IndianYug Logo
  • Featured
  • News
  • History
  • Viral
  • Science
  • Analysis
IndianYug Logo

Bridging Worlds, Sharing Stories. Explore a world of diverse perspectives and global insights at Indianyug.com.

contact@indianyug.com
+91 75032 75549
Delhi, India

Categories

  • Technology
  • Lifestyle
  • Business
  • Culture
  • Health
  • Education

Company

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Disclaimer

Our Brands

  • Bolderbrain
  • Shapeambition
  • Conceptial

Stay Updated

Get the latest posts delivered right to your inbox.

© 2025 IndianYug. All rights reserved. Made with ❤️ in India.
AnalysisHistoryNews

Armenians in India: Old Presence of the Caucasus in the Himalayan Territories

Rajendra Kumar
June 22, 2023
9 min read
Share:
Armenians in India: Old Presence of the Caucasus in the Himalayan Territories

India is a very diverse country, a melting pot of thousands of ethnicities, languages, and cultures. If some are very well known, others are almost a mystery.

Among communities living in India, one can find Armenians. Originating from the mountains of the Caucasus, linking Asia and Europe, Armenians have been quietly and discreetly living in India for centuries. 

As mentioned above, their presence in India was noticed quite early. They were merchants, as well as preachers as part of various Christian missions.

The earliest trace of an Armenian is of a road builder (guide) in India in the 12th-13th centuries. But the first ‘real and active’ testimony of Armenians’ presence in India date back only to the 16th century.

These are primarily Armenian inscriptions on tombstones from the territory of Hindustan. In the Christian cemeteries of India, it is the Armenian epitaphs that turn out to be the oldest.

This trend can be seen in the Christian cemeteries of the Indian port city of Surat and the capital of the Mughal state of Agra, where after the Armenians they began to bury all immigrants from Europe.

Old Presence and Tombstones

​​The oldest Armenian epitaph in India dates back to 1579 and comes from the Surat cemetery. Translation of the oldest Armenian epitaph from Surat according to Mesrop Set: 

In this grave lies the body of a respected lady, whose name was Marinas, the wife of the priest Voskan. She was the crown for her husband, as is said in the parables of Solomon.

She presented herself before the Lord, this is the cause of grief and sorrow for her faithful husband, in the year 1028 of our Armenian era (1579), on the fifteenth of November at the first hour of Friday, at the age of 53 years. Seeing this tomb, pray to the Lord for his mercy. 

Epitaphs of Rich Armenians from Iran

The next Armenian epitaph is located in the so-called Roman Catholic cemetery of Agra. It belongs to the oldest burial in this necropolis. And dates back to 1611. 

The pilgrim Martiros, the son of Pirbashi from Julfa, rests in this tomb. He died in the city of Agra and distributed his property to the glory of God for his soul in 1060 of the Armenian era. 

For this major Armenian merchant, a special mausoleum-chapel was erected, the oldest in this cemetery.

Later, together with him, the Armenian Bishop Zakur from Tabriz (1615) and several other priests were buried in the mausoleum.

Further, there are several translations of epitaphs from the tombstones of the cemeteries of Agra and Surat. They give a good idea of the geography of the travels of Armenian merchants.

The main Armenian trading centers in the 16th-18th centuries were the cities of Julfa (now in Azerbaijan) and New Julfa (the Armenian quarter of the city of Isfahan in Iran). Here is what the translations say:

“The holy cross is in memory of Aga Murad, the son of Leon from Bitlis,” “Died in 1060 of the Armenian era (1611) This holy cross is in memory of Kamalbek, the son of Khoja Sultan from Julfa. He died in Agra in 1065 of the Armenian era (1616),” “This is the grave of Khoja Murat, who came to Christ in 1093 of the Armenian era (1644 AD).”

The cemetery in the port of Surat was older than the necropolis in the Mughal capital of Agra. In the Armenian cemetery of Surat, one mausoleum-chapel has been preserved, in which there is the only Armenian inscription of 1695.

“This is the grave of Qalandar, the son of Fanus Qalandar from Julfa, he passed away on Saturday, March 6, 1695.”

The father of the buried Khoja Fanus Kalandar from New Julfa (a quarter in Iranian Isfahan) was the largest Armenian businessman, possibly the head of the Armenian community in India. On June 22, 1688, in London, he signed an agreement between the East India Company and the “Armenian people” on cooperation.

The inscriptions are going on like this on many other graves. 

Armenians in Kolkata

The Armenian community of Kolkata is enriched considerably thanks to its skills and a large commercial network. 

