Karnig Panian’s memoir is a touching story of the tragedies faced as a child, during the Great War (WWI). Recalling his path during the genocide of Armenian Christians. After a spiraling journey, Karnig overcame the obstacles he faced. Karnig’s continuous faith and survival help allowed him to keep his Arminian identity. Panian’s peaceful life as a five-year-old boy in the village of Gurin was interrupted drastically. Being forced to abandon his home and walk months through unknown lands. Only to be lead into a concentration camp outside Hama with his family.
Armenians across the country were brought to the desert left in the scorching heat. Surrounded by death, his only option was to leave his living relatives behind, only to endure the harsh Orphanage. Eventually going through enough unimaginable horrors to desensitize him to a complete state of survival. Many Armenians were skeptical of the Ittihadist government’s relocation plan for the war. Not only because only their people were being relocated, but also because of the history of tension between the Turks, generally Muslim, and the Armenians, being Christians.
Including the previous mass killing of around three hundred thousand Armenians in 1895. But with all men, including his father, of their communities being drafted for war. An attempt for resistance would have led to instant death. The mentality of Karnig was tested almost immediately starting his journey. Being so young, the suffering that awaited him was not something he would understand. His perspective of what exactly was happening was not drastically changed until the fatigue of the march began. Trying to imagine a five-year-old oy having to walk continuous weeks, stopping only for food and sleep, is astonishing. By the time the original patrolling guards parted ways, the following soldiers were more aggressive and violent. Leaving those who died or could not continue behind. Panian was exhausted and already beginning to miss his home, wondering if he would ever return. The food his mother and grandparents packed was becoming scarce. Unsure of how much long the journey would continue, rationing supplies was a factor from the immediately. Once arriving in the Syrian desert, fear began to overtake Karnig.
Swarms of Armenians were gathered together, left out in the sun with nothing. The relentless sunlight baked the sand, making shade a need for survival. The realization that this was becoming a controlled extermination began to set in. The only supply of food were small portions of bread that were sold, each day raising in price. His constant thirst made eating painful. Endless sickness, making movement difficult. Not only were they starved in Hama, but they were shown no compassion. Young girls were taken from their families. Bodies filling the divisions of sand hills.
The stench of death filled the air. Karnig Panian’s lowest point came when helplessly watching his mother, sister, and brother all die. Leaving him with his grandparents and other relatives, loneliness began to set in. Sadness took his every waking second. Spending nights crying and lost. After seeing his own mother and younger siblings last breaths, as a child, who months before, was playing in the fields with his friends. The starvation, heat exhaustion, and constant death continued. With little signs of hope left, his grandparents wanted to give Karnig a chance to survive.
He was then sent briefly to the orphanage of Hama, where he transferred to Antoura shortly after. He would now be completely alone, and his instinct was now his guardian. The orphanage of Antoura was run by the Turkish government. The constructs enforced of Antoura were strict, cruel, and dehumanizing. Not only were all of these children completely on their own, but they were shown no affection nor respect. Being treated as inferior, given Islamic names, banished from praying or speaking Armenian, severely beaten, and hardly fed. If a student were caught making a mistake, little tolerance was allowed.
Often students were so bloodied they were hospitalized, including Karnig for speaking his native tongue. During Fevzi Bey’s time as headmaster, each day would end in daily falahka striking’s to the soles of feet given to orphans listed for breaking rules. This torturous method eventually caused Favzi to lose his position. Although punishments given by the soldiers and teachers of Antoura were sadistic, the never ending struggle of hunger was more troubling. Forcing children to become thieves. Just to fulfill their bodies continuous need for nutrition.
The portions being given were so minimal and poor quality that many died of sickness. Some orphans even became informants for the Turks. Traders to their own people just for an extra piece of bread. When squadrons who snuck out at night got desperate, they resorted to crushing bones into powder and eating it. Desperate enough to eat anything. Even ink or paper. The terrors Karnig faced as a child were worse than most people could even try to imagine. This constant destruction caused by the Turkish military impacted the lives of Armenians dramatically.
Karnig was raised with no parents, surrounded by violence, pushed to the limits of starvation, and faced countless abuse and torment for their nationality. Given a life full of suffering enforced by the Young Turks attempt to control them with fear. Pushing children to the limits of their existence, with no regard for life. From his family dying off, to the abuse faced at Antoura, the struggle he overcame was due to his unbreakable faith. Another major role is survival was the multiple family members and companions who helped continue his quest through his survival.
Karnig’s grandfather and Garbo Emmi (uncle) played a crucial role in getting him out of the desert and into Hamma orphanage. Although Karnig staying in the camp would have given them a chance to finish their lives together, being placed under an actual roof and provided meals were his best opportunity. This act showed complete selflessness and ultimately contributed to the fate of Panian. Had he not left the desert, his fate was most likely to end there. His cousin, Kirkor, also provided bread for Karnig both in the concentration camp and Antoura orphanage.
During their time spent in Antoura, Krikor snuck bread from his job in the storeroom. One day, after Karnig had been on bedrest after a severe beating from the headmaster, his cousin surprised him with a loaf of bread. Promising “From now on, we’ll never be hungry. I’ll bring you bread every night. ” Unfortunatly, Kirkor would again return to the desert in search of their family. Yusuf was one of the older boys in the orphanage. He was a leader, and rebel, and a skilled survivalist. He organized an entire platoon of students, tired of being hungry, and secretively began missions during the night.
His ability to find supplies and move swiftly during runs helped many kids push through the brink of starving to death. Not only was he a skilled thief, but also a great voice for unity amount the Armenians. Being in such harsh times, having someone to follow helped reinstruct pride in their heritage. As the students were continuously getting shorted on food, and guards began to increase security. Yusuf responds by leading a group, including Karnig, to sneak out and survive off the wilderness. They had been driven so hungry, and forced to conform to Turkish culture, they could not bear more.
Leaving in the middle of the night and traveling a good distance from Antoura. Staying out in the wilderness in caves along the hillside, Yusuf provided the group with food, shelter, and guidance. Overall, the group solely relied on his intuition of nature and survival. After six months, winter was beginning again, and the cold going to be too much along with little fruits available. Once returning, the group was to find we were no longer under Turkish orders. After a shifting in war, we once again were reunited with Armenians. Now that reinforcements had invaded the surrounding regions, Armenian resistance was rising.
They would now be taught by Armenians once again and be able to return home. While the days of Antoura were over with, the tension between Turks and Armenians was still prevalent. Fighting broke out throughout cities across the Middle East. Ray Travis, an American missionary, was now director of the orphanage. His friendly personality gave him an amazing bond with the children. In the Armenian section of Aintab outrage began to stir up between communities. Eventually turning into an all-out war zone. Mr. Travis’s military experience helped him create a secure bunker and save Karnig and many other lives.
The journey of Karnig Panian is one of hardship, bonding, and faith. Telling the personal experiences from the life of a survivor. Showing that even after taking a child from his happy, home environment, and constant attempts to frighten and disassociate himself, faith still prevails. Even after witnessing years of suffering and death, he kept a strong enough mind to overcome the Young Turk Revolution’s attempt to assimilate the Armenian youth through fear. And each person who attributed to Karnig’s survival did it through faith and knowing he would tell a story needed to be heard.
