The History of Assyrians in Hamadan

By Hannibal Gewargis

Book Overview

This book is a valuable contribution to the history of historical towns and cities in Iran (former Persia). In this age of constant political upheavals when civilian populations are uprooted from their home base, many readers are interested to know what happens to these displaced communities; how they cope with homelessness, and try to resurrect their culture and national identity. The Assyrians are the main subject of this study. They were uprooted from their ancestral homes in Northwest Iran during World War I. Only a fraction survived and made their home in Hamadan as refugees. So, this book is a community study in the history of uprooted Assyrians in Hamadan. The following quote from this study is a testimony of how Assyrians have maintained their national identity and culture throughout the history of massacres ad displacements: The Assyrians do not have an independent country of their own. They are dispersed throughout the world. What has helped them to maintain their identity as a people, has been a network of social relations through family and community that have defied distance and the passage of time. Such networks bind the diaspora communities to their ancestors and place of origin. For example, individuals are identified by who they are related to and the village from where their forefathers came. To keep such connections alive, there are village reunions, and state and national conventions every year among the first generation of immigrants. Hamadan is a unique case. This is the only community that has held reunions on the basis of the town of origin (rather than the village of origin). Since the majority of Assyrians from Hamadan live in California, the reunions take place in this state. This book is also of special interest to those who trace the history of the American Protestant Missions in Iran and their contributions to the Education, health, and welfare of the host communities. In addition to the abovementioned interested readers, most of the Assyrians of Hamadan now live in the United States of America. They have pictures of their families, old churches, and monuments in Hamadan in this manuscript. They are anxious to see this manuscript in print. --Arianne Ishaya

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1669812391
• ISBN13: 9781669812395
• Release Date: March 2022
• Publisher: Xlibris Us
• Length: 154 Pages
• Weight: 0.52 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"