RECOLLECTING YEAR 2015: A THANKS NOTE

Dear IAF Members and Supporters,

Greetings to you all! 

One more year loaded with sweet memories and cheerful times has passed and we are sure it will continue to be more vibrant in forthcoming years too. 

Year 2015 is coming to an end today and it's been quite eventful year for IAF. We've tried our best to manifest Indo-Armenian Relationship to newer heights. However, it would not have been possible without your unconditional love & support! Let us recollect a few important events of the year here. 

We started 2015 by organizing Armenian Christmas at different locations in india through our members in that particular city or region. We organized it in New Delhi. IAF's South India coordinator Mrs. Ashkhen Khachatryan coordinated and organized the same in Chennai for whole South India. They visited the historical Armenian Church in Chennai and had Christmas Dinner. Armenian Community from Bangalore, Chennai and Puducherry joined altogether in Chennai. 

On 26th January, Indo-Armenian Friendship NGO in association with Embassy of India, Yerevan, Armenia launched an 84 Page Publication titled "INDIA: NEW VISION, NEW VIGOUR" to commemorate 65th Anniversary of Republic Day Of India.

From 26 to 28 of March, our Armenian friends had the chance to enjoy one more time the magic world of Bollywood on big screen of Moscow cinema. 

We had the pleasure to invite everybody to enjoy Indian films in the framework of “Bollywood back in Armenia” project. The screening was organized in collaboration with the Embassy of India to Armenia and Mr. Davit Bejitashvili from Georgia, and took place at Moscow cinema.

Considering "Chess" as the most loved common sports between Armenia and India, 1st Indo-Armenian Friendship Chess Tournament was organized by Indo-Armenian Friendship NGO on March 29 at Yerevan State Medical University after M.Heratsi, supported by the Embassy of India to Armenia, Medical University and University’s students council of Indian and Armenian students. 

As decided by IAF this tournament will become an annual event of IAF Sports Club.

On May 26th, Medal Felicitation Ceremony to the winners of 1st Indo-Armenian Friendship Chess Tournament (29.03.2015) was organized at Yerevan State Medical University after M.Heratsi.

The awarding ceremony was attended by H.E Ambassador of India to Armenia Dr Suresh Babu, the rector of YSMU Mr. Mikayel Narimanyan, Vice-Rector for External Affairs and International Partnerships Mr. Yervand Sahakyan and the president of Chess Academy of Armenia Mr. Smbat Lputyan.

One of the biggest achievements of the year that everyone cherished. From 31st of August till 6^th of September Indo-Armenian Friendship in collaboration with ICIRLD Armenia and Havana Restaurant Complex with the support of the Embassy of India in Armenia organized  a 7 days long Cultural Festival “Days of India in Armenia”. 

 It became a festival of colors and joy, tastes and beauties, a festival of a real friendship and global understanding, a festival of new discoveries and new perceptions of real India which is beyond Bollywood. The grand opening was attended by more than 20 ambassadors of different countries in Armenia, by many representatives of very different Ministries and just by Indian culture lovers.

In November IAF in association with Yerevan Mall, organized a Bollywood Dance FLASH-MOB in Yerevan and people enjoyed it a lot. In November itself IAF joined the YSMU team and Pharaon Entertainment Complex in support with Embassy of India to celebrate the festival of lights Diwali in the name "Indian Cultural Night". It was one of the most glittering events of the year.

In December, IAF in collaboration with Embassy Of India and Media Focus Organization, organized a huge successful event: "India In Yerevan Metro" exhibition and Indian Movie Dance Flash-Mob in Yerevan Metro. It became a viral event and many people passing through Yeritasardakan Metro in Yerevan enjoyed that. 

Apart from all this, we organized many more small and medium events and programs throughout the year which is not mentioned here. 

On this note, let us take this opportunity to thank our all members for their great support. Special thanks to Embassy of India in Armenia for their continuous support to us to help us realize our all activities. Thanks to our all partner organizations, for making the huge task easier for us with their complete supprt and last but not the least..A heartfelt thanks to our IAF team which is ably and comprehensively coordinated by our Secretary General Ms. Lusine Toroyan in close-coordination with our team members Armine Sargsyan, Anna Hovsepyan, Roza Navoyan and Ani Yeremyan. Without their dedicated hard work, this all would not have been possible. 

On behalf of all IAF team members, we wish everyone a very happy and prosperous New Year 2016! 

