Correspondence with Turkish Historian Erkan Karagöz |
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| Erkan
Karagöz is an attorney in eastern Turkey who grew up
among
Molokans and Jumpers near Kars and
has been researching and writting about them for many years. See his
blog: "The last Molokasn in Turkey" (Türkiyedeki Son Malakanlar),
and his new 2009 website. Erkan has submitting some of his published work about Molokans and Jumpers in Turkey for posting here — in Turkish. More people, like Dmitri Bruhin in Fresno, are needed to help translate Turkish text. Below are his answers to questions about his involvment in translating Semyonov's book: The History of Caucasian Molokans and Doukhobors, about a film in-progress, his opinions about Turkdoghan's research on Molokans, and other works. He refers to a news photo taken in 1921 and a recent photo of himself. |
Some of Erkan's
correspondence, contributions, and work is displayed here, edited for
clarity.
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| From:
"Erkan
Karagöz" <aequitas44@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Molokans in Turkey Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2006  I was
born in İncesu
[north of Kars, formerly: Malaia- Voronstovka]. During my childhood it
was a
small
village where Molokans lived. My father was a teacher there when I was
born. I lived with Molokans and they influenced my life and the way I
was brought up. Their hospitality, sincere behavior, down to earth
relations and good neighborhood is still discussed among my family. I am not a Molokan. My interest in Molokans was mainly in their sincere relations with the people of Kars, living together in peace, harmony and their great asset of teaching us agriculture, apart from the shared geography. My combined background of specializing in social science, history, sociology and geography greatly helped me to investigate Molokans. I am an advocat (solicitor) [attorney, laywer] by proffession and now live in Istanbul. Additionally, I have published many novels, worked on books about social history and I am also currently in the process of writting. In my novels there are some important parts about Molokans who lived in Kars and eventually were forced to go back to their native country [Russia]. In the second attachment I received from you there were write-ups [on the Interent] about my books and the first one was about Molokans. I have a long write up about Molokans already published. The others include Molokans who lived in Kars area, the majority of whom were forced to leave the area in 1922; and consequently about their social difficulties and the unlawfull pressures put on them. There are no other write ups about Molokans apart from the one written by O. Turkdogan, whose points of view I do not share nor agree. I would say there only my works about Molokan in Turkey, if you do not count Orhan Turkdoghan. The book by Ivan Semyenov which is now being translated into Turkish under my supervision. My ultimate goal is to introduce Molokans in Turkey to explain the way they lived in harmony with the locals, their warm approach and their positive additions to the society. I am also working on a short film project with a friend of mine whose greatmother was a Molokan. I sincerely believe that we as Turks, especially the people of Kars, are indebted and owe a great gratitute to Molokans in Turkey. If you wish I can send you my works in Turkish and you can put them onto your website. As I do not know English, it would be impossible for me to translate them into English. The letters I am sending and communicating with you in English are currently translated into English by a friend of mine. Should you also wish me to forward you some pictures I have in my possession, I can do so. I look at your website and following it with an interest. I think it is well done. I also think it should be utilized more and more on wider specturum. Looking forward to hearing from you soon. Best regards, Erkan |
 Chakmak village 1921. Molokan elders greet Kazım Karabekir Pasha, center with light coat, a military hero during the Turkish War of Independence, then president of the Grand National Assembly. He signed the Treaty of Kars with the Soviet Union on October 23, 1921. Photo sent by Turkish historian Erkan Karagöz. Click on photo to enlarge. From: "Erkan Karagöz" <aequitas44@gmail.com> Subject: Re: Molokans in Turkey Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2006 Unfortunately, I do not speak or write in Russian. The book by Semyenov is being translated by professionals [including a Molokan woman, Ludmila Denisenko]. During the process of its translation, I only oversee the theological terminolgies to check if they are being utilized in a correct manner and place. I should be very grateful, if you would kindly let me know the mistakes you spotted that he has made in his book. I would like these points to be attached at the back of the book before it is published as a reference. The short film about Molokans will be a documentary one. It will be made by a friend of mine who will travel to Stravropol (His grandmother was a Molokan). At the same time I am also discussing the issue with a film director. I will be guiding them accordingly. I sent you two pictures. Did you not receive them? [He later sent more photos.] I also sent you some of my works published in a magazine, newspaper and also a write up about Molokans who were forced to emigrate and also the problems they were faced in 1922 in Turkish. Regarding the book by Orhan Turkdoghan who does not touch on the big exodus [1960s to Stavropol'], also their problems and the difficulties faced during 1922. He also suggests that their biblical belief (or bible) was "The book of Sun" [Spirit and Life] and they believe in Maksim [Rudomiotkin]. He also suggests that there are some Molokans who were married to their daughters in Turkey! Currently, I am also working on another paper and when it is finished I will be sending it to you. It is based on the ethics of law about the history of Molokans who refuse the military service according to their beliefs.  Additionaly,
I will
be sending to you a copy of a section of my book,
in Turkish again, in which there is also a part about Molokans and
their problems they faced during the compulsory emigration out of
Turkey in 1922, called "The Russian Girl Vasilisa" [Rus Kızı
Vasilisa], which described the
Kars region between 1917-1960.Best regards, Erkan |
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