Sir Paul Catchick Chater

[MJ]

Who was Paul Chater?

 

Sir Paul Catchick Chater was descended from a line of Armenian Christians in Calcutta with several generations of experience in the oriental trade. Arriving in Hong Kong in 1864, aged eighteen, he at first worked for the Bank of Hindostan, China and Japan. This early exposure to finance stood him in good stead, for very short]y he was running his own bill and bullion business.

 

http://clarke.to/masonic/Image11.gif

 

From broking it was a short step to property investment. What came to him then was nothing short of brilliant: waterfront reclamation was the only answer to Hong Kong’s land shortage and congestion. Filled with an unshakeable sense of purpose, he made a trip to London to lobby for help for his cause. Six days before permission for his praya [waterfront] reclamation scheme was granted, he formed a partnership with James Johnstone Keswick, the Taipan of Jardine Mathseon, to launch the Hongkong Land Investment and Agency Company, which was to profit enormously from the new reclamation. In time Hongkong Land, as the company is generally called, became the biggest landlord in the prime business district of Central.

 

Much fanfare surrounded the laying of the foundation stone of the reclamation in 1889. The new waterfront road - Connaught Road - was named after the Duke of Connaught, one of Queen Victoria’s sons, who laid the stone. The old praya - Des Voeux Road - was named after the then Governor, Sir William Des Voeux. Sir Paul Chater was awarded his own road - Chater Road - in between them.

 

Sir Paul Chater became a pillar of the Hong Kong community. He built himself a mansion, Marble Hall, above Conduit Road in Mid-Levels. He was a Justice of the Peace and Legislative Councillor, and he lavished his money on good works. His grave in Happy Valley cemetery is maintained through a bequest to St. John’s Anglican Cathedral, one of the churches he patronised.

 

Sir Paul Chater was a dedicated Freemason. He was the District Grand Master of the District Grand Lodge of Hong Kong and South China from 1881 to 1909. On his retirement, the Craft established the Chater Masonic Scholarship Fund Trust as a memorial to his leadership. This charity still exists today and provides scholarships not only for the children of freemasons, but also for other children in Hong Kong.

 

[ February 18, 2001: Message edited by: MJ ]

[lizchater]

Anyone who is interested in the Armenian Sir Catchick Paul Chater, might like to take a look at my website which has quite a lot of information on him.Chater Genealogy. Best wishes Liz Chater

[Yervant1]

WHO WAS THIS MAN CHATER?

 

South China Morning Post, Hong Kong

December 16, 2007 Sunday

 

A bored new mum's internet surfing led her to the greatest life story

never told, writes Vaudine England

 

He's one of those men everyone in Hong Kong should know about, but

almost no one does. Chater Road, Chater Square, Chater Garden, even

Catchick Street, the extension of Kennedy Town Praya - who was this

Chater person?

 

The author of a rare study on the Armenians who ventured east to

India and the China Coast, Mesrovb Jacob Seth, wrote in his 1937 book,

Armenians in India: "The future historian of Hong Kong will find his

task as regards the past sixty years a sinecure, for the record of

Hong Kong will be a replica of the career of Sir Paul Chater."

 

Yet there is no biography of the man who helped build Hong Kong.

 

Some clues can be gleaned from The Chater Legacy, an exhibition now

being held by the Hong Kong Museum of Art. Due to close in January,

the exhibition has been extended to June 2008.

 

This features a selection of the varied art collections that Chater

accumulated in his lifetime, but still leaves a lot of his life in

the shadows.

 

Geoffrey Bonsall, adviser to the museum among many other things, notes

that "although he represented Hong Kong in 1902 at the coronation of

King Edward VII, he was not Chinese, nor even born in Hong Kong".

 

Yet Catchick Paul Chater was one of those legendary characters,

instigator of just about anything that moved in Hong Kong at the turn

of the last century.

 

He was a leading figure in the (then Royal) Hong Kong Jockey Club,

one of the first two unofficial members appointed to the Executive

Council, adviser to governors, and helped found Hongkong Land,

Hongkong Electric, and the original Hong Kong and Kowloon Wharf and

Godown Company.

 

With all the talk lately about the need to preserve Hong Kong's

heritage, a dedicated band of historians, urged on by descendant

and eager researcher Liz Chater, thinks it's time a book told all

about Chater.

 

So far, they've managed to get part- sponsorship of what should

be a thorough research, writing and publication job. But they need

financial support from within Hong Kong - preferably from the hongs

who owe most to his vision - if another piece in Hong Kong's history

jigsaw is to fall into place.

 

Liz Chater, who lives in Hampshire, traces her roots back to the big

man and has taken on the mantle of lead fact-digger.

 

"We owe thanks to a lady in the south of England, Liz Chater, for

much of the current interest in Sir Paul," said Mr Bonsall.

 

She has amassed a raft of material, tracking down mementoes, grave

stones and key marriage certificates, tracing the vast family tree

of Chaters and the larger Armenian community, and bringing together

people similarly interested in the subject.

 

"I knew nothing about Sir Paul when I started," she said. "I had a baby

in 2000 and he just slept and slept, so I had a lot of time on my hands

and starting flicking through the computer on family history pages.

 

"I found my father, my grandfather, and before long I was hooked. The

questions kept coming, and one name just kept leading to another.

 

"When I came to Sir Paul, I realised he was famous and looked around

for a biography of him - but there was nothing," she said.

 

Since then, she's set up a hugely informative website, published a

short booklet, and organised several trips and Chater reunions.

 

Earlier this year, in May, she helped commemorate Chater's death at

his grave in Hong Kong. She also helped organise the previous year's

gathering of more than 100 Armenians in Hong Kong.

 

This year she pursued her talks with Father Oshagan Gulgulian, from

the church which once played a key role in the young Chater's life and

to which he left part of his fortune - the Armenian church of Calcutta.

 

On Chater's death in 1926, the bulk of his estate went to the Armenian

Holy Nazareth Church in Calcutta, which runs a Home for Armenians

where elderly members of the community still live.

 

The priest met Robert Nield, president of the Royal Asiatic

Society in Hong Kong, and Denis Way, co-authors of a fine book

about PricewaterhouseCoopers called The Counting House. Liz Chater

is hoping these men will be her co-authors of a book on Chater - and

to that end they all went to Calcutta in July. A subsequent trip by

Liz Chater alone helped pin down an agreement from the church to help.

 

"Myself, Denis and Robert have a [statement of] firm interest of

part-sponsorship from the Armenian Church in Calcutta, but as a team

are still seeking further sponsors. [We're] hopeful that a major Hong

Kong corporate would like to join in on this unique joint venture on

the story of Sir Paul," Liz Chater said. "I never, ever thought in

my wildest dreams that I would get this far with my little research

project on Sir Paul Chater, and I hope that 2008 will be the year

that sees the full editorial process begin. Now if I can just find

one or two more sponsors - I've run out of stuff to sell on eBay!"

 

Her forebear would have been rightly miffed if he had imagined how

hard it would be for the place he loved to recognise his contributions

to it.

 

Catchick Paul Chater was born in Calcutta in 1846 to a family of

Armenian merchants, one of 14 children. But he was orphaned by the

time he was nine and became a scholarship boy.

 

At 18 he reached Hong Kong, where he worked in the Bank of Hindustan,

China and Japan, staying with the family of his relatives, the Jordans.

