On April 8, representatives of the national libraries of India and Armenia held the opening ceremony of an antique book exhibition in Kolkata with the support of the RA Embassy in India.

Among the attendees were RA Ambassador to India Ara Hakobyan, Director of the National Library of India Rajendra Kumar, Director of the National Library of Armenia Tigran Zargaryan, Indian state officials, representatives of the Armenian Humanitarian Lyceum of Kolkata and the local Armenian community, as well as journalists and other guests.

The event began with opening remarks by Ambassador Hakobyan and the directors of the national libraries. In his speech, the RA Ambassador particularly mentioned: “India wasn’t selected by chance for this important exhibition. The first Armenian periodical “Azdarar” was published in Madras by Harutyun Shmavonyan in 1794. The exhibition showcases several books that have also been published in India, particularly Madras and Kolkata.”

The RA Ambassador expressed his gratitude to the Indian side for organizing the exhibition at a high level.

During the ceremony, students of the Armenian Humanitarian Lyceum of Kolkata performed Armenian songs.

The exhibition, which will run until April 12^th, showcases books brought from the National Library of Armenia and provided by the library of the Armenian Humanitarian Lyceum. Among the books are Hakob Meghapart’s “Urpatagirk” book published in Venice in 1512, the Bible published in Amsterdam in 1666-68, “Azdarar” magazine published in Madras in 1794-96 and other valuable books, reports the RA MFA press office.