The Unlike Twins
An abridged translation of the first chapter of Antranig Zarougian’s book titled “The Greats and the Others” (ՄԵԾԵՐԸ ԵՒ ՄԻՒՍՆԵՐԸ» published in Beirut in 1992. The chapter titled “Unlike Twins” (Հակադիր Երկուորեակներ) paints a student’s impression and a grown-up man’s appreciation of these two famed educators, Nigol Aghpalian and Levon Shant, who toiled side by side in the famed Jermaran of Beirut. The narration also gives a glimpse of the norms and values prevailing when these two educators pooled their know how and efforts in educating a cade of Armenian students,.including naturally Antranig Zarougian who would assume a leadership role in the community. In this segment Zarougian reminisces episodes that reflected the characters of the Levon Shant and Nigol Aghpalian. Translated by: Vahe H. Apelian.
“ Two individuals, who for decades collaborated with each other remaining fundamentally and overtly opposite to each other.
It is hard to imagine two persons, who toiled side by side, hand in hand, in the same field, served the same cause but had altogether contrasting personalities been in physical, in character traits, in temperament and almost in everything else.
Let me begin with the physical.
Shant was erect like a stick, lively, brisk, always in motion and always impeccably dressed, the crease of his pants neat, and necktie always in its place. His conversation was brisk, his walk was with a military precision. He was always alert and energetic.
Aghpalian on the other hand was languid, slow, always looking tired, a bit hunchbacked as if he was carrying an invisible burden, and often without his necktie.
The voice of Shant was dry, sharp much like the high pitch of a violin. Aghpalian’s voice was more like a bass-violin.
When they dined:
Shant did not touch the bread before attaching the end of the white handkerchief to his front collar. His elbows rested on the table with his arms erect much like statues. He used the forks and the knives with a measured movement, solemnly and ceremoniously.
The white handkerchief remained folded in front of Aghpalian, at times he had a newspaper and dined with his head lowered reading at the same time.
Shant had his own regiment. He ate lean meat and vegetables and was extremely frugal.
Aghpalian was an omnivore. He did not refuse whatever was offered to him. along with quality he favored quantity as well…
When they entered a classroom:
Shant first closed the door then walked towards the center of the classroom in a deliberate pace with his two arms firmly against his sides and with a slight bow of his head invited the students to sit.
Aghpalian entered the classroom without looking at us, headed towards the teacher’s desk while waving up and down one of his arms towards us signaling us to sit and after he occupied his place, he looked at us and started lecturing without paying attention who was at his desk or not
Aghpalian was friendly. One could approach him anytime of the day and discuss with him a subject. Outside the classroom, Shant rarely gave an opportunity to approach him. He was always busy in his office. The former’s warm personality always attracted us to him. The latter, with his imposed reverence, kept us respecting him. ….
I will not be piecing together the biographies of these two great men. I will simply be attempting to sketch an overview of their personalities by sharing personal recollections, lasting impressions from them, along with light-hearted anecdotes characterizing each.
***
When a few of us as grown-up from the boarding went to the movies with Shant, without giving us time, he would move ahead of us and head towards the ticket counter. He would take out his wallet, look towards us to ascertain our number, and present the money to the cashier.
- Five tickets
Whenever we were with Shant, no one among us dared to approach the ticket counter. In fact, we even made room for him to go ahead of us. That was the consecrated routine with him.
A similar situation with Aghpalian: we would have already collected the money and handed it to one of us who would be purchasing the tickets and as he moved ahead towards the ticket counter, Aghpalian with coins in his hand would approach and say.
- This is my money for….
Of course, we immediately would refuse to accept it and he….would not insist that we did. He returned the money quietly to his pocket.
In social relations Shant was a gentleman while Aghpalian was a penny pincher. But by saving from his meager earnings and with the frugal lifestyle he led, Apghpalian managed to have a house built in Shtaura (some 27 miles from Beirut) and then with the stroke of a pen gifted it to the nation. Shant was generous and extravagant in his daily conduct but was uncompromising to his rights such as when it came to his salary commensurate to his position and would not yield a bit.
***
I am not in the meeting . It was Yetvart Daronian who let me know of the following:
During the fourth year of its founding, Jemaran faced the possibility of closing down because of lack of sufficient funds. The reverberations of the great depression in America had had reached Middle East. Telegrams from Egypt, America, Haleb were reaching and alerting us that it was not prudent to rely on aid from America, they could not assist. A decisive “to be or not to be” meeting was held with the teaching staff with one item on the agenda, whether to close the school or not. Kaspar Ipekian presided over the meeting.
The attendees unanimously voted in favor of continuing the school, but how? Aghpalian proposes the following that was accepted. From the tuition received all the visiting teachers, who were not Armenians, would get paid. Whatever was left would equally be divided among the seven tenured teachers. A communal lunch would be instituted and thus somehow, they could get by.
All accept the proposal, except Shant who notes that he agreed to Nigol’s proposal but on one condition that the remaining money would be divided in eight parts instead seven and that he would receive two parts because he is the principal of Jemaran.
This gives rise to a fierce discussion between Levon Shant and Yetvart Daronian who has harsh words to Levon Shant which Kaspar Ipekian finds unacceptable and asks Daronian recant what he said.
- “I am not the person to recant” answers Yetvart Boyadjian and walks out of the meeting. Souren Papakhian and Hagop Atikian follow him.
In its days Shant’s stand was regarded scandalous. But today, after fifty years, I find Shant’s proposal justified. After all, should there not be a salary difference between the teachers and the principal?
Leaving under such circumstances is akin to desertion. The issue here is not the teachers who left the meeting, but those who stayed, Shant and Aghbalian.
Shant was chivalrous in his daily conduct and generous but when it came to his rights, he was uncompromising. The other, Aghpalian, counted his pennies but when it came to a crisis, he would extraordinarily be neglectful of his and be compliant. "
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