 

Within a couple of years he was trading in gold and bullion on his

own account and investing in land.

 

His business partners and friends included Sir Hormusjee Mody, the

Sassoon family, William Keswick and John Bell-Irving - the other

leading unofficial member of the Executive Council - and the entire

Freemason community of which he was a prominent member.

 

By the late 1880s, new ideas or enterprises didn't get off the ground

without Chater - be it shipping, insurance, utilities or the ground

itself.

 

Liz Chater has doggedly filled in many more details. She believes

the grand old man got his leg-up in life by asking for it.

 

"One day he plucked up the courage to ask the head of Sassoons whether

they would help him if he started as an Exchange broker.

 

They said yes and Catchick resigned from the bank. In his first month

of trading he cleared $600 and very quickly he rose to be the greatest

financial magnate of the colony."

 

The China Mail once wondered why a young Chater was getting into a

sampan at dusk, night after night, and pottering around the harbour

of Hong Kong in the shadows of the shore.

 

He was taking soundings to measure the depth of different parts of the

foreshore because of his idea that some land reclamation might make

sense - and to find water deep enough to handle ocean-going steamers.

 

The result of his searches were the first Kowloon wharfs. He is

also credited with the first reclamations of parts of the harbour

in Kowloon and Wan Chai, starting a trend that many might wish had

stopped with his lifetime.

 

Mr Bonsall points out that Connaught Road is named after the Duke of

Connaught, who laid the foundation stone for Chater's reclamation

that created Connaught Road along the waterfront - though it's now

far inland.

 

He also was the first to suggest to the government that new lands

should be acquired beyond Kowloon - namely the New Territories.

 

Catchick Street in Kennedy Town marks where he was responsible for

reclaiming 10.5 hectares.

 

He pioneered iron mining in the New Territories, coal-mining in Tonkin

Indo-China - hence his award of the Legion d'Honneur from a grateful

France - and initiated cotton-spinning factories. He gave money to

the University of Hong Kong, St John's Cathedral and Kowloon Union

Church as well as St Andrew's in Kowloon.

 

Not everything he touched turned to gold - while in partnership with

Mody, they suffered the failure in 1908 of the Hong Kong Flour Mill

in Junk Bay, otherwise known as Rennie's Mill.

 

"There was already a bad omen at the opening ceremony when Mody

hesitated and fell at the top of what was described as, 'an ingenious

staircase [like an early escalator perhaps] consisting of a succession

of wooden steps attached to an endless moving belt'.

 

"Mody had to be taken away by launch to recover in hospital," recounted

Mr Bonsall at a recent talk.

 

But Chater had style, not least with his lavish entertainment at

his home, Marble Hall. Like Mody's Buxey Lodge, this mansion has

disappeared.

 

Liz Chater's work has got almost out of hand, leading her into a

massive documentation of Armenian graves across Asia, alongside her

ongoing Chater research.

 

But why ask others for money; surely the Chater coffers must be

overflowing?

 

"Yes, Chater left money to the family, but in the 80 years since

his death it has dwindled as the families have grown and there is no

money left," she says.

 

Some individuals at Hong Kong's leading companies and clubs - many of

which owe so much to this man - have allowed access to their records.

 

But none has yet put up the money required for a professional job,

which Liz knows she can't do on her own.

 

"It's a question of finding the right person at the right time -

there are funds for worthy projects in Hong Kong," said Peter Stuckey,

vice-president of the Royal Asiatic Society.

 

"It will begin to be seen to be in some company's interests," he said.

 

 

 

[Balaclava]

now I definitely like to invest in HSBC

[MosJan]

interesting - we had the info all this time and this is the first time i see his name.

 

 

 

interesting... just this morning i shipped a duduk to New Territories

..................Eden Gardens,

911 Lok Fung Path, Fo Tan,

Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China

 

 

[MosJan]

now I definitely like to invest in HSBC

 

first stop smoking #2 tell me haw to stop smoking #3 if we stop smoking we can save enugh to invest in HSBC

[lizchater]

Hello.

 

I'm so glad to see that the article on Sir Paul Chater has made it to this message board. This is the second big coverage article of him this year that I have done, the first being in May 2007 but was reported in The Standard in Hong Kong by the same journalist, Vaudine England. Sir Paul was an extremely kind and generous man and without a doubt, made Hong Kong what it is today. Yet there really isn't anything definitive written about him but I am trying to change that. So any support you can offer, big or small, would be greatly appreciated.

 

You might be interested to know that I am also trying to digitally record and transcribe as many of the Armenian graves in India as I possibly can. I have done over 2000 and many of those buried in India were born in Julfa, so from a family history point of view, they could prove quite useful. They're all on my website

Chater Genealogy, then look for the dancing skeleton.

 

Best wishes Liz Chater

 

[MosJan]

Thank you Liz Chater

and please don't forget us , post any news that you have time to time

 

also if we can help, please let as know, we have many devoted Armenians who might be able to help

 

MOses

[Zartonk]

Very interesting figure. Thanks for bringing the thread back up.

[lizchater]

Hi everyone

 

I have just come back from Syria where I gave a short presentation in Aleppo on the life and work of Sir Catchick Paul Chater. Here is my press release for those who are interested.

 

Liz Chater, a UK based family history researcher specialising in Armenians in India and the Far East, was in Aleppo, Syria on Sunday 28th February. At the kind invitation of Hagop Mikalyelian she gave a talk on Sir Catchick Paul Chater. The short presentation took place at the AGBU Club (Armenian General Benevolent Union) where she was given a very warm welcome.

 

Liz talked about Sir Paul Chater, an Armenian born in Calcutta, but whose life was spent in Hong Kong. She spoke about his early life, his family and his life’s work in Hong Kong. Liz also showed a short documentary film on Sir Paul Chater which was made in 2005 by the Armenian Church, Kolkata and ended with an interesting and varied question and answer session from the participants who attended.

 

Whilst in Syria Liz also spent time in Damascus. In addition to her commitment to help families researching their Armenian ancestry, she is also a volunteer for The War Graves Photographic Project www.twgpp.org whose aim is to photograph in excess of 1.75 million graves or memorials from Commonwealth Nations and many from other military forces and locations around the world. It is a joint venture run with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission http://www.cwgc.org/. Liz took the opportunity to spend some time photographing all of the Commonwealth War Graves in Damascus. She has already contributed photographs of war graves from India and Afghanistan and she fully understands that sometimes it is often the photographs of the graves that can give some comfort to the families of lost loved ones.

 

As part of Liz’s research on the Armenians of India and the Far East, she recently added to her website a slideshow which presents all the old Armenian churches that once had a flourishing community in Asia, this can be viewed at http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/emcjnd/.

 

Liz Chater is an unsupported and unfunded family history researcher specialising in Armenians in India. Liz is currently without a sponsor to enable her to continue and complete her research and publish it. She would be delighted to hear from anyone willing to consider sponsorship of the continuation of her research.

Further information can be obtained from Liz at liz@chater-genealogy.com or her website http://www.chater-genealogy.com.

 

 

 

ENDS

[lizchater]

Hi thought your readers might be interested in the latest presentation I have done on Sir Paul Chater and Armenian Genealogy.

