dhaka (Armanitola) | |
| Languages | |
| Armenian, English,Bengali | |
| Religion | |
| Armenian Apostolic | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Armenians in India,Armenians in Pakistan,Armenians in Myanmar |
EthnicArmenians lived in the region ofBengal (present-dayBangladesh and Indian states ofWest Bengal andTripura) since at least 17th century. There was a fairly large Armenian colony inDhaka, concentrated in the neighbourhood ofArmanitola, during the early part of the 18th century. The Armenian community played a significant role in Bengali trade and commerce in the 17th and 18th centuries. TheArmenian Apostolic Church of the Holy Resurrection established by the community in 1781, along with the adjacent cemetery, is a major landmark and tourist attraction ofold Dhaka.[1][2]
Their presence, however, began to decline from the beginning ofBritish rule.[3] Their numbers have gradually diminished and there are now no Armenians in Bangladesh. Michael Joseph Martin (Mikel Housep Martirossian), reported to be the last Armenian in Dhaka, died on 9 May 2020.[4][5][6]
There is no exact record of when the Armenians first came to Dhaka. Some historians suggest that they came in Bengal in the early 17th century as a part of the migration of Armenians from Persia.[7]AfterSafavid rulers conqueredEastern Armenia in theCaucasus,Shah Abbas deported about 40,000 Armenian traders specialized in inter-Euroasiatic trade toIsfahan andNew Julfa.[8]
Armenian traders first came to Bengal from Isfahan and New Julfa in the wake of Persian adventurers, eventually establishing their own trading community. They were recognized as a distinct trading community by theMughal government since late 17th century.[8] It is not known when they came to Dhaka, then one of the commercial centres inBengal. On the evidence of dates on tombstones the time is assumed to be early 18th century.[9]
As Persian was the official language of the Mughal court, the Persian-speaking Armenians could easily settle themselves down in the Mughal Empire.[7] TheNawabs of Dhaka are known to have engaged them to transact their personal businesses openly or clandestinely as well as the European maritime companies, who used them as local representatives and theirvakils (spokesperson or pleaders) to the royal courts.[8]Khwaja Hafizullah, a merchant prince, laid the foundations for theDhaka Nawab Family by accumulating wealth by doing business withGreek and Armenian merchants. This trend was followed by his nephew and the first Nawab of the familyKhwaja Alimullah.[10]
Initially they lived in the neighborhoods ofMoulvibazar andNolgola, before moving to Armanitola.[11] Between 1833 and 1918, at the height of Armenian presence, the records of Armanian Church in Dhaka list over 200 deaths, as well as over 250 baptisms and over 50 marriages.[12] Apart from Dhaka there was a significant Armenian presence in Saidabad (a suburb of the capitalMurshidabad),Hoogli,Kolkata,Chinsura,Patna andKasimbazar.
The Armenian community of Dhaka were initially engaged in export trade paying a duty of 3.5% to the government.[8] Dhaka was the hub of fine textiles at that time, a fact that attracted Persians and Armenians to settle business there.[7] In an estimate of the textile export from Dhaka (which was a major textile production center in Bengal), the Armenian share was said to have been 27% in 1747. In the silk market, there are indications that the Armenians were dominant buyers, along withGujaratis and merchants from Delhi,Agra andBenares.[13]
They were also prominent in the jute trade.[13] Most of Armenians were engaged in thejute trade. Prominent Armenian jute merchants had their own companies, like Messrs Sarkies & Sons, Messrs David & Co. and others. But gradually the jute business was monopolised by the more powerful and better-organised British firms.[14] Besides these, they also did businesses of saltpeter, salt, and betel nut.[7]
The Armenian community in Armanitola was small but rich. Some wealthy Armenians used to reside in European-style bungalows. was one such bungalow that was quite popular. Parts of the gardens ofShahbag,Ruplal House (another major landmark in old Dhaka) and the land whereBangabhaban (the presidential residence) stands belonged to Armenianzamindars (landlords).[15][16][17] There is still aManuk House inside Bangabhaban, bearing the name of the original owner's family. Armenians introduced Ticca-Garry (horse-carriage) in Dhaka and it became a popular transport of Dhaka. They also set up western-style department stores in Dhaka. The stores mostly sold European and British goods.[7]
They also played a major role as patrons of education and urban development in Dhaka. ThePogose School, the first private school in the country, was founded byNicholas Pogose, a merchant and a zamindar.[18] P Arathon was the headmaster of theNormal School. According to theDhaka Prakash, a newspaper of his time, students in his school scored better in examinations than students of other normal schools in Bengal, including the one in Hoogli.
Prior to building the church at Armanitola (popularly known as the Armani Church) they worshiped at a small chapel in the same area, while deceased members of the community were interred at the Roman Catholic Church atTejgaon, which was five miles from Dhaka at the time. Some of the Armenian tombstones there date back from 1714 to 1794.[9] The oldest tombstone is "Avetis", an Armenian merchant who died on 15 August 1714.[12]
After moving to Armanitola, Armenian settlers built a small chapel in the midst of their community graveyard. By the end of the 18th century, the Armenian community had grown considerably, and the chapel was found inadequate for the needs of the community. It was then replaced by the Holy Resurrection Church, completed in 1781 and consecrated by Bishop Ephreim. Abelfry on the west of the church was added in 1837.[8] The tower fell down during the earthquake of 1897.[19] Aparsonage was added and the floor of the church was decorated with marble, and electric lights in 1910.
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Armenian influence in the commercial life of Dhaka was led by the Pogoses, Agacy, Michael, Stephen, Joakim, Sarkies, Arathon (also spelled as Aratun), Coja (also spelled Khojah or Koja) and Manook (also spelled as Manuk) families.[citation needed] Alongside members of the major merchant families, Margar David, Mackertich Abraham George, Michael Sarkies, Abraham Lucas, M Highcazony, A S Mackertich, Tigran Nahapiet, Thaddeus Nahapiet, M.J. Catchhatoor, Joseph Lazarus, and M David were other prominent Armenians of Dhaka.[8]
Dhaka was not the only center of Armenian influence in the region, and there were Armenians who rose to prominence for all of Bengal. There is an Armanitola in Kolkata, and an Armanighat as well.
Armenian merchant, Khwaja Phanoos Kalandar, who in 1688 negotiated a treaty, on behalf of Armenians, with the English East.
Khwaja Israel Sarhad was an eminent Armenian merchant of Bengal during the late 17th & 18th centuries.
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