Rananjay Anand & Ruzanna Ashughyan

Co-founders

Indo-Armenian Friendship NGO

IAF celebrates Independence Day of Armenia in India

By Karen Mkrtchyan

 “For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, 

See if they will not create a new Armenia”

IAF Members gathers to celebrate
Independence Day of Armenia on 21st September

21^st September is a special day for Armenia, as it was on this day 20 years back that the Soviet Socialist Republic of Armenia officially was re-born into the current independent nation.  Like any other year, this year as well, the world witnessed celebrations by the Armenians and their friends and well-wishers across the globe, and New Delhi, the capital city of Incredible India was not left out from it. And neither were we at IAF willing to forget the importance the day had. Hence, in the evening of the same day, at the same time when another IAF group had gathered in Yerevan, a small but dedicated group of IAF members gathered together at Connaught Place to mark the 21^st year of Armenia’s Independence . Even though on a short notice only a few of us could turn up, we at Indo-Armenian Friendship always believe that in the long run, it is Quality and not Quantity that makes a difference. There is a reason why I say this. If you are a member of IAF, then I am pretty sure you are familiar with the name Aman Bhardwaj-an active member in our facebook group. All of us present that evening were amazed at his dedication when this young man turned up , having travelled three hours from Aligarh to Delhi just to celebrate that auspicious day with us. IAF is proud to have such dedicated members who will stop at nothing to see that our NGO succeeds in executing all our plans smoothly. Aman also entertained using his amazing talent by singing  a few songs for us, and was even joined in and followed by a wonderful performance from our founder Mr. Rananjay Anand.

IAF members in discussion!

The get-together consisted of members from both countries, with the majority of us being students. To start the meeting on a good note, Founder & President Mr. Rananjay Anand welcomed everyone in the first ever IAF group member meeting in India and asked everyone to share their experience and then choke out a future plan of action for proper interaction. Lilit Andreas, an Armenian lady who is married to an Indian was also among us, along with her little angel daughter Ani, who, in Lilit’s own words is “a result of Indo-Armenian Friendship”. Lilit shared her experiences in India and also hinted on the various problems an Armenian girl is likely to face after coming to India, followed by useful tips and points as to how the various problems can be either avoided or solved. We also had two doctors amongst us, Dr. Dinesh Chauhan and Dr.Sony Jose,  who had studied in the Medical College of Yerevan and had returned to India after completing their degree. They both spoke Armenian pretty well and it was really heart-warming for us Armenians to see Indians speaking in Armenian-just as heartwarming it may be for them to see  Armenians speaking in Hindi. They both spoke about the years they  spent in Armenia and how close to their hearts Armenia was. After all, it had been their second home, just like India has been my second home for over ten years now.

Dr. Dinesh Chauhan sharing his experiences in Armenia
during his medical study in Yerevan

Interestingly, we had one journalist young lady from Armenia, Ms. Inga, who is studying in IIMC, and is in India on an ICCR scholarship, and another journalist from India, Ms. Nidhi Gupta.  Both these young and talented media representatives gave us their ideas from a journalists point of view, both stressing on the point that lack of information amongst the citizens of both the countries regarding Armenia and India is a major problem to be tackled, a point we all agreed on. Hayarpi and Anoush, both  on ITEC & ICCR  scholarships from India, also shared  their thrilling experiences in India.

Anush and Dr. Dinesh

The meeting also brought a new addition to our group. Arihant Kumar Vardhan, a Phd student in Persian Language at JNU also joined us, showing great interest in IAF.

Overall, the meeting was productive, and of course, as all good  and bad things come to an end, so did our meeting. Before we could realize, the clock had done its work and it was time for us to depart, promising many more meetings in the future to come. IAF thanks our founders Mr. Rananjay Anand and Ms. Ruzanna Ashughyan for organizing the get-together, and  wishes all Armenians a prosperous year ahead, and may this 21^st independence bring our two countries closer and may we grow from strength to strength. Long live India Armenia. Long live Indo-Armenian Friendship.

Long live Indo-Armenian Friendship!

About Author: 
Mr. Karen Mkrtchyan is a full time student in 
India's premier Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi.

Armenia Celebrates India’s 65th Independence Day

PRESS RELEASE

The Celebration of India’s 65th Independence Day in Armenia took place on August 15, at 10 o’clock in the morning at the India House- the official residence of Indian ambassador in Armenia.

Armenian Hindi Students singing 

India's National Anthem "Jana Gana Mana"

The Independence Day of India is celebrated on the 15th of August to commemorate its independence from British rule and its birth as a sovereign nation in 1947. The day is a National Holiday in India. The celebrations take place all over the country as well as outside its borders.

