Striking Calcutta Academy Students Want Respect and Love

In a letter to Catholicos Garegin II, striking students at the Calcutta Armenian Philanthropic Academy write that they feel despondent and hurt. They state that while they never wished to burden the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church with their problems, they see no other alternative, and that their silence has just made matters worse.

The students say the situation at the Academy is unhealthy and explosive and that the current state of affairs isn’t at all a result of the series of events that took place in June when the school administration called in Indian police to "restore security". The students say a change is needed at the school and that what is needed is a staff and administration that can restore a sense of family and pride at the educational institution. They say that while they welcomed the selection of Father Khoren as director of the Academy, the honeymoon didn’t last long. The students claim that Father Khoren twisted every word and action of the students into a weapon to be used against them and that the clergyman responded with punishment, personal belittlement and dismissal. They express their belief that the Catholicos hasn’t been properly informed of the goings on at the school and confess that certain improvements have been made. All they ask for is a modicum of respect, love and understanding. They call on the Catholicos not to allow the fates of some of the students to be so arbitrarily destroyed. They argue that Christianity teaches one to extend a helping hand, not deprivation and punishment. The students close their plea by stating that they are putting their trust in the divine power of Holy Etchmiadzin and the sense of justice of the Catholicos.