The Spitak Earthquake Is Remembered In New Delhi

• 12.09.2018, 10:32
•  Asia,  World,  Armenia,  Diaspora

On December 7th, 2018 at the Springdales school (New Delhi, India), the 30th anniversary of the Spitak earthquake was commemorated. The event was organized by the Armenian Embassy in India, the Armenian Cultural Center in Delhi and the Springdales School, which is considered one of the best schools in the capital.

But why in this school?

The fact is that recently it turned out that 30 years ago, along with several other Indian schools, the students of this school sent help to their Armenian peers affected by the earthquake.

The school hall was full of students, teachers and guests, including members of the Armenian community of Delhi. An introductory speech was made by the General Director of the Springdales schools network, Dr. Jyoti Bose, who was also the principal back in 1988, who shared her memories of those days. It was then that they heard the name of small Armenia, which was part of the Soviet Union, and could not remain indifferent to its tragedy.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the Republic of India H.E. Armen Martirosyan noted in his speech that although at that time India’s GDP was 20 times smaller than the GDP of the Soviet Union, however, this country sent to Armenia three planes with humanitarian aid.

The event was also attended by the former Indian Ambassador to Armenia H.E. Suresh Babu. In his touching speech, he said that in 1988 he worked in the USSR Department of the Ministry of External Affairs of India, and he was assigned to coordinate work on sending aid to the disaster zone. The Vice-President of the Armenian Cultural Center, Professor, Padmashri Awardee (the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India), personal doctor of the three Presidents of India, Mr. Mohsin Wali spoke about the fruitful activities of the Springdale schools network and its Director.

Then the head of the Armenian Cultural Center, cardiologist of the Clinic of the President of India Gayane Movsisyan introduced to the audience Armenia, its culture, as well as Armenian-Indian relations, mentioning famous Armenians in the history of India and their work, after which the Center handed over Armenian souvenirs to open an Armenian corner in school. RA Ambassador A. Martirosyan presented the school with a reproduction of the famous painting by marine painter Aivazovsky “Descent of Noah from Ararat” and books for the school library.

After the event, a Skype conference began between the Indian school and the Anania Shirakatsi seminary in Yerevan. Students from both countries took part in the conversation with great interest. By the way, soon the schools will become sister-schools, as a result of which mutual educational programs will be implemented.

      

Naira S. Mkrtchyan

 New Delhi