Hayern Aysor-On January 19, 2018, the Hrant Dink School of Istanbul hosted a commemorative event attended by Mr. Arto Horozoglu, who is one of the School’s trustees. Some schoolchildren presented the life and career of Hrant Dink under the direction of the School’s Armenian language and literature teacher Gaiane Armenakian.

Frankly, I have to admit that this was the first time we were telling schoolchildren who Hrant Dink is and why the school was name after him during such a solemn ceremony. Each and every Armenian maintains the sorrow and memory of the innocent victims deep down inside no matter where he or she may be in this world. Growing up and receiving an education in Armenia, we looked at our history and Turkey from a different perspective. We couldn’t even imagine that after so many years, a school named after Hrant Dink would be established in Istanbul, a person from whom we would learn lessons of courage without forgetting the past, as well as learn to speak without hatred and tell the truth and make the Turkish society confront the historical truth. Hrant Dink had a big dream, and that was to see that the Turks and the Turkish government accept the historical truth. He sacrificed his life to see Turkey more sincere and democratic. According to him, only dialogue could help the sides interact and break the ice. There had to be not only interaction at the official level, but also a higher level of popular diplomacy. Paruyr Sevak wrote the following in one of his poems:

They come late, but not too late,

They are always born on time,

They get ahead of themselves,

And that is why they are not forgiven.

One of the greats mentioned in Sevak’s poem is Hrant Dink. He went ahead of himself with his dreams, and that is why he was not forgiven, but Hrant became the part of wheat that gave many fruits with his death. Thousands of people spoke out for the Armenian Cause, that is to say, for justice. Today, the Hrant Dink Foundation continues his work, and you will also continue his work. Living in Turkey and having friends, we are certain that you will find better paths for dialogue in order to help the Turkish society confront its past.

Afterwards, the schoolchildren presented Dink’s life, watched a video devoted to Dink and laid flowers in front of his portrait. The students of Hrant Dink School of Yerevan also participated in the event via long distance connection.

It was a Friday, and Priest Shirvan Mirzian, who had come to the school to give a religious lesson, saw the picture of Dink and conveyed his message to the schoolchildren. He said Dink was a believer and dedicated his life to the fight for justice. He added that Jesus and people like Dink need to serve an example for us since they became eternal with the lives that they lived.

Heriknaz Avagyan

Source: Hayern Aysor