The Pogose School in Dhaka is a familiar landmark in the
city. What is perhaps unfamiliar to the Armenian Diaspora around the world is
that it was opened in 1848 by local Armenian Joakim Gregory Nicholas Pogose.
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| The Pogose School, Dhaka. Founding date. |
His Armenian family network extended into Calcutta as well as
Dacca. His parents were Gregory Nicholas Pogose and Elizabeth née Sarkies.
Through his mother’s family line one can see a deep rooted philanthropic trace,
His great grandfather, Sarkies Ter Johannes, was co-founder of Johannes Sarkies
& Co., and during Ter Johannes’s lifetime contributed enormously to the
poor, destitute and needy. His grave inscription reflects: “… he was charitable to the homeless and distributed money
bountifully.”
Joakim Pogose of Dacca married a second cousin, Mariam née Avdall of Calcutta[1].
The influence of personal advancement through education was something she was
already very familiar with. The significance of her well-regarded father,
Johannes Avdall, the headmaster of the Armenian College & Philanthropic
Academy in Calcutta from 1825 for 45 years[2],
would have only made Joakim even more determined to create a school in
Dacca.
What better mentor than his own father-in-law, a leading
educationalist of his time? Imagine if you will, the conversations these two
would have had, no doubt discussions on education and the complexities of
setting up a school, and how Joakim could learn from the first 25 years of the
Armenian College’s existence. Poignantly, In Johannes Avdall’s will, he left a
small legacy to: “….my esteemed
son-in-law Joakim G.N. Pogose…..”. Avdall
was the perfect motivator for the forwarding thinking Joakim, emulating his
father-in-law, Joakim became the headmaster of his own establishment. Knowing
his extended Armenian family were already making a significant difference
through education in one part of India, he realised it was within his gift to
create a similar institution in Dacca, this was simply inspiring for Joakim.
The determination and drive by Armenians in India to learn, develop and
progress is something the early settlers recognized to be very important.
Joakim was no different, and was in the fortunate position to be able to
financially support his dream.
In 1856 Joakim and his cousin Nicholas Peter Pogose were on
the local and managing committees of Government Colleges and School for Dacca.[3]
In April 1859 Joakim, along with his wife Mary and their 4
sons travelled from Dacca, via Calcutta to England. Also making this journey
were other Armenians from Calcutta; Master Malchus, Mr. and Mrs and Master Paul
and their three children (and two servants); and Master Apcar. It may be that
the Pogose’s were acting as guardians on the voyage for Master Apcar[4].
The vessel docked in Southampton and the Pogoses continued their journey to
London. The 1861 census shows the family at 26 Queen’s Terrace, Paddington, in
temporary boarding house accommodation.
Education for his own children was paramount in Joakim’s mind and
although by 1862 he and Mary were by now back in Dacca, their second son, John
Avdall Pogose was successful in gaining prizes in English, Maths and Classics
at Kings College School in London[5][6],
an institution run in conjunction with St. Marylebone and All Souls’ Grammar
School, a most prestigious institution. The Pogose name regularly featured in
the prize list for the school for several years after this. Meanwhile John
Avdall Pogose’s brother, Nicholas Joakim Pogose was elected to the ‘Eton Club’
in October 1869[7],
indicating this is where he continued his education until he went to Oxford.
Meanwhile in Dacca, Joakim (also known as J.G.N.) Pogose was
amongst many things, an active Freemason. In recognition of his dedication to
the craft, he was presented with as solid gold Past Master’s jewel. Reported in
the Indian Freemason’s Friend as
follows:
“Lodge Good Hope – The
brethren met emergently on Wednesday the 9th September [1863]……the
proceedings were rendered most gratifying by the ceremony which next took
place, of presenting to Bro. J.G.N. Pogose, P.M. of the lodge, in a suitable
and graceful speech from the E., - besides a splendid collar and apron – a very
handsome solid gold P.M.’s jewel, most tastefully executed with buckle and
holder, ribbon and case complete, having on a blue ground, a square, and the
diagram of the 47th proposition, encircled with a neatly corded vine
and cassia border, and surmount with a square and compasses supporting a double
Triangle, richly embossed and chased, bearing on the inverse the following inscription:
“Presented by the
Brethren of Lodge Good Hope (No. 1058), Dacca, to W.Bro. J.G.N. Pogose, as a
token of fraternal regard, and in acknowledgement of his valuable services to
the lodge, particularly whilst W.M. in 1861.”
