Nezar Khalili (1925 – 2019)

Nezar Khalili (1925 – 2019)
Vahe H. Apelian

Note: The name might be spelled Nizar Khalili as well.

Nezar Khalil

Kantsasar, the Syrian Armenian Weekly published by the Prelacy of Aleppo, reported today that Syrian Arab writer, translator Nezar Khalili passed away today, Wednesday, May 8, 2019 in Kessab, Syria. He was an acclaimed expert on Armenian literature. The bells of the Armenian churches in Kessab tolled to break the news of his passing away at his advanced age of 93. After retirement he appeared to have moved to Kessab where he had been residing during the past many years.

From 1943 to 1946 he had taught Arabic in Zavarian School to Armenian students who did not seem to be interested in learning the language.  Zavarian School was located in a section of Aleppo that to this day has come to be known among the Armenians as Nor Kyugh (New Village). The official name of the section is Medan.

The eminent caricaturist Massis Araratian happened to be one of his students. Recalling the young teacher Nezar Khalili was in those days, Massis noted the following in Facebook: “In 1943 Nezar Khalili was our Arabic language teacher in the Zavarian School in Aleppo. He did not know Armenian but he spared no effort in Arabic to have us learn and love the Arabic language. He was a patriotic, sensitive, intelligent and cultured young man. His mother was the principle of an Arabic kindergarten. Mr. Nezar knew very well the value of learning another language, but we, the students, in those days did not appreciate the value of knowing another language. During the second academic year, his first and impressionable lesson became when he grabbed a chalk and wrote the following in Armenian on the chalkboard: ’you do not learn Arabic, but I will learn Armenian and have my salary paid’. In time he became the ARMENOLOGIST NEZAR KHALILI”.

Kantsasar elaborated further noting that Nezar Khalili “had mastered Armenian during his teaching career. Nezar had studied the history of the Armenian people, its culture and especially its creative literature. He had visited Armenian several times. Nezar Khalili has authored many articles (in Arabic) pertaining to the Armenian culture and Armenian-Arabic literature. He has translated to Arabic the literary works of Hovhannes Toumanin, Krikor Zohrab, Avedik Isahagian and Hovhannes Sheraz.”  In 1996 he had translated Kevork George Apelian's "Anna the bride  - Anna Harse) book. He has also translated to Armenian the literary works of Arab authors.

Nezar Khalili has also translated Grigor Narekatsi’s (Gregory of Narek) famous work “Book of Lamentation” (Madian Voghbergutyan), commonly referred to a Narek or Nareg. Next to the bible it is considered to be the most revered book in the Armenian Christendom.

President Serzh Sargsyan bestowed upon him the order of Movses Khorenatsi, Armenia’s highest cultural award presented by the president to people who have significantly contributed to the advancement of the Armenian culture.

In April 2012, during an interview by news outlet Tert.am (Թերթ.am), Nezar Khalili has said the following: “I loved the Armenian people greatly. I have much respect towards the Armenians. The respect and the love the Armenians bestow upon me are the halo I wear over my head and the impetus of my heart. I am greatly grateful to the Armenian people for their inexhaustible respect and love”

Nezar Khalili was interred in Kessab.