 

Here in Armenia there became a tradition for Indian embassy to celebrate this national holiday far from India. Yesterday on August 15 at 10 o’clock in the morning the Embassy of India in Armenia cordially invited IAF executive team members and other guests to India House-his official residence in Yerevan.

IAF Executive Team Members 

with Hon Indian Ambassador

The ceremony of flag hoisting took place in the green and sunny backyard garden. While H.E. Mr Achal K. Malhotra was hoisting the Indian Tri-Color flag bursting with rose petals, the Amenian Students of Yerevan Humanitarian Institute studying Hindi were singing the national anthem of India "Jana-Gana-Mana" followed by another Hindi song performed by the students of Galik College in Ijevan.

Hon. Ambassador of India H.E. Achal K. Malhotra 

hoisting Indian National Tricolor

Mr. Ambassador read the speech of the President of India H.E. Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil on the eve of the 65^th Independence Day at New Dehli on August 14, 2011.

Hon Ambassador presenting 

India President's Speech

Among the invited guests there were all IAF executive team members,  Indians working and studying in Armenia as well as Armenians having social and cultural relationship with India.

After the official part of the Day guests were invited to have light refreshments, discussing different news both from India and Armenia, exchanging the impressions and experiences of different spheres of intercultural life.

The IAF Solidarity

IAF: Unleashing Youth Power!

(International Youth Day Special)

By Rananjay Anand

On 17 December 1999, in its resolution 54/120, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference of the Ministers, responsible for Youth, (Lisbon, 8-12 August, 1998), that 12 August be declared International Youth Day (IYD).

Exactly before two years from now, in August 2009, a group was created on a Social Networking Site Facebook, with a humble name "India-Armenia Friendship" with an intention to gather like-minded people and have a proper interaction between its people to bridge the gap created in the course of history. 

Two years have passed since then. You all have been there. You loved it, you celebrated it, you enjoyed it, you fought for it, you struggled for it, you made new friends, and you showed your anger and complaints too, i.e in a nutshell, a wholesome amalgamation of two different cultures with all colors of emotions and feelings. You have witnessed IAF's great journey so far, by being the part of this Caravan.

Now exactly after two years, I'm proud to announce IAF in its Physical Avatar. A real transformation from Facebook based virtual group to a legally existing NGO in Armenia. My dear friends, let me take this opportunity to congratulate you all by announcing that your virtual IAF has been legally registered as "Indo-Armenian Friendship" NGO in Armenia. From now onward August 12 will be celebrated by us as "IAF Founding Day" every year. This is the real transformation of Youth Power.

The International Youth Day (IYD) is something special this year. "Change Our World" has been chosen as the theme for IYD 2011 as it not only expresses the level of impact that young people strive to achieve, but also reflects the notion of a Global Citizenship. IAF envisages the same Global Perspective of having a Global Platform for Youth from every corner of the world, to come together and change the world. This inspired us to form "Society For Promotion Of Global Understanding"  aka (SPGU), based in India, armed with its country specific chapters through collaborations and creations around Globe. And IAF being the first country specific arm of SPGU, is exactly the "Torch-Bearer" of this theme excellently.

The world is facing myriad of problems: Poverty, Hunger, Unemployment, Natural Calamities, Global Warming, Clash of different cultures, sects & religions, and the list goes endless..Who will be facing this?? Can we afford to sit idle?? As young people we must realize that we are the ones who will be affected tomorrow by today's decision. Do we need to approach Problem to Solution or is it Solution to Problem approach  for all solution?? To my mind we must strive for the later case. 

It is our latent and creative ideas or voices, that will shape the future; We are Young, active and full of energy, we embrace challenges and are open to new and different experiences. With our intense desire for positive change, we have the ability to move beyond the geography and time restrictions and are undoubtedly the dynamic group of people that are the primary enablers of the Social Change. We need to unleash the untapped potential.

We hereby request to all those who can be our stakeholders to realize the theme this year and work together to ensure that policies and processes are in place to provide continuous investments in youth, to encourage youth mind to participate and take the challenge head-on and to improve the Intercultural Understanding among youth. IAF would like to continue with the spirit of IYD forever.

We, the Youth need support and encouragement from all around; be it Government, Corporate Houses, Private sector businesses, National and International Foundations, Philanthropists, Civil Society Organizations or other Stakeholders, we want to see them to work with us for a sustainable future. Youth need to be included at all levels of Decision-making to ensure that their need are met. This will provide the solution.

Let's dream a world, World of Togetherness. Come, join and be the force to reckon with.

