Remembering Manuel Keshishian

Vahe H. Apelian

Manuel Keshishian

Yesterday I read the unexpected passing away of Manuel Keshishian.

I met Manuel and befriended him on the Facebook. He was born and raised in Aleppo and was a lifelong educator in its Armenian schools as a teacher, administrator, and principle; a stage director having studied Studied at Fine and Theatrical Arts State institute in Yerevan/Armenia and produced plays even during the war-torn days. He was also a writer and an activist who depicted the daily struggles the Armenians endured in the city. During the past several years he posted his articles in Civilnet.

I translated a few of his articles. I believe they truly dealt with the daily life in the war-torn Aleppo reflecting the difficulties its residents endured, the heroic deeds they undertook to safeguard the community, the bewilderment and the disappointments they experienced, and the tenacity they exhibited to continue on getting by in the once vibrant  and prosperous Armenian community whose roots in the city extend over centuries. The eminent writer Antranig Zarougian, who also was raised there, labelled it “Dreamlike” having titled one of his books “Yerazayin Haleb-Dramlike Aleppo”.

Manuel Keshishian and the famed Armenian community of Haleb, will remain intimately bound.

Attached are his articles I translated over the years:

Aleppo: We Are Not Well At All (January 17,2020)

http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2020/01/aleppo-we-are-not-well-at-all.html

Hagop Kalleshian and " Our Boys" in Aleppo (May 16, 2016)

http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2019/06/hagop-kalleshian-one-of-our-boys-in_2.html

Worrisome Aleppo Armenians (October 29, 2018)

http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2018/10/worrisome-aleppo-armenians.html

Haleb - We Are Not Well. (November 24, 2019)

http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2019/11/haleb-we-are-not-well.html