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The idea was conceived by Astvazatoor Mooradkhan (Astvatsatur Muradkhanyan) (died 29 September 1799). In his Will dated 30 July 1797 he left Rs.8000 towards the establishment of an Armenian School "for the education of the Armenian youth both rich and poor". Later, through the effort of Manatzakan Vardan (born New Julfa 6 September 1772, died Saidabad 14 October 1823), enough money was raised to begin work. The Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy was founded on 2 April 1821 at 385 Old China Bazaar Street, Kolkata, near the Armenian Apostolic Church. In 1884 the 56 Free School Street (now Mirza Ghalib Street) premises was purchased and the school transferred to its current location. The College was first affiliated to Calcutta University in 1870, but since 1892 the College has been affiliated to the Board of Secondary Education, West Bengal. Notable benefactors include:
In 1949 the Armenian College and Davidian Girl’s School , were amalgamated. Until the 1950s students were mostly from India. However, after independence, Armenians started to leave the country, and the College started inviting pupils from Iran and Iraq . The number of pupils peaked in 1961 and 1962 (206 and 204 respectively). By 1991 there were only 38 students almost all of them being Iranian nationals. In 1992, after the collapse of the Soviet Union , Armenian children from the Republic Of Armenia began to attend the College. In 1999 the Calcutta High Court gave control of the College to the Holy See Of St Echmiadzin , and granted Catholicos of All Armenians Vazgen I the right to manage the college at his discretion. He chose children from Orphanages and among poor families in Armenia to attend the college. India falls under the jurisdiction of the Primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of New Zealand and Australia . In 2004 there were 118 students: 78 from Armenia, 35 from Iran, four Indian Armenians, and one is from Iraq. The College aims to have over 300 pupils by 2008. Principals of the College include:
Since 2004, regular concerns about the financial management of the College and physical care of the children have been expressed. Between 2002 and 2005 no new students were sent to the College, or allowed to return home on vacation. On 4 November 2005 Karekin II , Catholicos of All Armenians, issued a Pontifical Order releasing the Manager of the College. Father Oshagan Gulgulian was appointed as head of an interim school board to govern the College. REFERENCES
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