Vahe H. Apelian
A few days ago, I purchased a copy of Ümit Kurt’s book from the National Association of Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) bookstore. The book is titled “The Armenians of Aintab, The Economics of Genocide in an Ottoman Province.” The book was published this year – 2021 - by the Research University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, London, England,
The book is 380 pages. But discounting the appendix, the glossary, the notes, the bibliography, the acknowledgements, and the index; 220 pages make the text of the book.
I have not finished reading the book. But I know about the book because more than once I heard the author present the book and attended to the questions and answers that followed his presentation. The book reminded me of Stanely E. Kerr’s “Lion of Marash”. My late maternal uncle Antranig Chalabian collaborated with Dr. Kerr to write that historical book. In both instances serendipity and unexpected turn of events gave rise to such monumental books.
I do not know how long it will take me to finish reading the book. Understandably this is not a review of the book. I am not even sure that I would qualify to critically review the book. But there is also a sentimental aspect of the book that transcends scholarship, and it pertains to the Ümit Kurt’s family who supported him to embark on this monumental work and stood by him.
Ümit rightfully acknowledges the support of many he met as he travelled “between Boston, London, Paris, Gaziantep, Istanbul, Ankara, Yerevan and Beirut” to bring his work to fruition. But the ones who will remain with him, day in and day out, whether they are near to him or far away, are the members of his family. Rather than academic accolades they most probably will bear the reserved and guarded understanding, if not the hostility, of the Turkish society at large for having a member their family unearth an aspect of their hometown Gaziantep long buried and forgotten.
As I start reading the book, I too thank, “Hasan, Hanim, Dilek, Hamit, Figen, Deniz, Çağan, Ali, Aras, and Dila Zeynab Kurt.” I assure them, throughout my reading, they will remain in my mind, no less than the author himself.
I know of Aintabtsis as a headstrong, industrious, enterprising, and proud people. This is what Antranig Zarougian wrote about the Aintabsis in Aleppo in his book “Yerazayin Haleb- Dreamy Aleppo”. He taught in an Armenian school the Aintabsis ran. I quote:
“The overwhelming majority of the Armenians in Haleb were Cilician Armenians; the Sassountsi Armenians were the second largest. Among them, the Aintabsi Armenians occupied a prominent and dominant position. Their numerical superiority was such that they had two schools, Zavarian (Tashnag) and Grtasseerats (the other kind). For some time, they had their own church, next to the Cathedral of the Holy Forty Martyrs (Սրբոց Քառասնից Մանկանց Մայր Եկեղեցի). It was known as the “Aintabsis” church. When Catholicos Coadjutor Papken passed away, they did not let him be buried in Antelias. They brought the coffin to Haleb and with a large showing had his remains buried in “their” church.
Before the Genocide Aintab was considered the Athens among Cilician cities because of its schools, and the American College. In spite of the fact that Aintabsi Armenians were Turkish speaking, love of learning and education were much stressed among them. The trustees of the schools naturally were all Aintabsi Armenian craftsmen who took care of the schools much like they took care of their households. But they regarded they had the same say in matters relating to education as they had in their own households.”
After Stanley E. Kerr wrote the book, Armenians who hailed from Marash hosted the eminent author. A few years ago, the Armenians in San Francisco hosted Dr. Kerr’s grandson, Steve Kerr, who is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach of the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association.
It behooves to the Armenians hailing from Aintab, not only to purchase a copy of this book, but also host Ümit Kurt and his family for having enshrined for posterity the history of their ancestors and their lots on their native land Aintab.
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Note: Those interested to read about how the "The Lions of Marash" came to see the light of day, may read the following link: http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2021/07/antranig-chalabian-big-books-little.html
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