Part of this community had come from Ispahan in Persia where it had taken refuge. And the last wave of migration took place from Armenia at the time of the 1915 genocide. At the time of India’s independence in 1947, between 3,000 and 4,000 Armenians resided in Calcutta. 

Armenian Christmas at Armenian church, Kolkata
Armenian Christmas at Armenian church, Kolkata CC BY-SA 3.0

The Armenians traded in jute (whose name comes from the Bengali Jhuto), raw silk, indigo, lacquer-gum (shellac in English), precious stones and jewelry, salt, saltpeter, etc.

They competed with the English for the cotton trade and owned shipping lines (including the Apcar Line) which were used in particular for the opium trade. 

Indian writer of Bengali origin, Amitav Ghosh, born in Calcutta in 1956, says: “For a very long time, my hometown had the largest and most vibrant Armenian community in all of India. In my childhood, the presence of Armenians was still very important. I heard stories about famous Armenian boxers. My father remembered the old hotels and guesthouses that were run by Armenians. These memories and connections may explain the presence of Armenian characters in my books.”

The Grand Hotel 

The Grand Hotel, the most prestigious of hotels, was built in 1911 by Arathoon Stephen. Very popular with the English, this luxurious palace located on Chowringhee, was known for its extravagant parties organized for New Year’s Eve.

During the 2nd World War, it was transformed to house 4000 soldiers of the British army. Bought in 1943 by Mohan Singh Oberoi, it became the current Oberoi Grand Palace.

The hotel also had an incredible casino back then where you could gamble all evening. Now, this is not possible anymore, but fortunately, there is the PlayAmo casino, an online real money casino canada where you can play as if you were in the Grand Hotel.

What About Now? 

Since India’s independence in 1947, most Armenians have left the country.  Currently, the Armenian community in Kolkata numbers around 200 people, but their presence is still visible.

Since the end of the 20th century, India has created new ties with Armenia: in 1991, it was one of the first countries to recognize the Republic of Armenia after the fall of the USSR. An embassy has been opened in Yerevan and India is helping in different areas, mostly the IT sector.

The number of Indian citizens residing in Armenia has recently increased very significantly (from 4,200 in 2016 to 28,500 in 2018) and since 2017, obtaining residence permits has been facilitated.

A large number of residents are students, of which more than 2,000 are medical students.

Rajendra Kumar

About Rajendra Kumar

Author

Rajendra is an entrepreneur and the founder of IndianYug Media and Conceptial Training. With over 16 years of experience in leadership roles spanning banking, training and development, and digital media, he brings a wealth of expertise to his ventures. An avid writer, Rajendra is passionate about expressing and exploring ideas across various domains.

Advertisement
Loading advertisement...

Related Posts

Manusmriti vs Constitution: India’s Real Battle for Identity
Analysis
17 min read
Apr 14, 2025
Rajendra Kumar

Manusmriti vs Constitution: India’s Real Battle for Identity

Let’s get one thing clear upfront: India didn’t wake up on 26th January 1950 with a clean slate and a cup of chai. No sir. We woke up with 300 million citizens, thousands of years of cultural baggage, and one angry revolutionary in a suit—Dr. B. R. Ambedkar—who basically said, “We’re not doing this caste []

Read More
FeaturedOpinions
Tim Cook Reveals the Real Reason Apple Builds iPhones in China
Analysis
5 min read
Apr 14, 2025
Rajendra Kumar

Tim Cook Reveals the Real Reason Apple Builds iPhones in China

Earlier this week, former U.S. President Donald Trump reignited a longstanding debate by urging Apple to begin manufacturing its devices in the United States. While the sentiment taps into growing economic nationalism, the reality on the ground tells a more complex story. As Trump presses for a return to American manufacturing, Apple is quietly deepening []

Read More
NewsTechnology
A Witty History of Hindu Vegetarianism: From Vedic Steaks to Sattvic Salads
Analysis
10 min read
Apr 13, 2025
Rajendra Kumar

A Witty History of Hindu Vegetarianism: From Vedic Steaks to Sattvic Salads

Let’s settle this once and for all: the idea that Hindus have always been vegetarian is about as historically accurate as a WhatsApp forward claiming ancient India had Wi-Fi and plastic surgery. The truth is far juicier—literally. Our ancestors, it turns out, were rather fond of meat, including beef. A 2021 Pew Research Center survey []

Read More
Featured
India’s Waqf Amendment Bill: A Reform or a Threat to Muslim Autonomy?
Analysis
11 min read
Apr 13, 2025
Rajendra Kumar

India’s Waqf Amendment Bill: A Reform or a Threat to Muslim Autonomy?

