By Anonymous*

On November 10, 2013, Armenian community of Kolkata (Calcutta) assembled to elect a new committee tasked with managing community assets running into the millions of dollars. Elections are held every four years. Allegations of vote rigging and thug tactics voiced by some in the community have marred this recent election. What follows are the views of one community member.

The local Armenians of Kolkata are today facing their biggest nightmare and challenge in the history of Armenians in India.

Simply stated – it is to protect and preserve their Indian Armenian identity and their fundamental right to bequeath their legacy to future generations.

Election fraud in the Armenian community isn’t new. It began due to a few unworthy scrupulous and greedy so-called Armenians who have elected themselves to positions of power by using unjust and inappropriate means.

All this stems from their overwhelming desire to stay in power for ever and to make money by fraudulent means.

What the self-elected Committee has done in order to win the recent election has included getting four clergymen and four Armenians from Armenia to cast a vote in their favor. In return, the foreigners would receive in due course of time a handsome kickback.  

One may rightly ask - what was the reason for inviting these clerics six months prior to the November 10 election date.

Why have four clergymen voted for the first time in the history of the AGM (Annual General Meeting)?

Does this indicate that these clerics are paving way for the next 4 yearly elections, where they will bring 7 more clerics, and vote to oust even members of the present committee?

This is the very same committee that manages the multi-million dollar assets of the Indian-Armenian community.

It would be a dark day indeed and a 500 hundred year Indian-Armenian old legacy would be vanquished forever!

One might ask what four clerics are doing in India, where only 200 Armenians remain.

Why aren’t they in places where there are 40,000 Armenians and no priests – Syria, Ethiopia and elsewhere - where there is a need for holy men to save wandering souls?

These clerics are archimandrites and bishops. Such a situation leads one to speculate as to their hidden agenda.

There is also the question as to what these four clerics and four so-called teachers from Armenia know about the affairs of the Indian Armenians. 

I am sure they don’t know the Indian culture or even how to hail a cab or read and write in English. Do they college degrees in management?

Why are they casting their votes in an Indian Armenian community election? They should not be involved in any way whatsoever! They are in India as clergymen and teachers. They are not here as Committee members or wardens or chairman of a committee that deals with Indian government regarding the management of Indian-Armenian community trusts, properties and assets.

There are petitions being made by some Indian Armenians in the courts, accusing the present committee of unfair elections and heavy-handedness. The accusations range from fraud to obstruction of justice, from autocracy to bank account discrepancies.

It is fair to ask why only defrocked clerics are sent to India. Is it because they are on the road to repentance or do they have a hidden agenda?

The existential problem lies with the present committee which is paying huge amounts of money as salaries and gifts to gain their support.

What exactly are the clerics doing in return for such luxurious salaries? While a cleric in Armenia on average receives, say, $100 a month, in India they receive $2000 to $3000, including benefits. All the while, many Indian-Armenians are deprived of the basic necessities.

The Girls School has been closed for 5 years now, and all the thirty girls are staying at the boys’ hostel. Does the school administrator intend to sell the girls school, which is a trust property? What about the safety of the young girls surrounded by celibate clerics and young teenage boys?

The destiny of the future of the Indian Armenians lies in the hands of a few who will have to keep on fighting till justice is served.

Indian -Armenians are trying to reach out to fellow Armenians all over the globe for support in this grave situation.

Hopefully, the situation in India will not end like the closing of Melkonian Institute in Cyprus or selling off the assets of the Armenian community in Addis Ababa.

According to a few Armenians, who wish to remain anonymous, describe the situation – “We are powerless to raise our voices. We are afraid that our pension and allowances with be cut if we speak out against the community wardens.”  

One other elderly community member asks:  “Who will defend us if we speak out. The wardens will stop my children’s education scholarship payments if we say anything or support the people who are trying to fight for the right cause. All we can ask is that all Armenians are listening and will act to rectify the mistakes.”

This would be an opportune time for Catholicos Karekin II to explain the reason for sending four clerics to India.

We have no choice but to amend the present election scheme and return it top its original form, so that the assets and properties don’t leave the country.

One should keep in mind that the present self-elected committee is elected for their allegiance and not their virtues.

The self-elected committees are: Mickael Dutta, Suzane Ruben, Sunil Sobtee, Robert Wilkins, Peter Hyrapet, Vatche Tadvosyan and Sevil Manukyan.

* - The author’s name has been changed.  The author writes: “I am recipient of charity and speaking out against the current committee could jeopardize my financial assistance and put my well being in danger.”

Photo: www.armdiasporamuseum.com