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Armenians

The Armenians, at their height in 1880s, numbered no more than 100 families, making it one of the smaller ethnic communities established in Singapore. However their size belies the rich contribution they have made in the historical formation of modern Singapore. Vestiges of the importance of this community can be seen in the presence of such place-names as Armenian Street and the adjoining Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator. It is also found in the national flower, Vanda Miss Joaquim and in the establishment of institutions like the Raffles Hotel and the Strait Times.

History
Armenian Diaspora
The Armenians have their origins in Eastern Turkey and Southern Caucasus, a land which straddles the ancient trade routes and fluctuating frontiers of competing empires and civilisations. Armenia is considered to be the first Christian kingdom converting to Christianity in 310 AD. Along with the symbols of its faith, the Armenians evolved a rich unique culture over the ensuing centuries that also contributed and borrowed from their more powerful neighbours. Their Indo-European language follows a 36-character alphabet devised in the fifth century AD. A national Church -- the Armenian Apostolic or Gregorian Church -- evolved as the custodian of Armenian cultural identity. A rich, native architectural style arose from the eight century AD. Economic privation along with the loss of the Armenian political framework in the 14th century AD, led to the Armenian diaspora - an overseas network of Armenian communities. Communities of Armenian merchants, administrators and artisans emigrated to the lands of the West and East bringing along their rich heritage from their ancestral homelands. There are now some five million Armenians living in the Armenian Republic with another two and half million Armenians spread around the five continents.

Armenians in Southeast Asia
The Armenian network of small trading communities in South and Southeast Asia bore great similarities with the Diaspora of Middle Eastern merchant communities, like the Arab, Greek and Jewish trading communities. By the 17th and 18th centuries, Armenian merchant-trading communities had established themselves in Portuguese Goa (India), in English Calcutta, in pre-colonial Myanmar and the ports of Java and the Malay Peninsula (particularly Malacca), the Spanish Philippines and in colonised Ceylon (Sri Lanka). The mercantile European East Indian trading companies and colonial authorities were uncertain if these Armenian trading communities in our region were to be treated as competitors or as allies in their process of commercial and colonial penetration. The Armenian trading communities in Myanmar were considered to be enemies of the English East India Company (EIC) in the 18th century. However, this attitude changed by the next century when Calcutta would boast an Armenian community of some 8,000 and become the heart of Armenian communities in the realms of the EIC. The EIC and later the British colonial authorities would find these Armenian trading networks and communities as worthy allies in their mercantile and colonial penetration of the region. In the late 18th century, when Penang was founded by the EIC, the Armenian traders within the region followed soon after the arrival of the British authority.

Armenians in Singapore
When Sir Thomas Stafford Raffles arrived in Singapore in 1819 there likely was a non-resident network of Armenian traders, emanating from Malacca, Java and especially Penang. With the declaration of British (EIC) authority on Singapore, Armenian trading firms quickly established themselves on the island. Many were involved in import-export enterprises such as spices, textiles, daily commodities, and in the burgeoning opium trade. Armenian trading firms such as the Aristarkies Sarkies Company (1820-1841), Apcar & Stephens Company (1826-1845) and Mackertich M. Moses Company (1821-1845) became prominent in Singapore's growing entrepot colony. Armenian merchants and traders came usually via Penang but some hailed from Calcutta and far off Julfa (Isfahan, Persian-Iran).

The 1820s, thus saw an influx of Armenian merchants, many establishing their trade here. The Armenian traders, unlike their European counterparts, sought to make Singapore their permanent home. Thus, the Armenians brought whole families to the island as compared to the Chinese and Arab tradesmen who constituted only menfolk. By the 1830s, these Armenian merchants began investing in the real estate of this fast growing colony. With the Armenian community thriving in Singapore by the 1830s, plans were made to establish a church. In March 1836, the Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator was consecrated, making it the earliest church in Singapore.

