The Forgotten Church : Remembering Armenians of Saidabad

Just as the Portuguese settled in Goa the Jews in Cochin and the Parsis in Bombay the Armenians had rendered a special fragrance in Calcutta. Being the best of commercial minds the Armenians came to India as merchants and prevailed on Eastern Indias commerce long before the British. Their commercial acumen won them great dividends in the Bengali trade which they linked with the world trade network. They loved Bengal in their own way and made Calcutta their special home forever. The author has inked the five-century-old stories of the Armenians including the golden period of Indian foreign trade in the present work. Armenians had settled in different parts of India. Combined with boundless energy they raised themselves to the stiff ladder of fame. They shined from the early Mughal period till the British periods as able administrators clever diplomats military commanders skilled artisans renowned poets eminent lawyers Judges surgeons and merchants. Present work has scripted all these roles the Armenians adopted and touched every Indian heart. Maintaining social culture was an integral part of their life. Socially they remained closely knitted. Culturally they were strictly abided by Christianity. They always made their own beautiful Churches. Mortal remains of many great Armenian personalities lay buried in the Church graveyards of Saidabad Chinsura Chandannagore Calcutta and many other places. Many of their monuments stand today as silent witnesses of the once vibrant commercial India and many of their beautiful Churches stand forgotten today. The Forgotten Church - Remembering Armenians of Saidabad is centered on one such Church which was built at Saidabad and has since been forgotten.