YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. October 24 was significantly different from the other days in the Yerevan State Medical University as one of the most important Indian holidays - Diwali, (aka the Festival of Lights) was being celebrated in the educational facility.

Around 800 out of 2000 foreign students studying at the Yerevan State Medical University are Indians.

In general, the Indian culture has been quite spread in Armenia in recent years. The reason is not only the Armenian-Indian centuries-old ties, but also the settlement of many Indians in Armenia. They come here to study, work or run a business.

Rahul Anil Sethi came to Armenia years ago for this purpose. After graduating the Yerevan State Medical University in 2014, he returned to India, but came back again to Armenia already for a longer period of time. After getting married with an Armenian woman in 2015, Rahul Anil Sethi decided to move to Yerevan in 2017 and live there. Today he is working at the Yerevan State Medical University as the head of the department of international students’ affairs and an assistant lecturer at the department of surgery. He says not only his Armenian wife, but also Armenia itself has brought him to Armenia.

“In Armenia I love everything – the weather, streets, people’s smiles, warm attitude towards foreigners. And all these make Armenia a wonderful country. There are problems in all countries. But if we all have an investment in this country’s development, I think, it will become more perfect”, he said.

“When I first visited Armenia, I was very surprised because when we were walking in the Republic Square, unknown Armenians were inviting us to their homes only because we were Indians because they have been impressed by Indian films”, Rahul Anil Sethi said.

For years the Armenian government’s policy has been constantly directed to not restricting cultural diversification. Head of the Department of National Minorities and Religion at the government’s staff Vardan Ascatryan says the government does everything to create favorable conditions for foreigners and national minorities living in Armenia to live and create.

The Armenian-Indian Friendship NGO is operating in Armenia since 2011. The organization’s program coordinator Karen Mkrtchyan says that the Indian Culture Center is operating under the organization at the moment, where many cultural and educational programs have been implemented within the course of years. Today as well there are courses of dance, yoga and Indian language.

Santosh Kumari, who likes to say that her homeland is the whole world, moved to Armenia in 1987 with her husband and children after graduating the St. Petersburg State University.

“We moved to Armenia because my husband was an Armenian. I loved this country very much and adapted easily, I started to teach and introduce the Armenian youth on the Armenian language and culture. Until 2017, I taught at the Yerevan State University, and now in the Armenian-Russian University. I do not imagine my life without students anymore”, Santosh Kumari said speaking to ARMENPRESS.

She says she never met bad attitude in Armenia towards Indians. As for the atmosphere of tolerance in Armenia, Santosh Kumari said: “We reap what we sow. People are loved for their actions and steps. If your actions are kind, then everyone will love you. I lived with these principles and never met difficulties”.

Gayane Gaboyan