The legacy of the Armenians in Chennai

Ask anyone within the metropolis as to which of the European nations they affiliate with Madras, the commonest reply will likely be England. But once you point out the Armenians to them, the response will likely be a terrific smile. Among all those that got here right here, the Armenians are maybe remembered with the best fondness, in all probability as a result of their historical past too is certainly one of steady invasions and conquests.

There have been Armenians in India lengthy earlier than the British got here. But as soon as the latter arrived, they turned intently aligned in enterprise pursuits. Madras appears to have recorded its first Armenians from the 1660s, the oldest tomb being that of Khoja David, courting to 1663 and located close to Little Mount. By the 1680s, that they had the identical rights because the British within the metropolis. By the early 18th Century, there have been 40 of them within the metropolis, and so they have been sanctioned a church of their very own, which was constructed on land the place the High Court is presently. That construction, accomplished in 1712, was demolished with the remainder of Old Black Town when the French left Madras after a three-year occupation in 1749.

During that three-year interregnum, when issues appeared very bleak for the British holed up in Cuddalore, the friendship of the Armenians mattered loads. They steadfastly refused all blandishments of Dupleix and his dubash Ananda Ranga Pillai to maneuver to Pondicherry. On returning to Madras in 1749, the British have been grateful. Coja Petrus Uscan, the chief of the Armenian neighborhood then, turned an honoured pal.

Petrus has many markers to himself within the metropolis. There is the plaque by the Maraimalai Adigal Bridge, commemorating his funding in 1726 of the primary bridge throughout the Adyar. He funded the development of the steps going up St. Thomas Mount in 1728, and a yr later, he was current to witness the opening of the St. Thomas Sepulchre in San Thome. A pill commemorating this, let into the wall of St. Rita’s Church can nonetheless be seen as drive on Santhome High Road, for those who can take your eyes off the visitors that’s. Petrus’ private chapel is now the St. Matthias Church, Vepery. His tombstone greets you as quickly as you enter the church.

Armenian Street is in fact the most important marker to the individuals who as soon as flourished right here. And proper by the doorway is Armenian Church, constructed in 1772. Inside are quite a few memorials and tombstones — Harathoon Shimovinian who in Madras started the primary Armenian journal worldwide, to Seth Sam, who was a founding member of the Madras Chamber of Commerce in 1836 and to Coramsimee Leembruggen who was Armenian by beginning and doubtless the primary girl in Madras to pay alimony to her divorced husband. Also, right here is the Aga Shawmier household, lots of whom have been rich retailers with huge landholdings within the Nungambakkam space.

Street names

Elsewhere within the metropolis are avenue names. There is Arathoon Road in Royapuram, commemorating a Harathoon, a Girigori Street in George Town remembering Khoja Gregorios Agapperi and doubtless Moore’s Road, which in all probability commemorates Edward Samuel Moorat. The streets of Fort St. George too are replete with Armenian reminiscences, most notable being the constructing now housing the Archaeological Survey of India, which was as soon as the property of Khoja Nazar Jacob Jan.

But by far the very best memorial is Armenian Church itself. Lovingly tended to by the diaspora regardless of no Armenian now completely residing right here, it stays a haven of peace. The bells within the tower, (solid on the identical foundry that gave the world the bells for St. Pauls Cathedral, London, the Big Ben at Westminster, and the Liberty Bell at Philadelphia), are rung each Sunday and preserve alive a terrific reminiscence.