In this last segment of the abridged translation of the first chapter of Antranig Zarougian’s book titled “The Greats and the Others” (ՄԵԾԵՐԸ ԵՒ ՄԻՒՍՆԵՐԸ», Zarougian reminisces about Levon Shant and Nigol Aghpalian ideological perceptions. Translated by Vahe H. Apelian.
Another contrast between these two great figures was in their manifestation of the ideology they espoused. Both belonged to the same party (Armenian Revolutionary Federation) but they did not exhibit the same warmth towards the organization. Aghpalian was in it head to toe. He was always on the stage. He never missed a meeting. He is regarded as the party’s ideolog. He even wrote a book under a penname analyzing the attributes a true party member should have. Shant was tepid in his ties with the party. It was rare to see him in meetings. He always kept his distance from the rest. Outside school Aghpalian was “Unger (comrade) Aghpalian” for all. Even for party members Shant remained “Baron Shant”.
Therefore, it was expected that Aghpalian would have a firm stand against those who did not espouse the party’s ideology and would be uncompromising when dealing with them, while Shant would be calm and conciliatory towards them. But the reality was that it was the other way around. Aghpalian did not shy from establishing relations with leaders of an opposing party. I have often seen him with prominent leaders of the Ramgavar (Social Democratic) Party, such as Mehran Damadian, Hmayag Granian (this latter impressed by Aghpalian sent his son to Jemaran). Shant, in his aristocratic isolation avoided even having personal rapport with A.R.F.ers, especially if they had nothing to do with Jemaran.
In my fourth year in Jemaran, Shant refused to have the Aleppo students in the dormitory because Hamazkayin had informed him, as the principal of the school, that they could no longer afford to cover the expenses for our room and board. We had brought a letter from the Central Committee (gomideh) of the A.R.F., inked with its red seal guaranteeing that they will cover the expenses of our room and board. In those days the A.R.F. central committee was in Aleppo and the Beirut A.R.F. was under its jurisdiction.
- “How many times have I told you that I do not recognize gomideh-momideh?.” Said Shant and refused to accept us.
Aghpalian intervened and came with an amicable solution. We would be renting a room on the outside and we would continue to have our midday lunch in Jemaran paying 4 Lebanese pounds. (Yes, a whole month’s meals for four pounds when nowadays in the same city a cup of coffee costs five pounds. Was the cost of living cheap in those days or money was scarce; did chicken come from the egg or the egg from the chicken?).
Shant laid down his last condition. We needed to pay upfront the cost of the six months. That also was also arranged. When it happened that I got expelled from the school during the year (my being expelled had nothing to do with this arrangement. I might write about it one day, should I). Aghpalian called me to his small room in the basement. Those were the seven lean years of Jemaran. He seemed to have been in charge of the finance. He said:
- “Four Lebanese pounds of credit remained from your account.”
- “No problem, Mister Aghpalian. Let that four Lebanese pounds be my gift to Jemaran.”
- “You are not in a situation to gift to Jemaran. Maybe in the future you may become well to do. In that regard, I am a little doubtful. Persons like you are not money makers.”
And with his own hand, he placed the four Lebanese pounds in my pocket.
***
Aghpalian was the Minister of Education of the (first) Republic of Armenia. Shant had presided the delegation that was sent to Moscow to negotiate with Lenin. They are important historical figures who were in political struggle. But they did not carry on the struggle with the same zeal. Shant, the delegate sent to make peace with Lenin, is deeply and fiercely unreconcilable. The other, Nigol Aghpalian, ideologically opposed, but was bound with his soul to the soil where his wife and children lived (note: Soviet Armenia). Shant was a Western Armenian. He was a native of Bolis and in his ideological stand he embodied the Western Armenian mindset along with his German schooling and education.
***
One peaceful evening we were pacing in the courtyard with Aghpalian. He was sad. A very disturbing news was circulating. The catholicos of Etchmidzin Khoren I had died. Some claimed that he was killed. The catholicos was a close friend of Aghpalian. He reminisced about the catholicos.
- “He was not a much-educated person, but he was an intellectual and a superb clergy. He was faithful to his calling and to the people.”
Gradually his thoughts carried him, and he started talking about Armenia with sadness and grieving. It was there that I heard from him for the very first time his prophetic thought. Later I would hear it more often and read in his writing
- “There, in our country, there are dark persecutions. A heavy hand is oppressing the people and they have submitted to it with their heads bowed. But the heads that are lowered now might one day raise again, but those whose heads were chopped in Der Zor will never rise again.”
Shant never entertained such optimism; erect like a wall he remained firm in his convictions. For him nothing good could come from that regime. That was why he was close to Roupen Der Minassian. According to the latter, in order to rid Armenia from that regime, it was even worth befriending Turks. He even wrote a book about it. Shant who had not included Vahan Tekian and Arshag Chobanian in his textbooks, had given much room to the memoirs of Roupen.
Let us be mindful that those were 1930’s. Dark clouds had gathered over Europe and the specter of Hitler was looming.
What would have Shant thought nowadays had he lived and seen that his plays are being published in 40 thousand copies in a large volume and with a preface written with deep admiration by the president of the Writers’ Union of (Soviet) Armenia Edourad Tchopanyan? How would he had reacted seeing the third edition of his “Old Gods” translated in Russian?
Aghpalian would not have had much to say. He had said the truth fifty years ago that regretfully falls on deaf ear to this day.
Levon Shant and Nigol Aghpalin are two great figures who have their permanent place in our literature and history.
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