 

NEWS RELEASE

 

21st February 2011

Sir Catchick Paul Chater and Armenian Genealogy Presentation in London

By Liz Chater

 

Liz Chater, a UK based family history researcher specialising in Armenians in India and the Far East, was invited by the Centre for Armenian Information and Advice (CAIA) Acton, London http://www.caia.org.uk to participate in their annual programme of Armenian Cultural awareness taking place during February and March of this year.

 

The programme commenced on Sunday 20th February, and Liz began the session by speaking about Sir Catchick Paul Chater, an Armenian born in Calcutta, but whose life was spent in Hong Kong. She spoke about his early life, his family and his life’s work in Hong Kong. Liz also showed a short documentary film on Sir Paul Chater which was made in 2005 by the Armenian Church, Kolkata and ended with an interesting and lively question and answer session from the participants who attended.

 

The second half of the programme was dedicated to Armenian family history and how to use the sources and resources of the internet to successfully trace ancestors.

 

Through a PowerPoint presentation Liz showed how the many genealogy based websites on the internet enable the new researcher to look for information with comparative ease. This was a fantastic and friendly interactive session where Liz encouraged questions from members of the participating group who were eager to explore the resources brought to their attention by her. Many of them were surprised at the depth and breadth of the details available. Supplementing the presentation Liz also brought along a variety of documents she has acquired as part of her own research of Armenians in India. Of particular interest was an example of one of the earliest Armenian Wills she has which is dated 1761 and she explained how important genealogical information can be obtained from such documents.

 

Misak Ohanian Chief Executive Officer and organiser of the cultural programme at CAIA thanked Liz for presenting such a diverse range of information in the short space of time available and hoped that she would return to do a second presentation at a future date.

 

As part of Liz’s research on the Armenians of India and the Far East, she recently added to her website a slideshow which presents all the old Armenian churches that once had a flourishing community in Asia, this can be viewed at http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/emcjnd/.

 

Liz Chater is an unsupported and unfunded family history researcher specialising in Armenians in India. Liz is currently without a sponsor to enable her to continue and complete her research and publish it. She would be delighted to hear from anyone willing to consider sponsorship of the continuation of her research.

Further information can be obtained from Liz at liz@chater-genealogy.com or her website

www.chater-genealogy.com.

 

 

 

ENDS

[Arpa]

Dear Liz good to see you again. And good to see your beautiful face.

“Chater” in French is pronounced “shater”,

As in the Arabic “shatteyr” شاتر, with the thicker Arabic T, which my system will not reproduce. My Farsi font may be corrupted. I’m sure Johannes can reproduce it.

The Persian dictionary says it is from the Arabic to mean -”footman, foot runner, nimble, clever”.

 

We have known the word to mean-

 

Smart/Diligent

 

Once again dear Liz. Welcome.

 

Assuming you speak Hindi. Do you?

 

Swaagatam

 

Please note that many others are variants of the same.

 

A list of “welcome “ in the dialects of (greater)India.

 

Punjabi - Sushri akal

Sindhi- Khush amdeed

Tamil - Nal Varavu

Telugu- Suswaagatam

Tulu - Balle

Bengali - Shagatom

Gujarati - Swaagat

Hindi - Swaagatam

Kannada - Banni

Malayalam -Swagatam

Marathi - Krupayaa aatuyaa

Oriya - Aasantu

[lizchater]

Dear Arpa,

 

Thank you for your kind words. In this instance Chater is the anglicsed version of the Armenian name "Astvatsatoorian". In colonial India official records indicate it was shortened to Satoor, then Chatoor then Chater, so there is no French in this particular Chater, but I have met Chater's who are of French decendency.

 

Sadly, I do not speak Hindi, but the sentiment is greatly appreciated Arpa.

 

best wishes

Liz

 

Dear Liz good to see you again. And good to see your beautiful face.

“Chater” in French is pronounced “shater”,

As in the Arabic “shatteyr” شاتر, with the thicker Arabic T, which my system will not reproduce. My Farsi font may be corrupted. I’m sure Johannes can reproduce it.

The Persian dictionary says it is from the Arabic to mean -”footman, foot runner, nimble, clever”.

 

We have known the word to mean-

 

Smart/Diligent

 

Once again dear Liz. Welcome.

 

Assuming you speak Hindi. Do you?

 

Swaagatam

 

Please note that many others are variants of the same.

 

A list of “welcome “ in the dialects of (greater)India.

[Yervant1]

165th Birth Anniversary of Sir Paul Chater in Hong Kong

 

hetq

13:19, September 11, 2011

 

 

On 8th September 2011, on the occasion of the 165th Birth Anniversary

of Sir Catchik Paul Chater (Khatchik Poghos Astvatsaturian), with the

blessings of His Holiness Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos

of All Armenians, Very Rev. Father Khoren Hovhannisyan, Pastor of

Armenians in India and Manager of Armenian College and Philanthropic

Academy and the Armenian Church Committee of India visited Hong Kong

to pay homage to the benevolent Armenian at his graveside. The

pilgrims censed at the sepulchre of Sir Catchick Paul Chater for his

eternal peace whilst Father Khoren conducted "Repose of Souls" Service

for the great Armenian. The visitors paid respect, tribute and bowed

before the memorial of Paul Chater.

 

Sir Chater was born in Calcutta, India on 8th September, 1846 and was

baptised at the Armenian Church of Holy Nazareth. At the age of 18,

Paul Chater settled in Hong Kong where by virtue of his tireless

industry, gained immense wealth and became the most significant person

of Honk Kong. From 1876 to 1926, Chater was the Consul of the Senior

Justice of Peace in Hong Kong and for over 40 years has served as the

adviser to the Governor-General of Hong Kong, and was also a member of

the Legislative and Executive Council of Hong Kong.

 

In 1902, Chater was knighted by the King of the United Kingdom, Edward

VII. The doors of Buckingham Palace have since remained open for Sir

Catchick Paul Chater.

 

Catchick Paul Chater is the most significant benefactor of the

Armenian Community of India. He has contributed immensely to the

Armenian Churches of India and built the Armenian Old Age Home of

Kolkata. In addition, Paul Chater has made a generous contribution for

the survivors of the Armenian Genocide in Great Britain through his

"Armenian Immigrants Benevolent Fund".

 

Sir Paul Chater left for his heavenly abode in 1926. The impact of his

death had been so great that for months it had affected the global

stock market.

 

Today, Paul Chater's name in Hong Kong is still held in affection and

as a mark of respect to his departed soul, there are memorials in Honk

Kong like "Chater Park", "Chater Road", "Chater Street" etc.

[MosJan]

165th Birth Anniversary of Sir Paul Chater in Hong Kong

 

http://hetq.am/static/news/b/2011/09/4275.jpg13:19, September 11, 2011

On 8^th September 2011, on the occasion of the 165^th Birth Anniversary of Sir Catchik Paul Chater (Khatchik Poghos Astvatsaturian), with the blessings of His Holiness Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, Very Rev. Father Khoren Hovhannisyan, Pastor of Armenians in India and Manager of Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy and the Armenian Church Committee of India visited Hong Kong to pay homage to the benevolent Armenian at his graveside. The pilgrims censed at the sepulchre of Sir Catchick Paul Chater for his eternal peace whilst Father Khoren conducted "Repose of Souls" Service for the great Armenian. The visitors paid respect, tribute and bowed before the memorial of Paul Chater.

