robin

Yes, I know about this site ... I'd like to know more information.

Is there anyone on this list that can tell me about Father Arsen Tokhmakhian (c. 1870) of Van who was an intellectual and student of Mkrtich Khrimian (who founded "the Eagle of Vaspurakan"). And why was he killed by another Armenian? thx

unfortunately none of these Armenian-Americans are progressive and work towards creating a better California for all Californians. - not like Simitian.

Here's an article refering to Peter Balakian's new book: "The Burning Tigris". Anyone seen a copy & read it? http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/75210...p-8435318c.html

you must have evidence of this that contradicts most of what I've been reading recently. Would you share your source/s as I'm trying the understand the history of these parties and their relationships? thx

One needs to go back to the VERY (1886-1896, eg.) beginning to see examples of the revolutionary Dashnaks. " To a last desperate attempt by Armenian revolutionaries to draw the attention of the world by seizing in Constantinople the European-owned Ottoman Bank in August 1896, the government responded by unleashing wholesale reprisals during which five to six thousand Armenians were killed in the space of three days within sight of the European embassies. " (http://www.armenian-genocide.org/encyclopedia/hamidian.htm) The Dashnaks were in strong contrast to the Armenakan Party - an indigenous party formed by the citizens of Van. -robin

For an interesting read about the early history of the 3 armenian parties, including the Dashnaks Read - Louise Nalbandian's "The Armenian Revolutionary Movement" , 1963, Univ. of Calif. Berkeley. (subtitled: The development of Armenian Political Parties through the 19th century).

Hello all, I am new to this forum and hope that this is an appropriate place to ask my question. My grandfather (a Tokmakian) born in Van (1878) arrived in the US in 1906 after having been living in Alexandria. I am looking for information that will help me understand why he left Armenia, given that no other family member resided here and none came after him. Because he was somewhat educated and was 18 in 1896, my family is thinking that he may have been a participant in the uprising of the Armenians in Van in 1896. He never spoke of the reasons why he came to the US according to my father. I have been reading Vahakn Dadrian's account of the uprising and learned that 1000 men were made to leave Van, only to be massacred later, with only 35 surviving. Would anyone know if there is any documentation existing (maybe British) that gives the names of the men that were forced to leave Van? Or of the 400 people that were killed in the old city of Van? and similarly, does anyone know of documentation that exists for the Alexandria Armenian community at the turn of the century? Thank you for any leads you can provide. -robin (Also a descendent of a 1915 Samsun survivor)