To See The Change, Be The Change!

Armenia celebrates Republic Day of India with great zeal!!

Each year, 26th January is a day on which every Indian heart fills up with patriotic fervor and immense love for motherland. There are many significant memories as it was this day when the Indian Tricolor was first unfurled in January 1930 at Lahore, by Pt Jawaharlal Nehru and the declaration of an independent Indian National Congress was made.

26th January, 1950 was the day when the Indian republic and its constitution came into force. It was this day in history in 1965 when Hindi was declared as the official language of India.

 PIC 1: Republic Day Parade on 26th January

Republic Day is celebrated every year with much enthusiasm all over the country and to mark the importance of this occasion, a grand parade is held in the capital, New Delhi, from Raisina Hill near the Rashtrapati Bhavan (President's House), along the Rajpath, past India Gate and on to the historic Red Fort.

 

 Not only in India do Indians celebrate the Republic Day but also all over the world wherever they have embassies and communities. Here in Armenia the celebrations began early in the morning at the residence of ambassador of India to Armenia. The ceremony of flag hoisting took place in the cozy backyard garden. While H.E. Mr Achal K. Malhotra was hoisting the Indian Tri-Color showering with rose petals from inside the flag, the Armenian Students of Yerevan Humanitarian Institute studying Hindi were singing "Jana-Gana-Mana" the national anthem of India. After this  Mr Ambassador read the annual speech of the president of India Mrs Pratibha Devisingh Patil to the invited guests: Indians working and studying in Armenia as well as Armenians having good relationship and attachment to India. This was followed by impressive lines from famous patriotic poem by Ram Avatar Tyag read in Hindi by the students of YHI. What impressed me most was that all Indians being present were singing the anthem so wholeheartedly and were exclaiming proudly and solemnly "Jay Hind". 

PIC 2: Flag Hoisting by Ambassador to Armenia H.E. Mr. Achal Kumar Malhotra

But the celebrations didn't end at this. There was a big reception in the evening at Ani Plaza Hotel. Many politicians and artists, businessman and friends of India were invited.

At one corner of the hall the guests could get introduced to photo presentation desk "India-Armenia throughout the eyes of  the lense". A special edition of NAMASTE (Indian monthly magazine being published in Armenia) was prepared on the occasion of 62nd anniversary of the Republic of India. In this edition, Armenians can find Indian tales and stories translated into Armenian.

The chief guest of the evening was the prime minister of Armenia, Mr Tigran Sargsyan. The ceremony began with national anthems of India and Armenia. Then H.E. Mr Achal K. Malhotra had a speech marking the importance of the day. “Currently, India is a democratic state, which takes care of equal development and prosperity of its society,” the Ambassador said. Speaking about the relationship between the India and Armenia also noted for his part that the two countries’ leaders intend to expand the trade and economic ties. He added that India’s economy managed to record 9% growth under conditions of the global crisis.

PIC 3: Prime minister of Armenia Mr Tigran Sargsyan
& H.E. Mr Achal K. Malhotra with his wife

Mr. Tigran Sargsyan congratulated the people of India on behalf of the Armenian government and himself, wishing peace, prosperity and new achievements in all fields. Being a cradle of ancient civilizations India has made spiritual and intellectual contribution to world’s cultural heritage and is contributing to modern processes, he stressed. Mr. Sargsyan said that modern India continues making an important contribution to the cultural development of the world. He added that preservation and development of good traditions between the two peoples is among duties of the Armenian and Indian governments.

The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the Indian government for the programs implemented in Armenia.

“Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s expected visit to Delhi will serve as a new impetus for boosting the bilateral relations,” said Sargsyan.

After official part Mrs Anita Verma, a lecturer of Hindi in Armenia was invited to stage to introduce the cultural part of the reception. As every ceremony or event in India the cultural part also started with Vandana performed by 3 pretty Indian Student of Yerevan State Medical University. Vandana was followed by another magnificent performance: Dance Play for Hanuman Chalisa by Andranik Asatryan, an artist and student of State Institute of Theater and Cinematography. The performances were completed by a Sari show and wedding ceremony. Here we witnessed the perfect combination of Armenian beauty in Indian national dresses. These were students of Yerevan State Linguistic University after V. Bryusov studying Hindi. 

 PIC 4: Dance Play for HANUMAN-CHALISA performed by Andranik

PIC 5: Sari Show by Students of Yerevan State Linguistic University

PIC 6: Indian Wedding Ceremony Show

The event was completed by reception of Indian cuisine: diverse and incredible as India it is.