Karekin Pastermadjian

Infobox Military Person
name=Karekin Pastermajian
lived=February 9, 1872 - March 23, 1923
placeofbirth=Karin of Erzurum of Ottoman Empire
placeofdeath=USA


caption=Armen Garo
nickname=Armen Garo
allegiance=Armenia
serviceyears=
rank=
commands=2nd battalion of Armenian volunteer detachment unit
unit=
battles=
awards=
relations=
laterwork=Ottoman deputy from Erzurum, Revolutionary, Ambassador of Democratic Republic of Armenia

Karekin Pastermadjian, more famously known by his "nom de guerre" Armen Garo, was one of the distinguished leaders of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and an ambassador. He was the son of famous Armenian Haroutiun Pasdermadjian and the grandson of Khatchatour Efendi.

Early life, 1891-1896

Karekin Pastirmajian was born in Karin (present day Erzurum). He finished his elementary education as one of the first graduates of the Sanasarian College of Erzeroum (Sanasarian Varjaran Academy) in 1891. Later in 1894, he continued his studies in France to study agriculture at the Agricultural School of Nancy-Université. During this period he was introduced to Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF). He become younger generation of Armenian students of ARF in Europe.

Zeitun Resistance, 1895

His plans to return to his hometown after graduating came to a halt when massacres and conflict began in Zeitun. He dropped out of school to aid his compatriots in Zeitun. He soon found himself in Geneva where he became an activist alongside his friends. He was sent to Egypt to assist the Zeitun Resistance. With Sarkis Srentz, Haik Thirakian (assumed the name Hratch), Max Zevrouz, he left Egypt and returned to Ottoman Empire to participate the efforts of ARF. Garegin Pasdermadjian assumed the name Armen Garo first time at this time.

Ottoman Bank Takeover, 1896

The 1896 Ottoman Bank Takeover of the Ottoman Bank was his and Papken Siuni's brain child. The day of the battle at Bank Ottoman was August 14, 1896. The attack took place at about 1:00 P.M. Armen Garo went inside 10 minutes prior to the attack. He was to keep the bank officers from escaping and keep the teller busy. His men didn't arrive quickly so he went to a coffee shop across the street. When he saw the men through the doorway, he ran out to meet them. The battle was long and bloody where leader Papken Siuni was killed. Armen Garo took over as leader, ordering his group for much of the standoff.

Graduate studies, 1897-1900

After these events Garegin Pasdermadjian returned to Europe to continue his unfinished studies. Mr. Hanoteau, however, the Frenchforeign minister at that time declared the Armenians who had been connected with Ottoman Bank Takeover as persona non grata and denied their stay in France, so he transferred to Switzerland and studied the natural sciences at the University of Geneva.

He studied as he participated in activities with the Armenian Revolutionary Federation. When the second general conference was convened in 1898, he was on the delegate roster representing the ARF committee in Egypt. Despite his youth, he had gained confidence and authority in the leading circles of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation. In 1900 he completed his course and received the degree of Doctor of Science. After graduating from the University of Geneva with a doctoral degree in physical chemistry, he founded a lab in Tiflis for chemical research in 1901.

Armenian-Tatar massacres, 1905-1906

During Armenian-Tatar massacres in 1905-1906 the ARF was involved in armed activities. [Tadeusz Swietochowski. Russian Azerbaijan, 1905–1920. The Shaping of a National Identity in a Muslim Community. Сambridge, cambridge University Press, 1985. р.41 ] Pastermadjian organized self-defense of the Armenians in Tiflis. He and five hundred volunteers succeeded in securing peace in the capital of Transcaucasia.

Deputy from Erzurum 1908-1912

The situation in the Caucasus was almost come to normal. Pastermadjian had been able to create for himself a life fairly prosperous financially. He secured the right to develop a copper mine, and working towards a partnership with a large company. His business required that he should stay in the Caucasus to continue his successful enterprise. Young Turk Revolution came in 1908.

The Armenians in Erzeroum, as well as the ARF, telegraphed to Pasdermadjian and asked him to become their candidate in the coming elections for Representative to the Ottoman Parliament. He become the member to Ottoman parliament part from the Armenian Revolutionary Federation deputies.

After the end of the Balkan Wars, issues affecting the Armenians dominated mainstream politics during which Armen Garo was a deputy from Erzurum.

World War I

He and his group also joined Armenian volunteer units during World War I. He was elected to be ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Armenia to the United States in Washington, D.C.

Death

When the 1915 Armenian Genocide broke out, Armen Garo became very depressed and sick. When Armenia lost its independence, his sickness grew worse. He never recovered of this state of depression and died on March 23, 1923.

He is regarded as a national hero by Armenians, especially ARF supporters due to his numerous efforts in helping his people.

References

External links

* [http://armenian.tales.googlepages.com/Pastermadjian-1918.pdf Garegin Pasdermadjian, Aram Torossian, "Why Armenia Should be Free: Armenia's Rôle in the Present War" Boston, 1918]
* [http://www.geocities.com/racineayf/Bio.html Biography Reference]