And around the obverse:
“Lodge Good Hope (No. 1058).” The gift was acknowledged by Bro. Pogose in the
most thankful and appropriate terms, and with feelings of the warmest
gratitude.”
By 1871 a new set of Dacca Pogose boys were now at St.
Marylebone and All Souls’ school. The census for that year indicates brothers,
John Nicholas Pogose, Joakim Nicholas Pogose and Carapiet Nicholas Pogose had
been enrolled as boarders, following in the footsteps of their elder
cousins. These boys were the sons of
Nicholas Peter Pogose[8]
(cousin of Joakim Gregory Nicholas Pogose) and his wife Mariam nee Sarkies.
Nicholas Peter Pogose and his wife had sailed from Calcutta in October 1869 on
the ‘Mongolia’ with three children,
treading a well worn educational path set by Pogose School founder cousin
Joakim Gregory Nicholas Pogose and his family.
Joakim, who by now was a familiar parental face to the
teaching faculty at St. Marylebone and All Souls’ School, was one of a number
of parents who presented prizes for the students’ examination success. Joakim
presented the Geography 1st prize to the value of 2 guineas; the
English Essay Prize to the value of 1 guinea; the Euclid prize to the value of
1 guinea; the Note prize to the value of 1 guinea, (this was for the best note
written by any boy under the age of twelve); and two Pogose brother’s gained
certificates of merit in German[9].
Incidentally, also at this school were two boys named Malchus and Apcar and it
is very likely these are the same children who came to England with the (JGN)
Pogoses in 1859.
By December 1873 J.G.N. Pogose had been appointed to the
Mitford Hospital Committee[10]
in Dacca, along with fellow Armenian Marcar David who ran a successful jute
business in the city. These two community driven individuals can often be seen
trying to make a positive difference by contributing and helping the local
Dacca population.
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| Family tree chart showing the family network of the Pogose School founder, Joakim Gregory Nicholas Pogose. |
Joakim Pogose’s grandfather, Nicholas Marcar Pogose was a man
of enormous wealth in Dacca, having inherited some of it from his own father
Marcar Pogose (sometimes also known as Poghos Marcar).
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| Grave of Marcar Pogose |
In Dacca, as a Zamandar Nicholas Marcar Pogose was able to
build an impressive and substantial property and land portfolio of his own, and
it is this combined early wealth that enabled Joakim Gregory Nicholas Pogose to
be in a position to open the Pogose School in the city.
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| The Estate Administration notice of Marcar Pogose was granted to his son Nicholas Marcar in 1789 |
However, it wasn’t just his own school that interested him.
Joakim actively supported a visiting women’s rights campaigner from England who
was focused on education for women and reform. Mary Carpenter dedicated her
life to promoting female education and better standards of living around the
world. Having already travelled to India
a number of times, she returned once more in 1875, landing in Dacca where her
hosts, Joakim and his wife Mary made her most welcome[11]
[12].
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| Mary Carpenter was a guest of Joakim G.N. Pogose and his wife Mary in Dacca. Image: Public domain |
During her time in Dacca, and fully supported by the
Pogose’s, Mary Carpenter gave numerous talks about female education, infant
training systems, reformatories, sanitation, industrial schools and providing
better homes for the poor. She visited local jails to encourage better
conditions for prisoners. She suggested merging the local branch of the
National Indian Association (originally established by her) with the local
Philanthropic Society, thus giving further strength to the purpose of female
education. In her speech at the farewell reception held by Joakim and Mary
Pogose, she said: “…sanitation is a
subject which you will do well to take up; do not oppose Government in its
efforts in this city to make sanitary improvements; you stand in very great
need of them; you will improve in physique if you live more healthily…..”
On the evening of Tuesday 28th December 1875 her
Pogose hosts bade her farewell. They were joined at the reception at the
Pogose’s well appointed home by a number of local native gentlemen, and Mary
Pogose was just one of three local females to attend the occasion. Clearly,
gender equality was still a distant dream for such gatherings. In thanking everyone, and particularly Mary
Pogose, Miss Carpenter said: “…it seems
but yesterday that Mrs. Pogose led me into my chamber, nicely decorated with
evergreens and fitted up for my comfort.
