British Naturalization of Turkish Armenians in Bengal: An example of ‘No Permanent Alienage.’

Year 2025, Issue: 52, 147 - 176, 09.12.2025

Minhazul Abedin

https://doi.org/10.54842/ras.1667905

Abstract

Historically the Armenians, are renowned globally for their expertise in trade and commerce. Another distinct category of Armenians is professionals. During the 17th century, Armenians migrated to Baburid India and Bengal. Armenians were the initial foreign visitors to Bengal during Muslim rule. Due to their proficiency and effective communication, they expanded their business throughout the Indian subcontinent. They maintained robust business and political ties with the Nawab of Bengal. They even mediated the establishment of contacts between the Baburid dynasty and the British East India Company. Following the British annexation of Bengal in 1757 and the subsequent colonization of India in 1857, individuals from British India became British subjects by being born within the dominions of the Crown. To become citizens, the others were required to apply for the British Naturalization and Status of Aliens Act (B.N. & S. A.). Accordingly, this study focuses on when and why the Armenians came to Bengal? Under which act did they apply for this naturalization? Which conditions did they have to obey? How was the sequence of the gradual process? And which theory of naturalization matches their acquirement of citizenship?

Keywords

Armenian , Bengal , British , Naturalization , Turkish.

Bengal’deki Türk Ermenilerinin İngiliz Vatandaşlığına Kabulü: ‘Kalıcı Yabancılaşmaya Hayır’ örneği

Abstract

Tarihi olarak Ermeniler, ticaret ve iş dünyasında küresel çapta uzmanlıklarıyla tanınmaktadır. Ermeniler arasında bir diğer belirgin kategori ise profesyonellerdir. 17. yüzyılda Ermeniler, Babürlü Hindistanı ve Bengal'e göç etmiştir. Ermeniler, Müslüman egemenliği altındaki Bengal'e gelen ilk yabancı ziyaretçilerdir. Yetenekli iletişim becerileri ve ticaret konusundaki uzmanlıkları sayesinde Hindistan'ın tüm altkıtasına işlerini yaymışlardır. Bengal'in Nevvâb'ı ile güçlü ticaret ve siyasi ilişkiler kurmuşlardır. Ayrıca, Babür Hanedanı ile İngiliz Doğu Hindistan Şirketi arasında temasların kurulmasında aracılık yapmışlardır. 1757'de Bengal'in Britanya tarafından ilhakı ve 1857'de Hindistan'ın sömürgeleştirilmesinin ardından, İngiliz Hindistanı'ndan doğan bireyler, Kraliyet egemenlikleri sınırları içinde doğmuş oldukları için İngiliz tebaası olmuştur. Diğerleri ise, İngiliz Vatandaşlık Tanınması ve Yabancı Durumu Yasası (B.N. & S. A.) uyarınca vatandaşlık başvurusu yapmak zorunda kalmışlardır. Bu bağlamda, bu çalışma Ermenilerin Bengal'e ne zaman ve neden geldiklerine, hangi yasaya göre vatandaşlık başvurusu yaptıklarına, hangi şartlara uymaları gerektiğine, sürecin nasıl bir sıralamaya sahip olduğuna ve hangi vatandaşlığa kabul teorisinin, onların vatandaşlık kazançlarıyla en iyi şekilde örtüştüğüne odaklanmaktadır.

Keywords

Ermeni , Bengal , Türk , Vatandaşlık

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