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EXHIBITION ON 'ARMENIANS OF BITLIS' DRAWS CROWD AT FRESNO STATE
http://asbarez.com/123101/exhibition-on-%E2%80%98armenians-of-bitlis%E2%80%99-draws-crowd-at-fresno-state/
Thursday, May 15th, 2014
L. to r.: Fresno State Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Ara Sarafian of
the Gomidas Institute, and Dr. Sergio La Porta
BY DENISE ALTOUNIAN
FRESNO, Calif.--For many Armenians in Fresno, California, the city
of Bitlis, located today in the Republic of Turkey, holds a special
place in their hearts. Not only was it the birthplace of the family
of noted Fresno native William Saroyan, but also the birthplace to
many of the Armenians who settled in Fresno in the years following
the Armenian Genocide.
For much of its history, including the Ottoman period, Bitlis
flourished as a center of Armenian culture and tradition. Much of this
legacy has almost vanished in the nearly hundred years following the
Genocide of 1915.
However, in recent months there has been an attempt to shed light
on the history of the city and the impact Armenians had there. Ara
Sarafian, director of the Gomidas Institute in London, England,
returned to Fresno State to discuss his most recent endeavor, a
"bridge-building initiative" which was started in June 2013 to build
contacts between Armenians, Turks, and Kurds.
On Sunday, March 30, Fresno State students, faculty, and the community
were invited to the opening of a new exhibit, "Remembering the
Armenians of Bitlis," on display at the Henry Madden Library for
the month of April. The exhibit was organized by Sarafian, with the
support of Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian and the Armenian Studies
Program, to highlight some of the new documentation on Bitlis and to
show never before seen photographs of Bitlis.
"This initiative is an important step in the process of recovering so
much of Armenian culture lost as a result of the Genocide," stated
Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Director of the Armenian Studies
Program. "It is also a way to build bridges between people."
Sarafian was on hand in Fresno to open the exhibit and to give a talk
"Down and About Bitlis: An Exhibition on Bitlis Armenians on the
Shores of Lake Van."
Sarafian initiated contacts with residents of Bitlis last year, and the
exhibit was a culmination of extensive research in Russian, Ottoman
and Armenian archives to examine the number and role of Armenians in
the Ottoman Empire, especially the eastern region. This culminated
in an exhibition, "The Armenians of Bitlis" (Bitlis Ermenileri),
that first debuted on March 1-2, 2014, in Tatvan, Turkey, located on
the shores of Lake Van.
As Sarafian explained, some people were doubtful that it would
be possible to display data that directly contradicts the Turkish
government position on the Genocide. However this project represents
a new opportunity for scholarship in the area. The display consisted
of ethnographic maps and photographs of Armenians living in Bitlis,
documenting the historic presence of Armenians there. The exhibit were
based on research at the ABCFM Archives (Houghton Library, Harvard
University), Mt. Holyoke College Archives (Mass.), AGBU Nubarian
archives (Paris), and the Ottoman Prime Ministry Archives (Istanbul).
The photographs represented a significant milestone, because many
people in Eastern Turkey had never actually seen an Armenian face
before. The photos showed the daily lives of the Armenians, their
schools, churches, and more. Although it may seem a small step, these
photographs represent the human connection that is often lacking when
it comes to Armenian, Kurdish, and Turkish relations.
The maps, based on demographic research from Russian and Turkish
sources, displayed the ethnic composition of the Ottoman Empire. The
research indicates that Armenians and Kurds in the Bitlis and Van
provinces actually made up the majority of the population, with few
Turks in the region. The Turkish government has deliberately argued
that Armenians and Kurds were not in the majority.
One interesting outcome of the initiative was the immense support
and interest in the project shown by the Kurdish population of Bitlis.
They were very supportive of unearthing Armenian history in Turkey.
Many Kurdish youth acknowledge the Armenian Genocide and want to know
what role they can play in moving forward. Several Kurdish politicians
and prominent attorneys attended the debut of the exhibit in Tatvan.
According to Sarafian, as many as one in six Kurds in these areas
may have Armenian ancestors.
