Clenched Fist

Clenching Fist

Vahe H. Apelian

Clenched fist is a well-known symbol for solidarity or for unity to advance causes. According to Wikipedia “A raised fist was used as a logo by the Industrial Workers of the World in 1917.” and that “The symbol has been picked up and incorporated around the world by various oppressed groups.”

The symbol of the clenched fist is not new among Armenians, as well. As far as I am concerned, it first appeared on posters in Beirut, during the fiftieth anniversary commemoration of the genocide and it was the A.R.F. Zavarian Student Association who promoted the symbol in quest for justice for the Armenian Genocide. Many such posters were displayed in that decade spanning from 1965 to 1975, at the onset of the Lebanese Civil War. In 1971 the A.R.F. Zavarian Student Association organized a march to commemorate the Armenian Genocide. The clinched fist appears on the tickets issued at that occasion for fund raising. (Read "The Longest March" on this blog).

Catholicos Aram I ended his speech at the 6^th Armenia-Diaspora Pan-Armenian Conference titled “Mutual Confidence, Unity, and Responsibility by quoting Hovhannes Shiraz, who has said in a poem  ” “Armenians, enough of remaining separated, like fingers; become a fist… and you will make Armenia eternal.” Hovhannes Shiraz passed away in 1984.

The call for unity in fact dates                 . In that innocuous reading poetry there was a hidden message that was revealed later. When the second letters of each sentence was read vertically, it read: “Oh, Armenian people, your only salvation is in your collective strength”. Not long after the publication of the book, Charents was put under house arrest for allegations against him that were looming long before the publication of the book. Naturally the revelation added fuel to the fire accusing him of harboring subversive nationalistic tendencies. He was later moved to prison. He passed away on the morning of November 27, 1937 in the prison’s hospital. The official cause of his was attributed to his lingering severe sickness.

Symbols of clinched fist or calls for unity have become torturous slogans, while surely they bear important message to pass on from one generation to the next. But after a quarter of century of Armenia’s independent Republic, it would be expected that such slogans would cease to be the centerpiece when the best and brightest of the Armenians world wide meet, as they did during this past 6^th Armenia-Diaspora conference. Regretfully talks and speeches were heard loud and clear rather than reports on actions and programs.

Yeghishe Charents’ famous poet and its able translation by Tatul Sonentz Papazian is presented below.

ՊԱՏԳԱՄ Նոր լույս ծագեց աշխարհին.  Ո՞վ այդ արևը բերեց:-- Ահա ոսկյա մի արև՝  ճառագումով իր հրե՝  Այգաբացի պուրպուրե  Նժույգների վրա հեգ՝  Նոր աշխարհին ու մարդուն  Հղում է լույս զվարթուն,  Նոր աշխարհին ու մարդուն  Ո՜վ բերեց լույսն այս արթուն,  Օ՜, ու՞մ ձեռքով վառվեց, ո՞ւմ,  Հրակարմիր, հրավարս,  Ադամանդյա լույսը այս:-  Կքած կյանքի բեռի տակ,  Խոր գերության ընդերքում,  Իմաստության մի գետակ  Հիմարության համերգում--  Քանի՜ տարի, քանի՜ դար  Վկայեցիր անհերքում...  Ափերին այն խավարտչին,  Ուր հայրենիքն էր մեր հին,--  Չկա՞ր արդյոք գետ մի հորդ,  Որ գերության անհաղորդ՝ Լուրթ՝ հոսելով դարից-դար՝  Մթության մեջ այն համառ  Այս այգաբացն էր կրում,  Հու՜ր այգաբացն այս հեռու՝  Հնուց պահած իր ջրում  Օ՜, ըղձական այս հեռուն...  Կքած կյանքի բեռի տակ՝ ՝ Ոգի՜, անկոր, հո՜ւր գետակ...  Ահա վառվում է մեր նոր  Հաղթանակի լույսը բորբ.  Լվանում է նա հիմա  Վառվող ոգին մեր անմահ,  Չքնաղ արևն այդ արի,  Վառված հրով աշխարհի...  Չկա՜ ուրիշ արև էլ.  Նա է միայն, որ դարեր  Անմար՝ պիտի արևէ...  Լույսով վառված սակայն այդ՝  Նժարներից հիմա մենք  Հիմարությամբ չթափենք  Իմաստությունն այն արար.--  Մեր անցյալի խորամիտ  Էջն այն արդար ու ռամիկ՝  Մեծահանճար ու վարար...  Եղիշէ Չարենց

TESTAMENT Look! A new light ascends afar! Who brought this sun to our world? Gaze upon this golden star, Arriving through fire, Embracing the world, riding Before dawn, steeds of porphyry, Infusing light and ecstasy, Giving to the new world and men Lasting bliss and harmony. And who turned on this restless light, Opening the gates to the crimson blaze? Tell me, what hand set the fire To illuminate with flame-red flare and Spirit? Who set this diamond of a light Glaring with such glow in a Setting darkened with blight…? By being a bearer of life’s stress, Lowered to the depths of slavery – Running stream of wisdom in an Arid plain of insanity – How many years and centuries, In your long, long history, Clinging to the bare truth By sheer will, you bore witness…? Is there no river cresting along the Dark banks where our homeland was? Clamoring against serfdom, Ever flowing through endless time Passing through hideous darkness, It carried the seeds of this sunrise – Simmering visions of distant dreams Born on its waves for eons… Under the burden of an existence Singed by sorrow and strife, still A spirit alive, a stream aflame, Lighting a new crimson torch And hailing the coming acclaim… Bygone embers are afire now, Nothing dampens our radiant spirit, Our shining star soars anew Bright as this world on fire… Accept the sun – the only one For ages to come – and beyond… Always rising, always aloft, Clearing the skies of all grime, Beckoning us towards justice Scrubbed of all blemish and slime… It cautions us with fiery plumes, Signaling us to stand firm… Ever present, ever bright. Let it always remain in sight. Issued in fire and dazzling light, Steady hands should hold these scales Cradling the spirit of our insight, Lest it stumbles, dropped by us Into a gaping, ghastly chasm … A great phase from past attainment, Stable and just as our people’s soul, The sturdy mainstay of wisdom’s court. --------------------- Yeghishe Charents Translated by Tatul Sonentz