There are topics in Turkey that are taboos, and among those topics are different stories linked to Armenians.

This time NEWS.am presents a story about founder of the Republic of Turkey Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and famous Constantinople-Armenian linguist Hagop Martaian (Dilachar), who played a great role in the creation of the modern-day Turkish alphabet.

One day in August 1934, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk joined high-ranking state officials and various academics at a banquet. Among the guests were foreigners, including Constantinople-Armenian linguist Hagop Dilachar.

During the banquet, Ataturk suggested that the representative of every nationality sing a song in his native language. A German professor sang a folk song in German, followed by a Greek linguist. As everyone waited for the Greek linguist to recite a poem by a classic poet, the linguist said: “I am Turk. Long live Turkey!”

When it was Hagop Martaian’s turn, some people whispered to each other that Hagop Dilachar knew several languages and wouldn’t dare sing a song in a language other than Turkish. But Hagop Martaian started singing the famous song dedicated to Warrior Andranik in Armenian.

When the guests heard the word “Andranik”, they broke into frenzy and tried to stand up, but Ataturk suppressed them and said, ��?Many people sacrificed their lives for the nation with this song, let’s listen to this song with respect’.

After the performance, Ataturk said Andranik was the Turks’ enemy and killed thousands of them. “Armenians haven’t had a hero like Andranik in the past, and it’s not likely that they’ll have one in the future. Armenians are doing the right thing by remembering their heroes,” said Ataturk, adding that in spite of that, the Turks won this time.

Artur Hagopyan

NEWS.am