"THREE CENTURIES OF ARMENIAN HERITAGE IN INDIA" TO BE PRESENTED IN NAASR

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
29.05.2009 16:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Dr. Omar Khalidi of the Aga Khan Program for
Islamic Architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT) will give an illustrated lecture entitled "Three Centuries of
Armenian Heritage in India" on June 4, at the National Association
for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) Center in Belmont, Mass,
The Armenian Weekly reports.

Though Armenians were in India from early times, their presence in
India is well-documented from the 16th century, after the establishment
of the important mercantile community in New Julfa in Persia. The
community grew in size and importance in the 17th and 18th centuries,
with many Armenians rising to positions of prominence.

Khalidi’s lecture will give an overview of India’s Armenian
Diaspora-its churches, cemeteries, and related art-in such locations
as Kolkata (Calcutta), Bombay, Delhi, Agra, Surat, Hyderabad, Madras,
Dhaka (in modern Bangladesh), and elsewhere.

Dr. Omar Khalidi has a Ph.D. in Islamic studies from the University
of Wales.

This lecture is the second talk given in memory of Arshag Merguerian
(1926-2005), an architect and active member and friend of NAASR for
nearly 50 years. The expenses for the lecture will be covered by
funds contributed to NAASR in Merguerian’s memory.