Bitlis Now Has William Saroyan Street

Bitlis Governor’s Office admitted the proposal regarding the change of certain street names in the city. 

The following street names were introduced: Bediüzzaman Said-i Kürdi Street (after an influential religious cleric), Kemal Fevzi Street, Şeref Han Street and William Saroyan Street.

In addition to that, the name of a mall was given after Feqıyê Teyran - a Kurdish poet. 

Previously, Ara Sarafian from Gomidas Institute made a proposal to change the name of Sapkor Street with Saroyan Street, as the author spent his early childhood there. Even though the municipality admitted the proposal, the street name was unable to change due to disagreement with the governor’s office. 

Who is William Saroyan? 

William Saroyan (August 31, 1908 – May 18, 1981) was an American dramatist and author. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1940, and in 1943 won the Academy Award for Best Story for the film adaptation of his novel The Human Comedy.

An Armenian American, Saroyan wrote extensively about the Armenian immigrant life in California. Many of his stories and plays are set in his native Fresno. Some of his best-known works are The Time of Your Life, My Name Is Aram and My Heart's in the Highlands.

Upon his will, a part of his funeral was taken to Armenia and buried in the Armenian Pantheon. (NV/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.