Vahe H. Apelian
Both of these books were mandatory readings through my schoolings. Machiavelli’s “The Prince” was a required reading in the American University of Beirut during my study there. Irrespective of the intended major, the students had to take at least two semesters of social study. It is where, my recollections let me believe, I read the book. I also remember that the professors who taught social studies were known to be tough graders.
Arpiar Arpriarian’s “The Red Offering” book was also a required reading during my studies in the Sourp (Saint) Nshan Armenian school, which was at junior level. The students graduated in their 9th and last grade to continue their studies elsewhere. In my case it was the Armenian Evangelical College – A.E.C. – where I continued my studies for the next three years for my high school education in 1965, to give a glimpse of the elapsed time.
Lately I read the two books over again to refresh my memory and ended up questioning the impressions I had harbored over the years about the main message the authors of these books wanted to convey.
Recently I read a comment on the Armenian social media advising that the Armenian negotiators should be Machiavellian to make headway in the treacherous and labyrinthine politics of the Caucasus. I wondered whether it would have been more appropriate commenting that the Armenian negotiators should be aware of the Machiavellian mindset of those with whom they negotiate or will be negotiating.
Let us be mindful that Niccolo Machiavelli shared his commendations with the prince who had acquired power either by good fortune, such as by inheritance or through his own resources and skills. In either case, the advice Machiavelli shared was not to an “under dog” to maneuver itself to become the top or to how maneuver to snatch its share from the “the top dog” of the pack. The advice Machiavelli shared was in fact to the “top dog” advising him how to retain and consolidate and retain the power the prince has acquired.
Let us be mindful that our representatives will be negotiating with “top dogs” that want to consolidate and extend their own powers. I believe it’s more of a matter for the Armenian negotiators to be able to secure assurance that what they negotiate for the security and prosperity for Armenia will be honored in the long term given the mindsets of the “princes” in the region. After all, Machiavelli advised the prince that “men are either to be kindly treated, or utterly crushed” and that enemies, although vanquished, who remain “in their homes, have the power to hurt”, so better to “colonize” them, that is to say, send them away.
Our representatives face a tough battle, needless to say.
What about the other book?
The title of Arpiar Arpiarian’s book is “Garmir Jamouts – Կարմի Ժամուցը». In order to make the translation a bit more palatable, some have translated the title as “The Crimson Offering” or “The Scarlet Offering”. I opted to use the adjective red. I have no recollection of having read the color of blood being crimson or scarlet. Red is how we describe blood, and the title has to do with shedding of blood and hence its “The Red Offering”.
The crux of the Arpiar’s novel is the clash between a wealthy Armenian by the name Hayrabed Effendi and a young priest from the interior by the name Hayr Houssig. Hayrabed Effendi was very influential in a suburb of Constantinople called Ortakiugh, where Arpiar Arpiarian had his early education. The Effendi was a devout Christian and never missed attending mass. He gave generously to the community but was very cautious in anything he thought remotely might raise the ire of the local pasha.
Der Houssig, on the other hand, was a daring and an enlightened priest who improved the lot of his village. Der Houssing attributed his approach for cleanliness, and self-reliance of his native village to his understanding of the Armenian bible in vernacular left in the village by an Armenian evangelical pastor. In fact, when he met the pastor years later, he presented himself as his disciple, to the surprise of the badvelli (pastor) who had a vague recollection of the mistreatment he received in Der Houssig’s village.
Time passed and the Armenians experienced what must have been the Hamidian massacres. During which time Hayrabed Effendi was imprisoned, humiliated in spite of his good rapport with the pasha. When push came to shove, he had become a nobody. Der Houssing also was imprisoned. When calm returned, both Hayrabed Effendi and Der Houssig happened to meet again and when Hayrabed Effendi found out that Der Houssig’s village had fared well because of the preparations they had vested over the years to be self-reliant in assuring their safety, security and well-being.
Hearing that Der Houssig’s village had fared well, it dawned on the Efendi that he had misunderstood Der Houssig instead of appreciating the wisdom of the village priest from the interior of the country, he had chastised him. To make amends for his misconception, he offered Der Houssig a gold coin. When Der Houssig objected, Hayrabed Effendi insisted, and he said that his offering is his “red offering”. That is to say, towards the purchase of guns.
In nutshell that is what the book is about. It was a mandatory reading in the Armenian schools to laud the virtue of self-reliance through arms . In fact, the cover of the book reflected the theme that our teachers wanted to convey to us.
But in reality, is that all Arpiar Arpiarian wanted to convey?
I realize now that the book had become symbolic of what in fact it was more than that. Regretfully the Armenian mindset had carved a tunnel vision and passed it along to the upcoming generation. That impression had remained entrenched in my memory all these past decades. It’s my reading in my retirement years that would alert to me that the book is more than what I had thought it was as it was depicted on the cover of the book we read. Even my mother, in one of her writings, had cited the book attesting to the message on the cover of the book, the virtue of guns.
But is that all the Arpiar Arpiarian wanted to convey?
See next installment.
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