Dr. Rita Kuyumjian Presents Trilogy to Detroit

Regrettably, much of Armenian recorded historical information be it literary, musical or religious has been lost, destroyed or displaced. Kuyumjian’s scholarly research has unearthed information enhancing our view and understanding of the ghastly events that took place before and after April 24, 1915.

We all have heard of the round up of Armenian intellectuals in Istanbul as to how the Ottoman Turks planned to put an end to the matter of the Armenian Question. We know it as the Armenian Genocide. There were so many writers, lawyers, statesmen, intellectuals of every ilk, the cream of the crop as they are referred to, that perished at the hand of the Turks.

It was appalling that individual Armenians had been observing, spying on the activities of their fellow countrymen, compiling lists of their names and handing these lists over to the Turks for the roundup and eventual killings of hundreds of Armenian intellectuals. When Kuyumjian was asked by an audience member what happened to the Armenian traitors, she said they were killed by the Dashnags. A thin ripple of approval from the audience was audible.

That is another tragic part of Armenian history, how the Turks instilled fear in Armenians by promising them safety if they tattled or spied on their own brethren.

Kuyumjian described the victims thusly: “These men were intellectuals, better educated than you or I.” Many of them had attended the finest universities of Europe.

So what were they doing in Istanbul? Did they know their lives could be endangered? Someone during the question-and-answer period posed the question whether the Armenian intellectuals knew their drive for human rights for the Armenians could lead to their demise. She replied they surely did but as the intellectual leaders of their people they had a mission and bravely faced the consequences and we all now know what their fate was.