Special for the Armenian Weekly
Recently, I spent a week traveling throughout the region of Dersim, now the modern Turkish province of Tunceli. Rugged mountains in the north and more fertile valleys in the south mark the region. Its remoteness has been both blessing and curse. In the 16th century, the region remained almost 75 percent Armenian. By the 19th century, Armenians had been reduced to less than 30 percent of the population through forced assimilation, emigration, and other forms of persecution. Already, many churches and monasteries were in ruins.
I recently completed a demographic study of the pre-genocide Armenian population of the Dersim region (visit www.houshamadyan.org) and wanted to explore as much of the region as I could with limited time. The destruction of Armenian culture there is near complete. With very few exceptions, it was difficult to find any substantive evidence. Mostly what I found was a pile of rocks and stones wiped clean of any inscriptions. Yet, everywhere I was met by familiar, if suspicious, faces.
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Such a moving article about Armenian culture. Please send me any more articles that you write about your travels to eastern Turkey. (Some years ago, I finally got to Ani and it was so moving, yet so poignant)
thanks.
Stephanie
NYC
Fantastic article George and I especially like what you say in conclusion, “retaining what remains of Armenia identity and culture, and fostering its growth—not accelerating its final demise.”. These remaining Armenians, hidden or not, are heroes for remaining in the land of our ancestors, and someday by the grace of God, part of sovereign Armenia again.
It is important for everyone to respect the history and any remnants of Armenia and it’s people before it’s too late and disappears or is forgotten.
well written George, keep up the good work.
Those Armenian who wish to preserve their identity must come to Armenia and create a powerful Armenia that can protect Armenian culture among other things.
I enjoyed read that story very much!!!
Great article George! Keep up the good work.
My great grandfather was a native of the village of Baghnadoun of Charsanjak which was a southern province of Dersim. Mardiros died during the Armenian Genocide. The name Der-Sim comes from Der-Simon who was an Armenian priest in this region. There is a book about the History of the Armenians of Charsanjak and Dersim. According to this book the Kurds of Dersim were actually Armenian converts. Some of them also prayed in Armenian churches. This could be why so many Armenians were able to survive in Dersim during the Armenian Genocide. Dersim was our underground railroad. I have no doubt if DNA is collected from the present inhabitants of Dersim similarities will be found with the Armenians. My grandmother and her siblings were saved by local Kurds during the Genocide who were friends of my great grandfather Mardiros.
please introduce your book:”a book about the History of the Armenians of Charsanjak and Dersim”
my email: barzan dot hayati at gmail dot com
hey robert i m also from dersim,madzgerd. my family are alevi zazas mainly but i also have some armenian roots and there are other dersimians who finds out their armenian roots some knows some dont know. you can still see armenian churches and ruins in dersim but most of them were bombed in 1938, only converted armenians survived.but according to alevi dedes converts are started in 16th century there are some relations between old armenian traditions and dersimian traditions.
Bende aslen dersimliyim Bingöl Kiğı ilçesi hupus köyüne göç etmisiz çoğu gelenek sizinkine benziyor bir dönem iç içe yaşanmış bazı yaşlılarımızın isimleri sizinkilerle ayniydi
Fascinating story. And an interesting observation about sampling bias (we only have the accounts of those who survived)!
I come from Dersim and my father used to tell me that his grandmother used to tell him that their village had many Armenians and that all through Dersim every village had Armenian families. She used to say they lived side by side together. My father told me this when I was growing up and now I will tell my children. We in Dersim light candles when we pray much like the Christian way. Although overtly the culture has been destroyed there are still remaining covert signs Dersim was an Armenian town.
As the people of Dersim, we are always ready to fight for you. You are our family, our ancestors fought for you. we will continue to fight.
DNA tests show that more than 10% are Armenian in Dersim—almost half. You should also get in touch with families who have been assimilated.