 

Sir Chater was born in Calcutta, India on 8^th September, 1846 and was baptised at the Armenian Church of Holy Nazareth. At the age of 18, Paul Chater settled in Hong Kong where by virtue of his tireless industry, gained immense wealth and became the most significant person of Honk Kong. From 1876 to 1926, Chater was the Consul of the Senior Justice of Peace in Hong Kong and for over 40 years has served as the adviser to the Governor-General of Hong Kong, and was also a member of the Legislative and Executive Council of Hong Kong.

 

In 1902, Chater was knighted by the King of the United Kingdom, Edward VII. The doors of Buckingham Palace have since remained open for Sir Catchick Paul Chater.

 

Catchick Paul Chater is the most significant benefactor of the Armenian Community of India. He has contributed immensely to the Armenian Churches of India and built the Armenian Old Age Home of Kolkata. In addition, Paul Chater has made a generous contribution for the survivors of the Armenian Genocide in Great Britain through his "Armenian Immigrants Benevolent Fund".

 

Sir Paul Chater left for his heavenly abode in 1926. The impact of his death had been so great that for months it had affected the global stock market.

 

Today, Paul Chater’s name in Hong Kong is still held in affection and as a mark of respect to his departed soul, there are memorials in Honk Kong like "Chater Park", "Chater Road", "Chater Street" etc.

 

 

[MosJan]

if anyone can help please.

need the address / Location of for the Armenia church & the cemetery in Hong Kong

[lizchater]

Moses

 

Here is the google maps link to the Hong Kong Cemetery

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&q=hong+kong+cemetery&rlz=1R2GGHP_en-GBGB414&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1097&bih=561&wrapid=tlif133305058139910&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=5rx0T7S_NuGx0AXcmYkZ&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=3&ved=0CBAQ_AUoAg

 

There is no Armenian Church in Hong Kong, but there is a small community. Email me and I'll give you a contact name.

Liz

Edited March 29, 2012 by lizchater

[MosJan]

Thank you

[MosJan]

Հնդկահայ վաճառականների ծաղկումն ու անկումը բրիտանական ազդեցության ներքո Աննա Մուրադյան

http://hetq.am/static/news/b/2013/09/29421.jpg14:24, 18 սեպտեմբերի, 2013

Հավանաբար շատերը գիտեն, որ Հնդկաստանում՝ Մադրասում և Կալկաթայում, ժամանակին եղել են մեծ հայկական հարուստ համայնքներ: Սակայն քչերն են տեղյակ, որ այդ համայնքներն առաջացել են հայ վաճառականների ծաղկուն գործունեության արդյունքում, որը հետագայում բրիտանական ազդեցությամբ մեծ անկում ապրեց՝ հանգեցնելով այդ համայնքների ոչնչացմանը:

Պատմաբան, միջազգայնագետ Ալինա Սալզանդարյանը, ով ուսումնասիրում է հնդկահայ վաճառականության պատմությունը, «Հետքին» ասում է, որ Հայոց պատմության դասագրքերը 7-րդ դասարանից սկսած լի են կոտորածի, ջարդերի և այլ արյունալի անցքերի մասին ժամանակագրութամբ, մինչդեռ ոչ մի անդրադարձ չի արվում այն բանին, որ հայերը համաշխարհային կապիտալի գոյացման գործում ունեցել են նշանակալից ներդրում:

«Նրանք տիրապետում էին հսկայական տնտեսական միջոցների և ունեին նշանակալի քաղաքական ու ֆինանսական ազդեցություն,- ասում է նա,- իրենց եռանդուն գործունեությամբ հայ խոջաներն այնքան կարևոր դիրք են գրավել Հնդկաստանի առևտրի մեջ, որ երկար ժամանակ նրանք հանդիսանում էին այդ առևտրի գլխավոր տերերը և մենաշնորհ են ունեցել համեմունքների, բեհեզի և թանկարժեք քարերի առևտրի համար»:

Բավական է հիշատակել հենց միայն Պոլ Չաթերին, ով Հնդկաստանում եղել է առևտրականների կողմից հիմնադրված HSBC բանկի հիմնադիրներից մեկը և բանկում ունեցած նրա ներդրումները կազմել են երիտասարդ բանկի կապիտալի 1/11 մասը, որը այժմ բանկի արժեթղթերի 1.4-1.5 տոկոս բաժնեմասն է: Հնդկաստանը գաղութացնող Անգլիայի արխիվները լի են հայերի մասին փաստաթղթերով: Դրանք բոլորովին վերջերս սկսել է ուսումնասիրել բրիտանուհի Լիզ Չաթերը, ով հայտնաբերել էր, որ հայկական արմատներ ունի:

Երբ Սովետական Միության և Հնդկաստանի միջև դիվանագիտական հարաբերություններ կային, ինֆորմացիայից հեռու՝ երկաթե վարագույրի ներսում՝ Սովետական Հայաստանում, լեգենդներ էին շրջում հնդկահայ մի մեծահարուստի մասին, ում Ինդիրա Գանդին «չի թույլատրել հարստությունը տեղափոխել Հայաստան»: Այդ մասին միշտ պատմում էր հայրս: Իսկ խոսքը վերաբերում էր հենց Պոլ Չաթերին, ով հայ եկեղեցուն նվիրաբերել էր 525 ֆունտ ստեռլինգ, ինչը ժամանակի ընթացքում բազմապատկվելով վերածվում է հսկայական ֆինանսական միջոցների, որով էլ մինչ այժմ պահվում է Կալկաթայի Հայոց մարդասիրական ճեմարանը: Իսկ ինչ վերաբերվում էր «թույլատրելուն»՝ Հնդկաստանի օրենքների համաձայն՝ տեղում արված ներդրումները թեպետ համարվում են մարդու սեփականությունը, սակայն արգելվում է այն վաճառել ու գումարը տեղափոխել երկրից դուրս:

Սալզանդարյանի կարծիքով՝ հայ կապիտալի պատմությունը առանձնակի չի կարևորվել, քանի որ պետականություն չի եղել ու այն կապվել է գաղթօջախների պատմության հետ՝ հընթացս ձևավորվելով թյուր և բացասական կարծիք՝ կապված հայ վաճառականի կերպարի և ընդհանրապես հայի առևտրական ոգու մասին:

«Մինչդեռ Հնդկաստանում հայ վաճառականները առևտրական գերազանցության են հասել իրենց պարկեշտության և անխոնջ աշխատանքի շնորհիվ,- ասում է նա,- չունենալով պետականություն՝ հայ վաճառականները լայնածավալ առևտուր են արել՝ հենվելով բացառապես վստահության գործոնի վրա»:

Հայ առևտրական կապիտալը ձևավորվել է 16-րդ դարում, մասնավորապես, Սյունիքի լեռնաշղթայի և Արաքսի ձախ ափի մեջ ընկած տարածքում տեղակայված գյուղերի և ավանների մեջ: 17-րդ դարի սկզբին Պարսից արքա Շահ Աբասի կազմակերպած բռնագաղթի արդյունքում հայ առևտրական կապիտալը հաստատվել է Սպահանում՝ ձևավորելով Նոր Ջուղայի հայ գաղութը:

Ջուղայեցի վաճառականների համար առավել ձգողական ուղություն է եղել Հնդկաստանը, քանի որ այնտեղից շատ հարստություն էր հնարավոր արտահանել: Տևական ժամանակ նրանք եղել են Հնդկաստանի և Արևմուտքի միջև առևտրի գլխավոր միջնորդներ և մեծ պահանջարկ ունեցող հնդկական ապրանքներով ողողել են եվրոպական շուկաները:

