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Subrat SaurabhAuthor of Kuch Woh Pal
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 India’s 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.
Debabrata Maulik
Debabrata Maulik is an intensely talented author with two published books – Mughals Murshidabad Connection and Bells of Freedom – to his credit. These books have evoked much interest in readers. With his Masters in Engineering, Debabrata went on to become a veteran of the corporate world with 36 years of experience across various industries to date. Now retired, he has settled in Kolkata along with his family.
Maulik has the passion of dipping into the unchartered world of Indian history. The diversity of our land had attracted different people from across the world to come to our country from time to time. One such group was the Armenians who made many of our cities and towns their home. A vivid history follower, Maulik was influenced by their lives and culture. Their stories have formed the theme of his third book The Forgotten Church – Remembering Armenians of Saidabad.
