When it comes to the Assyrian language and literature, Rabi Kourosh Benyamin is one of the most prominently recognized names. His work has been foundational to the progress and longevity of the Assyrian language, and he was a creative intellectual, a purposive activist, with a gentle and kind soul.
Rabi Marganita and a young Kourosh
Kourosh Benyamin was born in 1914 to Assyrian Parents, Avimalk and Marganita, an academic family from Sporghan, in Urmia, Iran. His father, Avimalk died at an early age. His mother, Rabi Marganita, an accomplished woman, was an instructor of the Assyrian language in Urmia. All the members of his family were educated in Iranian-American Schools.
He had two brothers, Youash and Aprim, and a sister named Sandra.
Aprim Benyamin
Aprim, Rabi Kourosh’s older brother, moved to Iraq to continue his education in Civil Engineering after receiving his high school diploma from the Elias American school in Iran. In addition to being an accomplished poet and activist in the Assyrian community, Aprim was the president of the Assyrian Society in Kirkuk from 1972 through 1984. He died in Kirkuk, Iraq in 1990. He has left behind many writings, articles, and Assyrian poetry, now preserved by his only son, Ramsin Benyamin.
Youash Benyamin
His other brother, Youash, received his diploma from the American School in Tehran. And later earned his Electrical Engineering degree from the Petroleum University of Technology in Abadan, Iran, where he consequently worked as an electrical engineer for the Petroleum industry. He spent his retirement alongside his brother, Rabi Kourosh, in Tehran, Iran. He died in 1981.
Sandra Benyamin
His sister, Sandra, moved to Iraq to live with her older brother after earning her diploma from the American school in Iran. There, Sandra started working at the British Overseas Airway Corporation (BOAC) until her marriage to Shamoon Petros and her married life in Iran. She finally moved to the US a few years after the passing of her husband and two brothers. Sandra died in 1997 in Los Angeles, California.
In the 1920s Kourosh Benyamin spent his time studying in the American School of Urmia, Iran. In 1932 he continued his education in the “Daneshsaraye Aali” (College of Teachers), where he received his diploma in 1937. After earning his teaching credentials, he was hired by the Board of Education of Urmia (سازمان آموزش و پرورش) in 1938. He was recognized with multiple awards during his teaching years, which finally led to his position as the vice president of the most prestigious school of Urmia. Over the years he established an association in Urmia for young Assyrians where he taught his Mother tongue.
In 1948 he transferred to Tehran, where he began to teach the English language in “Darolfonoon” and “Adeeb” high schools, two of the top schools in Iran at the time. In 1963, Kourosh asked for early retirement from the Education System.
Rabi Kourosh observed a lack of quality in educational resources for the Assyrian language. Motivated by his eagerness to develop a teaching methodology, he wrote and published 6+1 educational books that are still used to teach the Assyrian language around the world. He developed the six books, plus one for adults, such that anyone, at any level of education, can use them to learn the language. These books were published and distributed starting in 1966. Additionally, he published many storybooks, such as: “Animal Judgment” and “The Great Rider,” which are among the triumphs of Assyrian Literature.
Rabi Kourosh’s greatest achievement was developing an organized and systematic technique for teaching the Assyrian language throughout the seven books. These books have been prolific in teaching thousands of young Assyrians their mother language. And even to this day, they are part of the teaching curriculum in Assyrian schools all over the world.
Kourosh was an author, publisher, and the founder of the “Assyrian Youth Cultural Society of Tehran” in collaboration with other devoted Assyrian activists such as: Rabi Issa Benyamin, Dr. Elia Mar Yousef, Dr. Wilson Bit-Mansour, and Dr. Ashour Moradkhan under the guidance and supervision of William Sarmas and Rabi Nimrod Simono. The organization became the most active group in the preservation and development of Assyrian literature through publishing books, magazines, and related articles and especially the publishing of “Ashur” newsletter.
Rabi Kourosh supervised this association’s efforts in publishing the first issue of “Ashur” newsletter in November of 1967. And later contributed by drafting and editing articles to be published in the newspaper. As the association continued to expand its activities and hold larger events, many young Assyrians were intrigued to join and participate in the efforts of the organization.
On New Year’s Eve of 1979, during the Annual Australian Assyrian Community, Rabi Kourosh was presented with the “Man of the Year” award for his work in preserving the Assyrian language and culture: from opening Assyrian schools in Australia to developing the curriculum for Assyrian Literature classes.
Assyrian Man of the Year Award
Soussan faculty in 1974.
Rabi Kourosh spent his final years teaching Assyrian at “Soussan - School of the Assyrian of Iran” and the Assyrian Committee.
He died at the age of 66 on the 4th of July, 1980 in Tehran, Iran. Kourosh Benyamin started his career in 1938 and continued to work until his last days during the next 42 years. His life was cut short, denying him the opportunity to immortalize the Assyrian Language.
Because of his impact on the teaching community amongst Assyrians, after his passing, October 5th, the universal Teacher’s Day, was recognized as “Rabi Kourosh Benyamin’s day” in Tehran, Iran, amongst the Assyrian Community.
The image on the right is the Certificate of Teacher’s Day Celebration presented to Rabi Kourosh.
Rabi Kourosh never married. After his death, his only sister, Sandra Benyamin Petros, took over distributing his Assyrian books throughout Assyrian communities and organizations in Iran and later in the United States. His sister is survived by her three children: Elda, Domarina, and Raman, who have continued to make their uncle’s books and work available to Assyrians all over the world.