Kevork Ajemian facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kevork Ajemian
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| Born | May 23, 1932 Manbij, Syria |
| Died | December 27, 1998 (aged 66) Lyon, France |
| Occupation | Novelist, Writer, Journalist and Public activist |
| Genre | Realist |
| Notable works | A Speech for the Road, Ruling Over the Ruins |
Kevork Vartani Ajemian (also spelled Adjemian) was an important Lebanese-Armenian writer, journalist, and activist. Born on May 23, 1932, he became known for his novels and for publishing Spurk, a literary magazine based in Beirut. He also played a role in developing the ideas behind the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA).
Contents
Kevork Ajemian's Life Story
Early Life and Education
Kevork Ajemian was born in Manbij, a town near Aleppo in Syria. His family had survived the Armenian genocide. He studied in Aleppo before moving to Beirut, Lebanon, in 1952. He later graduated from the American University of Beirut in 1958. For several years, he taught Armenian and English in schools in Beirut and Cyprus.
A Career in Words
Kevork Ajemian had a busy career in journalism and publishing. He worked as an editor for The Daily Star in Beirut. He also wrote for Armenian literary magazines like Shirak and Graser. He was a regular writer for Spurk, a magazine he edited for a few years in the 1960s and 1970s. Later, he published Spurk as a yearly book from 1985 to 1998.
Writing for Change
Ajemian was part of a new group of Armenian writers in the 1960s. He wrote in both Armenian and English, and his books were published in Lebanon, Armenia, and the United States. His writings often explored the feelings of Armenian people living outside their homeland, dealing with themes of longing and searching for identity.
His first English novel, Symphony in Discord, looked at life in a thought-provoking way. Another novel, Ruling over the Ruins, tells a love story set in war-torn Beirut. Ajemian's writing style was direct and powerful. He believed that people needed to stand up for their rights, as no one would simply give them away.
One of his famous novels, The Descendants of Milky Way, focused on the lives of young Armenians in Lebanon during the 1970s. In 1997, his book A Time for Terror was discussed on a radio show in New York City.
Standing Up for Armenians
Kevork Ajemian was involved in movements that aimed to support Armenian rights. He helped create the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) and played a key role in shaping its ideas and goals. His writings often reflected his strong belief in the need for Armenians to assert their identity and rights.
In 1979, he took part in the First Armenian Congress Organizing Committee in Paris. Kevork Ajemian passed away in Lyon, France, on December 27, 1998, at the age of 66. After his death, a collection of his best journalistic works was published in 1999.
