Armenian College (Kolkata)

Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy (ACPA) is an Armenian school in Kolkata, India. As of 2015^[update], it is the sole Armenian-centred school in the eastern section of the world,^[1] and has been so throughout its history. It is commonly known as the Armenian College.

Armenian College, Kolkata

Established	1821; 204 years ago (1821)
Location	56b Mirza Ghalib St, Kolkata, India
Coordinates	22.55488°N 88.35336°E / 22.55488; 88.35336
Type	School
Collection size	Araratian Library (now lost)
Website	www.armeniancollege.edu.in

It serves students from Class I,^[2] until Class X.^[3]

Origins

Margar Hovhannisian is considered to be a pioneer in establishing schools for Calcutta's Armenian students, educating them from 1763 in his own home. As was the custom in those early days in Calcutta, many private individuals were opening private schools for the education of the children of the growing township and there were several schools run by Armenians at which Armenians and other children were educated. Reports of a school established by Harutyun Galutsian appeared in 1798, but by no means proves that there were no other schools running at the same time. The Armenian Seminary of St. Sanducts at Sukias Lane existed even prior to 1851, when a report of its examinations (in 1851) appeared in the local Calcutta Press, "The Friend of India". Like many compatriots, Astvatsatur Muradghanian left Rs. 8000 in his will dated 30 July 1797, towards the establishment of a school for the education of Armenian Children. Some writers incorrectly state that he could have left money to establish an "Armenian College" when the name itself was not even decided at the time of his death. Later, another Julfa born merchant, Manatsakan Sambat Vardanian of Saidabad in 1816, published a pamphlet "Hravirak" through which he urged his compatriots to donate money for establishing a school for Armenian children. He managed to collect Rs. 59,583. In a petition to the Calcutta High Court in Suit No. 286 of 1879, the elders of the Armenian Community including Sir Gregory Charles Paul. the Advocate General of Bengal, informed the Court that prior to the year 1818 subscriptions and contributions were obtained from various Members of the Armenian community in Calcutta towards the foundation and support of a School in Calcutta for the education and maintenance, gratuitous and otherwise of children born of parents belonging to the Armenian community, and that with the money so obtained in or about the year 1818, a school or institution for the above-mentioned purposes was established in Calcutta. Thereafter at a General Meeting of the Armenian Community at Calcutta on 2 April 1821, the Rule and Regulations of the School were formally adopted and framed in a document entitled: "Armenian Philantrophic Academy founded by the Armenian Community of India on the 2nd April 1821". This document is the earliest set of rules, which embodies the intentions of the Founders of the Institution. A copy of the Regulations of 1821 was annexed to the High Court petition and was marked with the letter "A".^{[citation needed]}

Operations

it has no tuition and provides free room and board due to the funds donated by Kolkata-born ethnic Armenian Sir Catchick Paul Chater.^[4]

Student body

the majority of the student body originates from the country of Armenia while that year it also had students from Burma (Myanmar), Iran, Iraq, and Russia.^[4] As of 2006^[update] Armenians were the majority with a significant number from Iran; two of the students in total were locals from Kolkata and one was from Iraq.^[2]

many students come to the school to improve their English abilities as the English-language environments of their home countries are not as robust as India's.^[2]

Davidian Girls’ School

Before 1842 ACPA had had a girls’ section with special teachers and separate classrooms. A "Second Galutsian School" was established by Hovhannes Avdalian established a girls private school in his own home and named in honour of his teacher, but this also closed down in due course. A third attempt was initiated on 16 February 1846, when Mesrop Taghiadian opened a girls’ school and named it Saint Sandught, later adding a boys section. At its height there were 35 pupils (15 girls and 20 boys) but Saint Sandught closed down six years later.

The education of Indian-Armenian girls was seemingly ignored until 1922 when David Avetic Davidian founded the Trust of D.A. David (in his own name) and started a school for local girls and boys, inviting Mrs. Sandught Hovhannisian to teach in the new institution. Until his death, David remained the "Principal" of the School and managed it himself with the assistance of a Committee in terms of the trust he created. It was his intention to expand the school from his own house at Royd Street, to a much bigger place and Davidian purchased the huge grounds and buildings of the London Missionary Society at No 1, Ashutosh Mukherjee Road, Calcutta 700025 and gave it to the Trust in an agreement with the Official Trustee, Govt. of West Bengal, who is the Ex-Officio Trustee of the Trust of D.A. David.^[5]