Նրանք տարածվել են Չինաստանով դեպի Ինդոնեզիա և այդ ժամանակաշրջանում ձևավորվել է առևտրական ցանց, որոնք միմյանց հետ կապի մեջ են Նոր Ջուղայի միջոցով: «Օրինակ Նոր Ջուղայում գիտեին, թե Հնդկաստանի կամ Չինաստանի այսինչ կետում գտնվող հայը ինչով էր զբաղվում»,- ասում է Սալզանդարյանը:

Հայ վաճառականները ակտիվ համագործակցել են նաև Հնդկաստան մուտք գործած եվրոպացիների հետ, քանզի քաջատեղյակ էին Հնդկաստանի առևտրական անցուդարձին և վայելում էին տեղական իշխանությունների հարգանքը: Հատկապես հայ վաճառականության հետ համագործակցությունը կարևորվել է անգլիացիների կողմից, քանի որ, Սալզանդարյանի խոսքով, հայերը Դելիի այն հպատակներից էին, որոնց նկատմամբ կառավարության կողմից կար մեծ հարգանք և հովանավորություն. «Նրանք դրան արժանացել էին իրենց ազնվության և անկողմնակալության համար»:

Հայ վաճառականության կյանքում շրջադարձային երևույթ է եղել անգլիական Արևելահնդկական ընկերության հետ կնքած 1688 թ. հունիսի 22-ի պայմանագիրը, որը հնարավորություն էր տալիս հայերին առևտուր անել անգլիական նավերով և ձեռք բերել որոշակի առևտրական և քաղաքացիական իրավունքներ և մենաշնորհներ: Անգլիացիների հետ համագործակցությունը, սակայն, մյուս կողմից վերջ դրեց հայ վաճառականների ծաղկմանը:

Սկզբնապես այս դաշնակցությունը հայերի համար շահավետ էր նրանով, որ նախ Վասկո դա Գամայի կողմից Աֆրիկան շրջանցելով դեպի Հնդկաստան ծովային ճանապարհի հայտնագործումից հետո ծովային առևտրի զարգացումը մեծ վնասներ էր հասցնում հայերին՝ նավերը թալանելու և այլ պատճառներով, մյուս կողմից էլ՝ ցամաքային փոխադրումները դժվարացել էին Պարսկաստանի ներքին խռովությունների և գահակալական կռիվների, զանազան արշավանքների պատճառով:

19-րդ դարում հայ բնակչության աճ և կենտրոնացում եղել է Կալկաթայում ու Մադրասում, և հնդկահայ ազգային և մշակութային կյանքը հիմնականում կենտրոնացված էր այդ քաղաքներում:

Հայ առևտրական ցանցը դադարեց գործել 18-րդ դարի երկրորդ կեսից՝ կապված Անգլիայի կողմից Հնդկաստանի ամբողջական գաղութացման և հայ վաճառականության հետ համագործակցության դադարեցման հետ, որը հանգեցրեց հայ վաճառականության մասնակի անկմանը: Այդ մասին Սալզանդարյանը նոր հոդված է պատրաստում, որը կներկայացնի այդ թեմայով մոտակա գիտաժողովին:

«Բայց չնայած հայերին իրենց առևտրից դուրս մղելու անգլիական քաղաքականությանը՝ հայ վաճառականության մի մասը կարողանում է իր կապիտալը ներդնել արդյունաբերության մեջ և գրեթե մինչև 20-րդ դարերի կեսերը դեռ ակտիվ դեր խաղալ Հնդկաստանի տնտեսական կյանքում»,- ասում է Սալզանդարյանը:

Սակայն գրեթե բոլոր առևտրական կենտրոններում բազմամարդ և կազմակերպված համայնքներ ունեցող հայ ժողովուրդը սկսում է լքել Հնդկաստանի սահմանները և ամենուրեք հայերի թիվը սկսում է նվազել:

Ալինա Սալզանդարյանը հնդկահայ վաճառականության պատմության մասին երկու լայնարձակ զեկուցումներ է կարդացել «Ծովի մշակույթը մարդկության մշակույթն է քաղաքակրթությունների երկխոսությունում» և «Հայաստանի քաղաքակրթական ավանդը մետաքսի ճանապարհի պատմության մեջ» գիտաժողովներում:

 

http://hetq.am/arm/news/29421/hndkahay-vatcharakanneri-tsaxkumn-u-ankumy-britanakan-azdecutyan-nerqo.html

[Yervant1]

Times of India

Sept 9 2017

The benevolent Armenian

Sep 9, 2017, 07:09 IST

On what would have been his 171st birth day, La Martiniere School has collabo rated with the Indo-Armenian Friend ship NGO to remember Paul Chater, the 'Grand Old Man of Hong Kong'.

This pioneering Kolkata Armenian might only be known to the school's alumni and the people of Hong Kong, but his legacy continues to support millions through his philanthropic work and business acumen. Born in Kolkata on September 8, 1846, Sir Paul studied as a foundationer at Claude Martin's school and left as a qualified surveyor, a minor achievement that would, quite literally , build the foundations for Asia's business hub.

Seen floating in a small dinghy out in the waters off Hong Kong, many thought he was out fishing as usual, but there was no bait at the end of his fishing line; there was a crude depth gauge. Over the course of months, he was measuring the depth of the waters. This data would lead him to carry out one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in Asia: the expansion of Hong Kong by an estimated 57 acres using 3.5 million tonnes of earth, thus increas ing the overall size of the island. This project led to the foundation of one of his many companies, Hongkong Land.

On Friday, at La Martiniere, a number of dignitaries assembled to unveil a bronze bust of Sir Paul, to be located between the Martin and Chater buildings at the school. The Bishop of Kolkata, the Right Reverend Ashoke Biswas, the Armenian Ambassador to India, Armen Armen Martirosyan and the secretary of La Martiniere, Supriyo Dhar, as well as Sir Paul's biographer Liz Chater and National Coordinator of the Indo-Armenian Friendship NGO Karen Mkrtchyan, will be present. "The unveiling of the bust is the product of a long-held ambition to remember and recognise a man who is arguably Kolkata's most important Armenian," says Mkrtchyan, an Armenian from Armenia but who studied at the Armenian College in Kolkata and, before that, at La Martiniere.

In a sign of the growing links between the two nations, an Indian artist has been commissioned to sculpt the bust. Originally from Odisha, Kantikishore Moharana has represented India on various international platforms, including twice at the International Sculptors' Symposium in Nagorno Kharabagh. The bronze bust took him a month to make.

Sonia John, who was both a foundationer and a member of the board at La Martiniere, says: "Sir Paul Chater left a very generous donation for the poor Armenians of Kolkata. His donation has allowed many Armenians to study at La Martiniere, including myself. It is because of these donations that he is still revered at La Martiniere, which was saved from certain closure due to his benevolence."

Dhar holds Sir Paul in equally high regard "The school was in a very grave financial situation and its future looked uncertain. If it hadn't been for Sir Paul's generous donation, I am not sure the school would be here today."

