Sarkis Minassian

Sarkis Minassian (1873–1915), also known as Aram Ashod, was an Armenian journalist, writer, political activist, and educator. He became the chief editor of the newspaper Hairenik in Watertown, Massachusetts. After returning to the Ottoman Empire in 1909, Minassian continued writing in various journals in the city. In 1915, Sarkis Minassian was killed during the Armenian genocide.

Life

"Reality versus idealism; without these twin concepts, a nation will be subjugated to downfalls and bitter disappointments. With one, we attain the feeling of life, with the other, we fixate our eyes towards the distant stars." — Sarkis Minassian (original in Armenian) He attained his early education in Bardizag (today Bahçecik, Kocaeli). Thereafter, Minassian moved to Constantinople to continue his education at the Getronagan Armenian High School. After graduating from Getronagan in 1894, Minassian moved to Geneva, Switzerland where he became a staff member of the Armenian newspaper Droshak, the official organ of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation. Minassian was a frequent contributor to the newspaper Azadamard where his criticisms of various aspects of the Armenian community were widely read. However, Minassian along with the rest were murdered en route in the locality of Karacur between Urfa and Severek (today Siverek). The order for the murder was given from Captain Şevket to Haci Onbaşı, a member of the Special Organization.