The Armenians and the Baha'is

Class 7 Social Science · Chapter 17: India, a Home to Many · NCERT Exploring Society: India and Beyond section 17.4

Learn

Armenia is a small mountainous country between Turkey and Azerbaijan. Armenian merchants traded in Indian spices and fine muslin, perhaps settling on the Malabar coast by the 8th century. In the 16th century the Mughal emperor Akbar allowed them to build a church at Agra, and Armenians served in the royal household, army and administration. They built schools and churches in Surat, Kolkata (whose Armenian College still runs) and Chennai, where Armenian Street and an 18th-century Armenian church remember them.

The Baha'i faith began in Persia in the mid-1800s, taught by Baha'u'llah, who spoke of the unity of all people and harmony between religions. Iran's religious leaders branded Baha'is heretics and mistreated them, so some came to India from the late 19th century. Many Indians later joined the faith, and today most Baha'is in India are Indians who share its message of unity and love.

Explore: which community?

1. Sort each clue.

Remember

• Armenian merchants settled in Agra, Surat, Kolkata and Chennai, leaving churches and schools.
• Baha'is fleeing persecution in Iran found safety in India; most Indian Baha'is are now Indians.

Quick check

Which Mughal emperor let the Armenians build a church at Agra?

1. Akbar
2. Aurangzeb
3. Babur
4. Humayun

Think about it

Why might a ruler welcome skilled merchants from another land?

Practice

Practise with fresh questions at three levels (easy, medium, hard), some answered hands-on, with hints and worked answers. Get 4 of your last 5 right to finish the topic.