Sir Paul owned, or had a stake in, over 20 businesses in Hong Kong, including many utilities. He held a number of senior government posts -treasurer and chairman of the Queen Victoria Jubilee Committee, member of the governor's executive council, consul for Siam in Hong Kong and chairman of the Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Committee.He had a great interest in sports too -he was the longest serving chairman of the board of stewards of the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club (1892-1926). For his achievements, he was awarded the Legion d'honneur by France and made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George by the British. The myriad of business interests allowed him to donate Rs 11 lakh (its equivalent today would be tens of crores) in the early part of the 20th century to his alma mater when it was on the verge of collapse.

Both Hong Kong and La Martiniere are thriving today, thanks to major interventions by Sir Paul.Hong Kong is the financial trading hub of Asia while La Martiniere is one of the city's top private schools.

"It is a wonderful thing that La Martiniere and Indo-Armenian NGO have done. Sir Paul should have more recognition than he currently gets, and I hope this permanent statue will go some way to helping that happen," says Liz Chater, Sir Paul's distant relative and a genealogist currently working on a biography of Sir Paul.

Sir Paul's legacy is visible elsewhere in the city too: the `Sir Catchick Paul Chater Home for the Elderly' is in the same compound as St Gregory's Chapel near Park Circus, the rear gate of which leads into the Armenian section of the AJC Bose Road cemetery , where many famous Armenians are buried including some of Sir Paul's relatives; one of the companies he founded is still trading here in Kolkata -Jardine Henderson; and two plaques honour his memory at the Armenian Church in Burrabazaar.His palatial mansion in Hong Kong `Marble Hall' accidently burnt down but his final resting place there remains, as does Chater Road and Chater Garden, constant reminders of a Kolkata boy .

The author is an Armenian and a distant relative of Sir Paul Chater . He works as a historian, is a Kolkata heritage enthusiast and conducts heritage walks and tours in the city.

(Anthony Khatchaturian)

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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/the-benevolent-armenian/articleshow/60433409.cms

[Yervant1]

Dear Liz, it was a pleasant surprise that I found this article about you and I am very happy that you are back at this great work. Wish you well! Note for visitors of Hyeforum: If you search our forum for "Liz Chater" you will find many threads about her tireless work and effort, there are very valuable information about history of Armenians in India. Thanks Liz again for your work.

The Daily Star, Bangladesh

Feb 17 2019

Recovering the stories of the Armenians of Asia

Liz Chater

Interview by Moyukh Mahtab

Liz Chater, a family history researcher based in the UK, has been working on the Armenian communities in South Asia since 2010. Currently, she is working with the Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection in Armanitola on the Bangladesh Armenian Heritage Project, which aims to "build the stories, starting from the ground up" of the Armenian communities of Bangladesh and India. In an interview over email with Moyukh Mahtab, she talks of her own heritage, which led her to her research interest, and of her past and present projects.

How did you come to be interested in the Armenian communities of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries in Asia?

My interest in Armenian genealogy in Asia began because of my own family history in India and Dacca [Dhaka]. Like a lot of people here in the UK I was curious about my family's past but actually knew very little about my own family name. My father didn't speak much about his life as a child in India and of course when he passed away it was too late for questions. His brother had been killed in the Second World War at 17 years of age. Their father had also died in the 1940s and I was very young when their mother died, so there simply was no one that I knew of who could tell me about the India connection. My mother gave me a little information and armed with that I travelled to the British Library in London to see what I could discover. I soon realised that there were many people with the name Chater in India and I decided that it would be useful to try and record everyone in the archives with my surname, to try and build a bigger picture. It wasn't long before I found references to my Chater line in Calcutta and Dacca, and that was the spring-board for the journey of a lifetime.

 

Lower Circular Road Cemetery, Kolkata, where a number of Chater family members are laid to rest.

Naturally my research led on to a wider collection of Armenian names. It dawned on me that there was very little information available at the time (around the year 2000) online that was Armenian related. Instinctively, I wanted to try and bring the Armenian family presence in India into a more accessible place to help others who may also be looking for their own Armenian connections in India. I created my website (www.chater-genealogy.com), and started putting general Armenian family history related information on it. Of course when you are researching, you are constantly working backwards and it wasn't long before my enquiries had taken me from the early 20th century, back to the 19th and even earlier to the late-18th centuries and beyond. The further back I went the more engrossed in Armenian family history I became and invariably an answer to a query often created more questions. I began to develop a much deeper interest—a passion for Armenian family history in Asia. I quickly recognised it as one of the less popular aspects of genealogy in India. With only a handful of people who had undertaken research on Armenians and their families in India, it made me even more determined to get involved at roots level. Helping people realise their own personal history, particularly if it contains an Armenian connection, is very important to me.

You mention your search for your family roots in Dhaka and Kolkata. Who were the Chaters here?

Like many Armenians who settled in Asia, my particular Chater line migrated to India from Persia. I am very fortunate that the family bible of my branch has survived. The earliest entry in the bible is of Arakiel Chater, son of Abraham Martyrose and Magdalene Chater. It states he was born on October 11, 1832 at 7am. Tuesday in Dacca. It goes on to record that Arakiel married Miss Elizabeth Florentine on October 4, 1851 and that she died on November 20, 1857 at 6pm on a Friday. The bible records their children and other generations too.

 

Document recording that Arakiel and Elizabeth's first child was born on May 13, 1853 Copyright: Liz Chater

In the image provided it can be seen that Arakiel and Elizabeth's first child was born on May 13, 1853, whom they named Magdalene. A second child, Elizabeth was born on February 2, 1856 on a Saturday and that she sadly died on the October 5, 1880, although it does not state where.

Whilst assisting with the Bangladesh Armenian Heritage Project, what has been exciting for me personally is the process of organising the translating and transcribing of the Church registers. These will eventually be added to the Church website. However, what should be borne in mind is that the Dhaka Church registers are not the original ones. Those seem to have disappeared long ago—the registers the Heritage Project are working with are ones that are much later copies, probably written up in the 1950s or 1960s. Nonetheless, having got them transcribed to English, I have been able to match entries from these records with those entered in my family bible.

 

References to the Chater family found in the registers of the Armenian Church. Copyright: Armenian Church

Arakiel became a clerk in a Judge's office in Arrah, Mymensingh and Dinajpore. One of his seventeen children was my great grandfather Abraham who became a Post Master working in Port Blair for 10 years, then later Calcutta, Patna and Bankipore. Abraham went on to have at least thirteen children of his own, some of whom did not survive infancy.

I have found the records at the British Library invaluable in my personal research. Besides the baptism, marriage and burial returns, there are numerous other records available for consultation. For example military papers, wills and estate inventories, directories, newspapers, East India records, personal papers, Parliamentary and Treasury papers, Marine Department records such as ships' journals and logs, telegraphic, customs, intelligence and secret records, and much more.

Previously, you have worked on the genealogies of the graves in the Armenian Church in Dhaka. Could you tell us about that project?

I have made several trips to India, particularly Kolkata and during the course of each visit, I made a point of photographing as many Armenian graves and tombstones as I could. On returning home I spent time transcribing the ones in English and uploading them on to my website. The Armenian ones were trickier. I don't speak or read Armenian, but I was fortunate that an Armenian student from Kolkata I met on one of my trips shared my passion for history and with his help, along with the help of one of the Armenian teachers, as well as a number of other people including Professor Sebouh Aslanian, these language-locked stones are once again telling their stories, but this time in English. As I began to make progress with the Armenian tombstones in India, I turned my attention to the ones in Dhaka. I hired a photographer to capture all the stones within the compound of the Armenian Church and once again set about transcribing those I could, and getting professional help for the ones written in Armenian. The Very Reverend Fr Krikor Maksoudian's help was invaluable in this regard.

