They Were Teachers of Mine: ARMENAG YEGHIAYAN (2/2)

Vahe H. Apelian

From kindergarten to my graduation from the but  9^th grade, which would somewhat be equivalent to graduating middle-school, I was a student in the Sourp (Saint) Nshan Armenian school in West Beirut, in the Zokak-el- Blat neighborhood which was then the hub of the Armenian community in West Beirut. The last three of my high school years were in the Armenian Evangelical College (A.E.C).

Saint Nshan, Hovagimian-Manougian High School, Nshan Palanjian Djemaran, Demirjian elementary school were almost next to each other while the Armenian Evangelical College High School (A.E.C.) was a bit further, but still well within a walking distance.

I graduated from Sourp Nshan in 1962. Our graduating senior year had an unusual array of teachers who were part timers because they were either continuing their education or taught / worked primarily elsewhere. Naturally we looked upon them as sources of high authority and senior figures but in reality and in hindsight we students and many of them as our teachers were contemporaries. They were, naturally, older than us by a few years but well less than a decade

After my graduation we parted ways. I have no recollection of having met them in person since. But lately thanks to the social medium I have connected with two of them, Ohan Tabakian, M.D., who resides in Montreal, and Dr. Armenag Yegiayan, who continues to reside in Beirut. Most of the rest have passed away. 

Armenag Yeghiayan was one of such teachers. He was studying dentistry when he taught us mathematics. We knew, that he and a one of students, who was a junior to us, had fallen in love. It turned out that after our graduation they were married. He finished his studies and set up his dentistry clinic and last year wrote an interesting article about aspects of life pertaining to the Armenian community in East Beirut, notably Bourj Hamoud some of which had to do with his professional practice. (See http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2018/01/christmas-fairytales-from-bourj-hammoud.html).

Over the years Dr. Yeghiayan has distinguished himself as an expert on the Armenian language, especially the Western Armenian. He regularly comments on the proper and correct use of the Western Armenian language. He does not spare the editors for their negligence at times.

A few years ago I established contact with him through social medium. He let me know that he has authored a book on the Armenian language, its grammar and dictation. I understood from him that his book was selected for publication but due to some issues he had with the publishers he held his manuscript back. Students are shrewd judge of their teachers’ character. We knew that he had an independent streak in him.  He remains the master of his voice and continues to admonish at times those who remain inattentive to the correct us of the Armenian language.

Recently he wrote and shared with his friends an interesting article titled “Shoushdag”. I translated that article as well and I will post it soon. He had liked my translations.  I hope he will like the upcoming as well.