Dr. İkna Sarıaslan has passed away

Dr. İkna Sarıaslan, one of the last writers of Istanbul Armenian literature who had been facing health issues for some time, passed away today at the age of 81.

A funeral ceremony will be held for Sarıaslan on Wednesday, February 18, at 2:00 PM at the Beyoğlu Üç Horan Church. Following the service, İkna Sarıaslan will be buried in the intellectuals’ section of the Şişli Armenian Cemetery.

Sarıaslan, who worked at the Nor Marmara newspaper, was also a Full Member of the Honorary Board of the PEN Writers Association.

Born in Istanbul in 1945, İkna Sarıaslan was regarded as one of the significant poets of contemporary Istanbul Armenian literature.

After graduating from St. Joseph French School and continuing his higher education at the Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Sarıaslan began writing poetry at an early age.

He won the Sarkis Boğosyan Poetry Prize in 1962. His first book was published in 1974 under the title “Lo,” and the book was selected for the AGBU (Armenian General Benevolent Union) Alex Manoogian Literary Prize.

Sarıaslan was a member of the writers' unions in Turkey and Armenia, as well as the International PEN Association. Sarıaslan, who also produced works in the Turkish language, had his poems translated into 14 languages and included in various anthologies and textbooks.

Sarıaslan’s poem, ‘Todori at Sunset’ (Günbatımında Todori), was adapted for the stage by the Berberyan Company under the direction of Bercuhi Berberyan. ‘Todori at Sunset’ was first performed as a one-man show by actor Boğos Çalgıcıoğlu on March 27, 2008, at the Getronagan High School Alumni Association in Istanbul.

Sarıaslan has a book titled ‘Kuyner Hedker’ [Colors and Traces] published by Aras Publishing.

As Agos, we extend our condolences to the Sarıaslan and Marmara families.