 

The Chater family bible. Courtes: Liz Chater

The Armenian community in Asia has such a rich history, the stones will one day wear away and those people who lay beneath and the stories of their respective lives will be lost and forgotten. If I am able to make a contribution to the preservation of the Armenian presence in Asia then I will be very pleased to play a small part in that.

During a trip to Kolkata in 2005, I was fortunate to be given permission to access one of the many baptism, marriage and burial registers of the Armenian Holy Church of Nazareth. I was able to photograph the very early baptism register entries between 1793–1859. It was of course written in Armenian and I once again had to find a patient and willing helper to translate and transcribe them. It took around two years to complete the register and I was very happy to donate all the work to The Families in British India Society (www.fibis.org) for their growing database of freely available data.

What are you working on currently? How has been the response about the project with the church in Dhaka?

Currently, the Bangladesh Armenian Heritage Project is the main focus of my attention. Over the last few months we have made appeals to anyone who may have had a family connection to the Armenian community of Dhaka at any point during the history of the church. Considering the community's numbers have always been small in Dhaka, both Armen Arslanian (warden of the church) and I are very pleased with the response and contributions that have been made so far. We have been given access to personal family archives, containing a wealth of commercial related documents, photographs and stories.

Armenian musician Rouben Karakhanian who visited the Armenian Church Dhaka in the 1930s. Courtesy: Liz Chater

A completely unexpected side-story that has come to light is of an Armenian musician called Rouben Karakhanian. In 1935 Rouben was in Kolkata visiting the Armenian community there. Travelling on to Dhaka he played a concert in the grounds of the church; the Armenian community enjoyed it immensely. The musician found a most attentive audience and a new friend in a young 22 year old Armenian, Ruben David who was living with his uncle and family at the church who happened to be the resident priest, Reverend Ter Bagrat. The musician gave the young Ruben two signed photographs that became treasured possessions of Ruben's family, and we are delighted that the David family are sharing their archive with the Heritage Project. What is even more extraordinary is that when I was talking through this discovery with Armen, he was rather taken aback, because as a young boy, he remembers meeting the musician 30 years later in the late 1960s at his own home in Los Angeles. Rouben Karakhanian had been invited by Armen's parents to play at their house. Suddenly in 2018, because of his own sequence of life events, Armen, as warden of the Armenian Church in Dhaka found himself remembering a long forgotten memory of his early childhood. Armen says: "Looking at the photograph of Rouben the musician I find myself being reminded of a moment from my very early childhood time that I had no idea would connect me to my future responsibilities of the Armenian Church in Dhaka”—the extraordinary circle of Armenian life, spanning many decades and continents.

As a team, we are pressing forward on the work of the Bangladesh Armenian Heritage Project and continue to appeal for anyone who has or had a family connection to the Armenian community in Dhaka to get in touch with us. This is very much a community driven venture. When we first started this project, we had no idea what material, if any, would be shared with us. A story like that of the David family above just shows how a long forgotten photograph perfectly preserved in an album can be given a breath of life and meaning again.

It seems that with this subject there is a lot that we can still learn about our shared pasts—is there enough research being conducted in this regard?

I haven't come across an Armenian who hasn't got a story to tell but so much history is being lost, forgotten even destroyed. We all have a responsibility to preserve and record what we can as well as help to rediscover the elapsed past. We are fortunate to have Armenian academics dedicating their careers to exactly that.

For more details regarding Liz Chater’s research, visit chater-genealogy.com and chater-genealogy.blogspot.com

The Armenian Church would love to hear from anyone with an association to the Armenian families who once lived in this part of the world for their forthcoming research project. To get in touch, email armenianchurchbangladesh@gmail.com

For more on the Armenian Church in Dhaka, visit their Facebook page

https://www.thedailystar.net/in-focus/news/recovering-the-stories-the-armenians-asia-1703575

 

 

[lizchater]

Thank you so much for sharing this article and your kind words regarding my research efforts. If anyone has Armenian connections to the community in Bangladesh, please do get in touch with me. It would be good to include as many people and their stories as possible in the Bangladesh Armenian Heritage Project.

[Yervant1]

Good to hear from you!

[Yervant1]

Another gem from Liz Chater!

The Daily Star, Bangladesh

May 12 2019

The Pogose School: An Armenian legacy in Old Dhaka

 

 

 

Liz Chater

The Pogose School in Dhaka is a familiar landmark in the city. What is perhaps unfamiliar to the Armenian Diaspora around the world is that it was opened in 1848 by local Armenian Joakim Gregory Nicholas Pogose. His Armenian family network extended into Calcutta as well as Dacca. His parents were Gregory Nicholas Pogose and Elizabeth née Sarkies. Through his mother’s family line one can see a deep-rooted philanthropic trace; his great grandfather, Sarkies Ter Johannes, was co-founder of Johannes Sarkies & Co., and during Ter Johannes’s lifetime contributed enormously to the poor, destitute and needy. His grave inscription reflects: “… he was charitable to the homeless and distributed money bountifully.”

 

 

Joakim Pogose of Dacca married a second cousin, Mariam née Avdall of Calcutta. The influence of personal advancement through educatiowas something she was already very familiar with. The significance of her well-regarded father, Johannes Avdall, the headmaster of the Armenian College & Philanthropic Academy in Calcutta from 1825 for 45 years, would have only made Joakim even more determined to create a school in Dacca. What better mentor than his own father-in-law, a leading educationalist of his time? Imagine if you will, the conversations these two would have had; no doubt discussions on education and the complexities of setting up a school, and how Joakim could learn from the first 25 years of the Armenian College’s existence. Poignantly, In Johannes Avdall’s will, he left a small legacy to: “….my esteemed son-in-law Joakim GN Pogose…..”.

 

 

Avdall was the perfect motivator for the forward thinking Joakim, emulating his father-in-law, Joakim became the headmaster of his own establishment. Knowing his extended Armenian family were already making a significant difference through education in one part of India, he realised it was within his gift to create a similar institution in Dacca, this was simply inspiring for Joakim. The determination and drive by Armenians in India to learn, develop and progress is something the early settlers recognised to be very important. Joakim was no different, and was in the fortunate position to be able to financially support his dream.

In 1856 Joakim and his cousin Nicholas Peter Pogose were on the local and managing committees of Government Colleges and School for Dacca.

In April 1859 Joakim, along with his wife Mary and their four sons travelled from Dacca, via Calcutta to England. Also making this journey were other Armenians from Calcutta; Master Malchus, Mr and Mrs and Master Paul and their three children (and two servants); and Master Apcar. It may be that the Pogose’s were acting as guardians on the voyage for Master Apcar. The vessel docked in Southampton and the Pogoses continued their journey to London. The 1861 census shows the family at 26 Queen’s Terrace, Paddington, in temporary boarding house accommodation. Education for his own children was paramount in Joakim’s mind and although by 1862 he and Mary were by now back in Dacca, their second son, John Avdall Pogose was successful in gaining prizes in English, Maths and Classics at Kings College School in London, an institution run in conjunction with St. Marylebone and All Souls’ Grammar School, a most prestigious institution. The Pogose name regularly featured in the prize list for the school for several years after this. Meanwhile John Avdall Pogose’s brother, Nicholas Joakim Pogose was elected to the Eton Club in October 1869, indicating this is where he continued his education until he went to Oxford.

