Kolkata March 2007

My trip to Kolkata in March 2007 was to undertake an Armenian family history/genealogy project.  I set myself the task of photographing all the Armenian graves in and around Kolkata.  I took over 1700 photographs and they can be found on my family history website at www.chater-genealogy.com.  They will be uploaded as and when I am able to transcribe them, so please check back there regularly, but bear in mind I do have a life outside of genealogy so it may take some time!  Whilst in Kolkata I returned to the Armenian College, where I had visited two years ago.  My friend Colleen was still in situ and Michael Stephen too, but the management base had changed. 

New faces and fresh ideas led by Father Oshagan, have brought the school back to life.  It came across as brighter, cleaner, fresher and sharper; technology and communication being at the forefront of the change that I saw with computers now networked rather than a one-off stand alone machine in an office. Systems, schedules and long term development plans in terms of the school and its educational programme and facilities are also being reviewed with good solid advice being sought of relevant professionals in all fields, such as child nutritionists and education system experts.  It is clearly of paramount importance that the children's educational needs and wellbeing come first and changes that I saw are, without doubt, moving the old institution into the 21st century. Contact between the children and their parents is vital for their balance and personal happiness,  and this is very much encouraged by the staff.  Parents can telephone the school on a Friday and the new P.A. system now installed on the premises allows a child to be called from anywhere in the school to take their parents' call.  I was also allowed to take a look around the Davidian School and the pictures below give some indication as to how facilities for the girls are being upgraded in a long-term ongoing project, again being overseen by Father Oshagan.  His commitment and dedication to improving everything all round for the children in the care of the two schools is very real, and his  enthusiasm to turn the Armenian College once again into a respected and committed educational established is also palpable - he believes in the children, in the staff and the school.  The children too have a renewed vitality about them.  I was invited to watch the school general knowledge quiz in the main hall, and the rivalry and competition between the four houses (red, blue, green, yellow), was fierce but friendly.  Animated and excited discussions took place about the questions being asked and you could feel that they were really enjoying the challenge and all wanted to win - it also tested my brain too!

Much change has happened at the school, and much more is no doubt in the pipeline; as with major corporate companies who have five and ten year business plans, I don't doubt for a moment that the management and staff of the school also have the equivalent of a expansive and progressive educational plan to encompass every aspect of the future and the growth of the school.  With his energy, determination and sense of urgency, I'm sure Father Oshagan will succeed.

There is so much more going on than I am able to put on this website.  I have limited web space available to me here, so I cannot show everything, but if you would like to see further details of the on-going improvement programme for both the Armenian College and the Davidian School, then may I suggest you email Father Oshagan at armeniancollege@sify.com, who I am sure will be more than happy to answer any queries.