He stood ten feet tall, a dynamic, charismatic figure.
Antranig
Bakerjian
symbolized
the
enduring,
fighting
soul
of
the
kaghakatsi
Armenian.
He
had
the
carriage
of
those
in
command
of
the
situation, and the courage to stand up to the challenge.
Some
of
the
means
he
employed
verged
on
the
autocratic
-
he
had
no
shortage
of
detractors
-
but
there
was
no
mistaking
the
steely
determination,
although
admittedly
there
were
some
who
were
intimidated by his bearing.
A
man
of
manifold
tastes
and
various
talents,
he
doted
on
drama
and
literature.
(Edgar
Allan
Poe's
"The
Raven"
was
one
of
his
favorite poems).Â
A
keen
host,
he
delighted
in
having
people
over
and
on
Christmas
Eve,
when
the
kaghakatsi
revelers
completed
their
round
of
midnight
visits
to
friends,
relatives
and
neighbors
in
the
Armenian
Quarter
ending
their
crawl
at
his
home,
he
would
perch
behind
the
bar,
serving
drinks,
joining
in
the
songs.
A
born
leader,
he
tried
to
be
a
man
of
the
people.
Under
his
tenure,
the
Jerusalem
Armenian
Benevolent
Union,
the
"Agoump,"
the
centre
of
the
kaghakatsi
Armenians'
cultural
aspirations
and
expression, enjoyed its golden age.
Khawaja
Antranig,
as
he
was
popularly
known,
had
a
special
interest
in
furthering
the
range
and
activities
of
the
Boy
Scouts
Movement,
the
14th
Massis
group.
And
in
enhancing
the
artistic
and
cultural
aspirations
of
young
people.
The
stage
was
his
preferred
platform:
aspiring
thespians
and
orators
had
an
open
invitation
to
mount the steps and sally forth, under his critical eye.
Among
his
favorite
poems
was
Edgar
Allan
Poe’s
“The
Raven”
which
he
liked
to
have
one
of
the
young
fellows
recite
in
front
of
important visitors.
As
chairmanof
the
Kaghakatsi
community
“Jerusalem
Armenian
Beneveolent
Union”
(the
JABU),
he
organized
endless
social
activities,
most
importantly
dances
and
balls
with
the
Armenian
Rhythm band providing the accompaniment.
His
drive
and
ambition
saw
him
rise
to
the
position
of
Area
Officer
with
the
United
Nations
Relief
and
Works
Agency
for
Palestinian
refugees.
Perhaps
one
of
the
fondest
memories
one
has
of
Antranig
Bakerjian,
is
the
New
Year’s
Eve
reception
he
held
at
his
house.
Everyone
was
invited
-
no
one
had
to
bring
anything,
because
he
provided all the food and drinks for an unforgettable night.
