|
Back to...
Hunchakian
Martyrs
|
Sarkis
Dkhrouni
(Sarkis Kederian)
Born in Sis in 1898.
Sarkis Dkhrouni had left his homeland during the Turkish
deportations of Armenians in 1915, only to return to Sis during
the repatriation of Cilicia following World War I.
In Sis, Dkhrouni had embarked on a very intensive career as a
teacher, newspaper editor, and as a Hunchak activist. He edited
the "Davros" and "Nor Serount" newspapers and worked tirelessly to
organise aid to the then besieged city of Hajin in Armenia
Cilicia.
After the evacuation of Cilicia, Dkhrouni settled in Aleppo, there
he edited "Souriakan Mamoul", which became the forum for the
development of his political maturity. Various chapters of Hunchak
youth organisations were soon established in Aleppo, Damascus,
Beirut and Kessab thanks to his efforts.
An ardent orator and an excellent writer, Dkhrouni rallied an
entire segment of the Armenian population in exile around Armenia,
the land to which he had placed much of his hopes and aspirations.
In 1927 Dkhrouni was exiled to Arvad island off of Syria by the
ruling French mandatory authorities base on false accusations
(given by fellow Armenians) and intentional harassment. While in
exile, his ideological opponents spread rumours of his death, and
it is on this occasion that he responded with his famous line "It
is Dkhrouni, and he remains Hunchakian". In 1928 he returned from
exile having written his masterpiece, a collection of essays
analysing his political thoughts and Armenian issues.
Soon after his return, on 17 January, 1929, he was assassinated in
Beirut by fellow Armenians...
Papers all over the Diaspora reported the news of his
assassination and funeral procession, including 13 local
(non-Armenian) papers. Shoukri Sadi, a Lebanese reporter on the
funeral procession writes:
"It would be hard for me to see
another funeral procession like this, which I unfortunately became
a witness to. Twenty thousand Armenians, on their shoulders
carrying the coffin of a great Armenian activist. I found everyone
in tiers, and their heart-broken sighs could have ripped the
ground".
Dkhrouni is considered unique in his
dedication to the cause for which he fought throughout his short
life.
Many of the Hunchakian
youth organisation chapters carry his name in
honour of his martyrdom.
Dkhrouni symbolises the spirit of a dedicated youth.
He is an Armenian hero.
And a Hunchakian legend.
Top
|
|