By the 1880s the Armenians numbered some 100 families. Many had gone beyond trading and diversified into practising law or the hotel industry The 1915 massacre of more than 1.5 million Armenians by the Turks saw local Armenians setting up the Armenian Relief Fund and more than $8,000 by less than 80 Armenians. The 1931 census showed 81 Armenians, the highest recorded on a local census. However, the Great Depression of the 1930s dealt a blow to many Armenian businesses both locally and beyond. Many of the Armenians who were British loyalist were interned during World War II, although some escaped internment as they were labelled neutral.

The local Armenian community never seemed to recover from the war's harsh reality. By the 1950s, much of the local Armenian community had emigrated to Australia or had peacefully melted into the fabric of the larger communities in modern Singapore.

Even so, during the key Armenian festival, the Feast of Epiphany held on 6 January, the flags of the Republic of Singapore and the Republic are raised at the Armenian church, floating gently in the winter sea breeze. The Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator was refurbished in July 1994 -- a testimony of the endurance of a small community to build a new home in far off shores.

Accomplishments
Although the early Armenians came as traders and merchants, once established in Singapore, they took on diverse occupations. They made their mark in industries such as the law and the press. Armenian notables include Catchick Moses (Movessian) (1812-1895), a co-founder of the Straits Times, the local daily which has endured until today; the Sarkies brothers instrumental in founding the Raffles Hotel and several other hotels in the region; and Agnes Joaquim after whom the National Flower, the Vanda Miss Joaquim is named. Hoteliers Sarkies brothers, Martin, Arshak, Aviet and Tigran, were also Armenians. They are most noted for establishing luxury hotels in Penang (Malaysia), Rangoon, (Myanmar) and Singapore, most notably the Raffles Hotel and Seaview Hotel.

Some key landmarks of the Armenians include the Church of St. Gregory the illuminator and several streets are named after them including the Armenian Street, Galiston Avenue, Sarkies Road and St. Martin's Drive. Other streets associated with them but no longer existing include Armenian Lane off Armenian Street and Narcis Road.


Author
Gary Dwor-Frecaut



References 
Communities of Singapore: A catalogue of oral history interviews Part I (pp.1-9). (1989). Singapore: Oral History Department.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 COM) 

Encyclopedia of world culture (Vol VI, pp. 27-31). (1998). Boston: G.K. Hall & Co.
(Call no.: R 306 ENC) 

The new encyclopaedia Britannica (Vol 1, pp.564-568). (2002). Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica.
(Call no.: R 903.1 NEW) 

Heong, C. H. (1992). The Armenians a vanishing tribe. In Singapore days of old (pp.140-143). Singapore: Singapore Tatler.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 SIN) 

Sarkissian, M. (1987). Armenians in South-East Asia. In Crossroads: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Southeast Asian studies (Vol. 3, pp.1-33). DeKalb: Center for Southeast Asian Studies.
(Call no.: R 959 C)

Worldmark encyclopedia of cultures and daily life (Vol.4, pp.42-46). (1998). Detroit: Gale Research. 
(Call no.: R 305.8003 WOR) ) 

Wright, N. (2003). Respected citizens: The history of Armenians in Singapore and Malaysia. Melbourne: Amassia Publishing.
(Call no.: RSING 305.891992 WRI)

Kan, G. (1994, December 25). Singapore oldest church is new again. The Strait Times, p.17.

Singapore must be open to all races says B.G. Lee. (1992, November 9). The Straits Times, p. 37.

Clarence-Smith, W. (1998). Middle Eastern entrepreneurs in Southeast Asia c.1750-1940. London: School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). Retrieved on August 16, 2003, from  http://www.eh.net/XIIICongress/cd/papers/10Clarence-Smith301.pdf


Further Readings
Ammasia Publishing.  (2003). Respected citizens: The history of Armenians in Singapore and Malaysia.  Retrieved August 20, 2003, from www.amassia.com.au

University of Michigan-Dearborn. (2005, August). Armenian Research Centre.  Retrieved January 4, 2006, from www.umd.umich.edu/dept/armenian/ 

The information in this article is valid as at 2003 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

Subject
Ethnic Communities>>Diaspora
Armenians--Singapore
Social groups--Singapore
People and communities>>Social groups and communities



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