Meanwhile in Dacca, Joakim (also known as JGN) Pogose was amongst many things, an active Freemason. In recognition of his dedication to the craft, he was presented with as solid gold Past Master’s jewel. Reported in the Indian Freemason’s Friend as follows:

‘Lodge Good Hope – The brethren met emergently on Wednesday the 9th September [1863]... the proceedings were rendered most gratifying by the ceremony which next took place, of presenting to Bro. J.G.N. Pogose, P.M. of the lodge, in a suitable and graceful speech from the E., - besides a splendid collar and apron – a very handsome solid gold P.M.’s jewel, most tastefully executed with buckle and holder, ribbon and case complete, having on a blue ground, a square, and the diagram of the 47th proposition, encircled with a neatly corded vine and cassia border, and surmounted with a square and compasses supporting a double Triangle, richly embossed and chased, bearing on the inverse the following inscription:

“Presented by the Brethren of Lodge Good Hope (No. 1058), Dacca, to W.Bro. J.G.N. Pogose, as a token of fraternal regard, and in acknowledgement of his valuable services to the lodge, particularly whilst W.M. in 1861.’

And around the obverse:

‘Lodge Good Hope (No. 1058).”

The gift was acknowledged by Bro. Pogose in the most thankful and appropriate terms, and with feelings of the warmest gratitude.’

By 1871 a new set of Dacca Pogose boys were now at St. Marylebone and All Souls’ school. The census for that year indicates brothers John Nicholas Pogose, Joakim Nicholas Pogose and Carapiet Nicholas Pogose had been enrolled as boarders, following in the footsteps of their elder cousins. These boys were the sons of Nicholas Peter Pogose (cousin of Joakim Gregory Nicholas Pogose) and his wife Mariam née Sarkies. Nicholas Peter Pogose and his wife had sailed from Calcutta in October 1869 on the “Mongolia” with three children, treading a well-worn educational path set by Pogose School founder cousin Joakim Gregory Nicholas Pogose and his family.

Joakim, who by now was a familiar parental face to the teaching faculty at St. Marylebone and All Souls’ School, was one of a number of parents who presented prizes for the students’ examination success. In 1871, Joakim presented the Geography 1st prize to the value of 2 guineas; the English Essay Prize to the value of 1 guinea; the Euclid prize to the value of 1 guinea; the Note prize to the value of 1 guinea, (this was for the best note written by any boy under the age of twelve); and two Pogose brother’s gained certificates of merit in German. Incidentally, also at this school were two boys named Malchus and Apcar and it is very likely these are the same children who came to England with the (JGN) Pogoses in 1859.

By December 1873 JGN Pogose had been appointed to the Mitford Hospital Committee in Dacca, along with fellow Armenian Marcar David who ran a successful jute business in the city. These two community driven individuals can often be seen trying to make a positive difference by contributing and helping the local Dacca population.

Joakim Pogose’s grandfather, Nicholas Marcar Pogose, was a man of enormous wealth in Dacca, having inherited some of it from his own father Marcar Pogose (sometimes also known as Poghos Marcar). In Dacca, as a Zamindar, Nicholas Marcar Pogose was able to build an impressive and substantial property and land portfolio of his own, and it is this combined early wealth that enabled Joakim Gregory Nicholas Pogose to be in a position to open the Pogose School in the city.

However, it wasn’t just his own school that interested him. Joakim actively supported a visiting women’s rights campaigner from England who was focused on education for women and reform. Mary Carpenter dedicated her life to promoting female education and better standards of living around the world. Having already travelled to India a number of times, she returned once more in 1875, landing in Dacca where her hosts, Joakim and his wife Mary made her most welcome. During her time in Dacca, and fully supported by the Pogose’s, Mary Carpenter gave numerous talks about female education, infant training systems, reformatories, sanitation, industrial schools and providing better homes for the poor. She visited local jails to encourage better conditions for prisoners. She suggested merging the local branch of the National Indian Association (originally established by her) with the local Philanthropic Society, thus giving further strength to the purpose of female education. In her speech at the farewell reception held by Joakim and Mary Pogose, she said: “…sanitation is a subject which you will do well to take up; do not oppose Government in its efforts in this city to make sanitary improvements; you stand in very great need of them; you will improve in physique if you live more healthily...”.

On the evening of Tuesday, December 28, 1875 her Pogose hosts bade her farewell. They were joined at the reception at the Pogose’s well appointed home by a number of local gentlemen, and Mary Pogose was just one of three local females to attend the occasion. Clearly, gender equality was still a distant dream for such gatherings. In thanking everyone, and particularly Mary Pogose, Miss Carpenter said: “…it seems but yesterday that Mrs. Pogose led me into my chamber, nicely decorated with evergreens and fitted up for my comfort. I am very happy that I came to see you.” Eighteen months later Mary Carpenter passed away at her home in Bristol, England, but her legacy continued long after her demise.

In 1876, Joakim and his cousin Nicholas Peter Pogose were honorary magistrates in Dacca together.

Joakim died on December 3, 1876 just two months after his fourth son Paul who had passed away In October of that year at just 22 years of age. By the end of this tumultuous year Mary Pogose had buried a son and a husband. She meticulously and carefully created identical tombstones for them; they are placed only yards apart in the Narinda Cemetery, Dhaka. Tragically, Mary and Joakim had already buried their third son, Nicholas in 1872 who had died in St. Leonard’s, in Sussex of typhoid. Initially Nicholas had been buried in Kensal Green cemetery in London, but, was re-interred at St. Sepulchres, Cemetery, Oxford close to where he had studied.

Mary’s life continued to be difficult. Her remaining two sons, Gregory and John became “mentally incapacitated”. Both initially seemed to have promising careers in front of them, but by 1893 she was providing care and supporting them both financially. Concerned about their financial future after she died, Mary ensured there was sufficient money and physical support for both of them in her will. Mary died in Calcutta in March 1893 and is buried in the Holy Nazareth Armenian Church in the city.

Today, there are no living descendants of the Pogose School founder JGN Pogose and his wife Mary. The school continues to educate students in Dhaka. Pogose’s father-in-law’s school in Kolkata, The Armenian College & Philanthropic Academy also continues to thrive. It will be celebrating its 200 year anniversary in 2020.

A less successful cousin, Nicholas Peter Pogose, was briefly the proprietor of the Dhaka Daily News, as well as a Warden of the Armenian Church Dhaka, but during his lifetime was declared hopelessly insolvent. Nicholas’s son Peter Nicholas Pogose and his wife Eugenie née Manook seem to spend the majority of their lives playing catch-up and trying to avoid their creditors. Peter was embroiled in a spectacular court case for fraud, eventually being found guilty.

You can read the full story as part of the Bangladesh Armenian Heritage Project stories at http://armenianchurchbangladesh.com/spotlight-on-the-community/nicholas-...

Liz Chater is Coordinator and lead researcher for the Armenian Heritage Project Bangladesh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.thedailystar.net/in-focus/news/the-pogose-school-armenian-legacy-old-dhaka-1742800

 

 

[lizchater]

Thank you once again for sharing this article.