In recent days there have been a series of violent events and many people wondered what is happening. In Murshidabad district, protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act escalated into violence, resulting in the deaths of three individuals, including a father-son duo. Demonstrators blocked National Highway 12, set police vehicles ablaze, vandalized property, and disrupted train []

Read More
FeaturedPolitics
Saffron Group Demands Closure of Fish Shops Near Temple in Delhi’s CR Park; Vendors Say ‘We Built the Temple’
News
8 min read
Apr 10, 2025
Rajendra Kumar

Saffron Group Demands Closure of Fish Shops Near Temple in Delhi’s CR Park; Vendors Say ‘We Built the Temple’

Delhi’s Chittaranjan Park (CR Park), often referred to as “Mini Kolkata,” has recently become the epicenter of a contentious debate intertwining cultural traditions, religious sentiments, and political ideologies. A video that surfaced online depicts individuals, allegedly linked to a Hindu right-wing group, urging fish vendors to close their shops due to their proximity to a []

Read More
The Smartest Person in History: A Journey Through Genius
History
10 min read
Apr 10, 2025
Rajendra Kumar

The Smartest Person in History: A Journey Through Genius

Throughout human history, extraordinary individuals have pushed the boundaries of what we thought possible. Their brilliance has taken different forms some were mathematical wizards, others were artistic visionaries, and many were revolutionary thinkers who changed how we see the world. But who stands as the smartest of them all? The question of intelligence itself []

Read More

You May Also Love

Bihar Minister Hands Out Blankets in 40°C Heat
News
6 min read
Apr 9, 2025
Rajendra Kumar

Bihar Minister Hands Out Blankets in 40°C Heat

In a move that has left both citizens and critics scratching their heads, Bihar’s Sports Minister and BJP MLA Surendra Mehta distributed over 500 blankets to villagers in Ahiyapur under his Bachhwara Assembly constituency, at a time when the state is reeling under a severe heatwave with temperatures touching 40 degrees Celsius. The distribution event []

Read More
Viral
10 Days Before Her Daughter’s Wedding, a UP Woman Elopes with the Groom—and the Jewellery
News
6 min read
Apr 9, 2025
Rajendra Kumar

10 Days Before Her Daughter’s Wedding, a UP Woman Elopes with the Groom—and the Jewellery

In an incident that has left two families stunned and an entire village in disbelief, a woman from Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh district eloped with her daughter’s fiancé just ten days before the wedding. The bride-to-be, her father, and her relatives are now grappling with not just emotional betrayal but also a significant financial loss. A []

Read More
Viral
Why Has Aurangzeb Suddenly Become Important in India?
Current Events
17 min read
Apr 8, 2025
Rajendra Kumar

Why Has Aurangzeb Suddenly Become Important in India?

What began as a Ram Navami procession in Mumbai’s western suburbs soon spiraled into a troubling spectacle of hate speech and offensive slogans, once again raising alarms about the deepening communalization of public festivals. According to various accounts, the procession drew thousands—mostly young men in their 20s and 30s, alongside some older participants and women. []

Read More
FeaturedHistory
Is Dhoni Retiring? Sakshi’s Cryptic Remark Sparks Frenzy Ahead of CSK vs DC Clash
News
9 min read
Apr 5, 2025
Rajendra Kumar

Is Dhoni Retiring? Sakshi’s Cryptic Remark Sparks Frenzy Ahead of CSK vs DC Clash

The Chennai heat isnt the only thing making fans sweat at Chepauk tonight. As CSK prepares to face Delhi Capitals in what could be a season-defining match, all eyes are on the man who has been the heartbeat of this franchise for 16 glorious years Mahendra Singh Dhoni. A Cryptic Bombshell from Sakshi The []

Read More
SportsViral
Why Southern India Says No to Hindi Imposition: The Real Story
Analysis
12 min read
Apr 5, 2025
Rajendra Kumar

Why Southern India Says No to Hindi Imposition: The Real Story

India is a land of many languages, cultures, and traditions. Among its most beautiful features is how each region has its unique identity. Language is one of the strongest parts of that identity. While Hindi is spoken by many people in northern India, many southern states have consistently opposed any move to make it mandatory []

Read More
Featured
Virat and Anushka’s Ashram Visit: Internet Divided Over ‘PR Stunt’ Claims
News
4 min read
Jan 16, 2025
Ashish SIngh

Virat and Anushka’s Ashram Visit: Internet Divided Over ‘PR Stunt’ Claims

While most fans appreciate Virat Kohli’s spiritual journey, a few have raised doubts. His visits to the ashram began after returning to India following the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), where he scored only 190 runs in six innings. Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma, and their family appear to be on a spiritual journey, with their recent visits []

Read More