I am very happy that I came to see you.” Eighteen months later Mary
Carpenter passed away at her home in Bristol, England, but her legacy continued
long after her demise.
In 1876 Joakim and his cousin Nicholas Peter Pogose were
honorary magistrates in Dacca together.[13]
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| The grave of Joakim Gregory Nicholas Pogose, Nardina Cemetery, Dhaka. Image courtesy of Rajib Rj. |
Joakim died on 3rd December 1876 just two months after his
fourth son Paul who had passed away In October of that year at just 22 years of
age.
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| The grave of Paul Pogose, Narinda Cemetery, Dhaka. Image courtesy of Rajib Rj. |
By the end of this tumultuous year Mary Pogose had buried a son and a
husband. She meticulously and carefully created identical tombstones for them;
they are placed only yards apart in the Narinda Cemetery, Dhaka. Tragically,
Mary and Joakim had already buried their 3rd son, Nicholas in 1872
who had died in St. Leonard’s, in Sussex of typhoid. Initially Nicholas had
been buried in Kensal Green cemetery in London, but, was re-interred at St.
Sepulchres, Cemetery, Oxford close to where he had studied.
Mary’s life continued to be difficult, her remaining two
sons, Gregory and John became “mentally incapacitated”. Both initially seemed
to have promising careers in front of them, but by 1893 she was providing care
and supporting them both financially. Concerned about their financial future
after she died, Mary ensured there was sufficient money and physical support for
both of them in her will. Mary died in Calcutta in March 1893 and is buried in
the Holy Nazareth Armenian Church in the city.
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| Grave of J.G.N. Pogose's wife, Mary. Armenian Holy Church of Nazareth, Calcutta. Image courtesy of Liz Chater's private archive. |
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| Extract from the will of Nicholas Marcar Pogose. Showing last page written in Bengali and first page written in English. BL: L/AG/29/47/153 |
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| Page 1 of the inventory and accounts of the estate of Nicholas Marcar Pogose lists a small selection of the houses and lands he owned at the time of his death. BL: L/AG/34/27/96/181 |
Today,
there are no living descendants of the Pogose School founder JGN Pogose and his
wife Mary. The school continues to educate students in Dhaka. Pogose’s
father-in-law’s school in Kolkata, The Armenian College & Philanthropic
Academy also continues to thrive. It will be celebrating its 200 year
anniversary in 2020.
A
less successful cousin, Nicholas Peter Pogose, was briefly the proprietor of
the Dhaka Daily News, as well as a Warden of the Armenian Church Dhaka, but
during his lifetime was declared hopelessly insolvent. Nicholas’s son Peter Nicholas Pogose and his
wife Eugenie nee Manook seem to spend the majority of their lives playing
catch-up and trying to avoid their creditors.
Peter was embroiled in a spectacular court case for fraud, eventually
being found guilty. You can read the
full story as part of the Bangladesh Armenian Heritage Project stories here
[1]
Armenian Church Calcutta Marriage Register No. 201
[2]
Armenians in India from the Earliest Time to the Present Day P.448 + 449
[3]
General Report on Public Instruction in the Lower provinces of the Bengal
Presidency for 1855-56
[4]
Newspaper: Homeward Mail from India, China and the East 13 April 1859
[5]
Newspaper: The Daily News 25 July 1862, p.5
[6]
Newspaper: The Borough of Marylebone Mercury 2 August 1862.
[7]
The Eton College Chronicle 11 November 1869 p.514
[8]
There is a separate story for Nicholas Peter Pogose and his family
[9]
Newspaper: The Borough of Marylebone Mercury 29 July 1871
[10]
Homeward Mail from India, China and the East 22 December 1873
[11]
Journal of The National Indian Association, IN AID OF SOCIAL PROGRESS IN INDIA.
No. 61. January 1876, p.68.
[12]
Mary Carpenter arrived in Dacca in the second week of December. It was noted in
‘The Indian Mirror’ of 28th November 1875 that she would be the
guest of Mr. J. Pogose.
[13]
Bengal Directory 1876 p.128
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