This exhibit was a significant step forward in the future of Armenian
Studies in Turkey. It is important that projects like these continue
to record history before it is lost. Many Armenian landmarks still
exist in Turkey and any attempt to falsify history can never eliminate
local memories. The Armenian issue is far from closed and it is up
to the new generation to continue scholarship in the area.
http://asbarez.com/123101/exhibition-on-%E2%80%98armenians-of-bitlis%E2%80%99-draws-crowd-at-fresno-state/
From: Baghdasarian
http://asbarez.com/123101/exhibition-on-%E2%80%98armenians-of-bitlis%E2%80%99-draws-crowd-at-fresno-state/
Thursday, May 15th, 2014
L. to r.: Fresno State Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Ara Sarafian of
the Gomidas Institute, and Dr. Sergio La Porta
BY DENISE ALTOUNIAN
FRESNO, Calif.--For many Armenians in Fresno, California, the city
of Bitlis, located today in the Republic of Turkey, holds a special
place in their hearts. Not only was it the birthplace of the family
of noted Fresno native William Saroyan, but also the birthplace to
many of the Armenians who settled in Fresno in the years following
the Armenian Genocide.
For much of its history, including the Ottoman period, Bitlis
flourished as a center of Armenian culture and tradition. Much of this
legacy has almost vanished in the nearly hundred years following the
Genocide of 1915.
However, in recent months there has been an attempt to shed light
on the history of the city and the impact Armenians had there. Ara
Sarafian, director of the Gomidas Institute in London, England,
returned to Fresno State to discuss his most recent endeavor, a
"bridge-building initiative" which was started in June 2013 to build
contacts between Armenians, Turks, and Kurds.
On Sunday, March 30, Fresno State students, faculty, and the community
were invited to the opening of a new exhibit, "Remembering the
Armenians of Bitlis," on display at the Henry Madden Library for
the month of April. The exhibit was organized by Sarafian, with the
support of Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian and the Armenian Studies
Program, to highlight some of the new documentation on Bitlis and to
show never before seen photographs of Bitlis.
"This initiative is an important step in the process of recovering so
much of Armenian culture lost as a result of the Genocide," stated
Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Director of the Armenian Studies
Program. "It is also a way to build bridges between people."
Sarafian was on hand in Fresno to open the exhibit and to give a talk
"Down and About Bitlis: An Exhibition on Bitlis Armenians on the
Shores of Lake Van."
Sarafian initiated contacts with residents of Bitlis last year, and the
exhibit was a culmination of extensive research in Russian, Ottoman
and Armenian archives to examine the number and role of Armenians in
the Ottoman Empire, especially the eastern region. This culminated
in an exhibition, "The Armenians of Bitlis" (Bitlis Ermenileri),
that first debuted on March 1-2, 2014, in Tatvan, Turkey, located on
the shores of Lake Van.
As Sarafian explained, some people were doubtful that it would
be possible to display data that directly contradicts the Turkish
government position on the Genocide. However this project represents
a new opportunity for scholarship in the area. The display consisted
of ethnographic maps and photographs of Armenians living in Bitlis,
documenting the historic presence of Armenians there. The exhibit were
based on research at the ABCFM Archives (Houghton Library, Harvard
University), Mt. Holyoke College Archives (Mass.), AGBU Nubarian
archives (Paris), and the Ottoman Prime Ministry Archives (Istanbul).
The photographs represented a significant milestone, because many
people in Eastern Turkey had never actually seen an Armenian face
before. The photos showed the daily lives of the Armenians, their
schools, churches, and more. Although it may seem a small step, these
photographs represent the human connection that is often lacking when
it comes to Armenian, Kurdish, and Turkish relations.
The maps, based on demographic research from Russian and Turkish
sources, displayed the ethnic composition of the Ottoman Empire. The
research indicates that Armenians and Kurds in the Bitlis and Van
provinces actually made up the majority of the population, with few
Turks in the region. The Turkish government has deliberately argued
that Armenians and Kurds were not in the majority.
One interesting outcome of the initiative was the immense support
and interest in the project shown by the Kurdish population of Bitlis.
They were very supportive of unearthing Armenian history in Turkey.
Many Kurdish youth acknowledge the Armenian Genocide and want to know
what role they can play in moving forward. Several Kurdish politicians
and prominent attorneys attended the debut of the exhibit in Tatvan.
According to Sarafian, as many as one in six Kurds in these areas
may have Armenian ancestors.
This exhibit was a significant step forward in the future of Armenian
Studies in Turkey. It is important that projects like these continue
to record history before it is lost. Many Armenian landmarks still
exist in Turkey and any attempt to falsify history can never eliminate
local memories. The Armenian issue is far from closed and it is up
to the new generation to continue scholarship in the area.
http://asbarez.com/123101/exhibition-on-%E2%80%98armenians-of-bitlis%E2%80%99-draws-crowd-at-fresno-state/
From: Baghdasarian