Vaհe H Apelian
If the Diaspora Armenian pundits can draw a parallel between Panama Canal, a passageway by sea, and Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity in South Armenia Syunik region, a passageway by land; surely I can draw a more forceful parallel between the advocacies of Raffi, the soul of the nineteen century Armenian renaissance and Momofuku Ando, pertaining to poverty and hunger. Those interested may read about them. For Raffi I recommend Murad Meneshian’s book, I linked below. About Momofuku Ando, I recommend searching in the internet. For the purpose of this blog suffice to say that the latter was instrumental in coming with an a unexpensive durable food that may be stored for long for the post WWII Japanese, whose country was devastated by the war. He is credited to have said that “peace will come to this world when the people have enough to eat.”
Recently I read an article in Darperag 21 with the following title in translation “Poverty: Armenia’s National Calamity” (“Աղքատութիւնը՝ Հայաստանի Ազգային Աղէտը”). The author Arayik Mkrtumyan (Արայիկ Մկրտումեան), cited the following from Raffi addressed to Grigor Artsruni: “I completely confirm your opinion about me (as you have been gossiping to many that I have now become a materialist). Poverty has taught me this. From the most bitter experiences of my life, I have become convinced that nothing can be built on an empty stomach, and the day, if I have a ruble in my pocket for lunch, my written work on that day comes out more beautifully. After suffering such heavy blows, have you not also become convinced that money is a good thing?”
A query I made in the Internet about poverty in Armenia, read the following: “Poverty in Armenia is a significant issue, with a national poverty rate of 23.7%.... Rural populations, particularly those in border areas, mountainous regions, and earthquake zones, are especially vulnerable.”
I cited below a few passages from Arayik Mkrtumyan’s article. Those interested may read the article. It is in Armenian. I have attached the link below.
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“Tens of thousands of people in Armenia still remain poor. Official figures usually fluctuate between 23-25 percent, but that has never shown the real picture…... Poverty is the monster that continues to devour the lives of the inhabitants of the republic and daily, makes the present miserable and keeps the future in uncertainty. The future is no longer a period of desired changes and anticipation, but an inevitable expectation of new shocks and stress. Poverty is the terrible axe that cuts people's hope from faith in the future.”
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“The overwhelming majority of the population of the republic is drowning in bank loans. Even the most ordinary loans do not finish paying off for years. Thousands of people are almost always on the "credit default blacklist", tens of thousands are chained by debts.”
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“Poverty has not allowed the Armenian to live. It constantly keeps him tense and pessimistic. Poverty in Armenia has so bent a person that he does not think about anything else except the desire to live for a month and his only concern is to pay off the debts and expenses for that month and be satisfied if he does not go into debt that month.”
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“Armenia, the homeland and the state of Armenia suffer in the grip of poverty. Many may interpret it differently, justify it differently, and disagree, but the fact remains unchanged. Poverty is destroying Armenia. Social tension is rising; enthusiasm and hatred are intensifying. People are dissatisfied and stressed. Many children are left without education and without prospects for progress. Poverty kills the person and the future of the homeland. A frightened society, never satisfied with its social situation, cannot think about victory. How can you think about victory when your daily life is a defeat? When the Security Service of Armenia (SSNA) reports the news of another betrayal for only 200-300 dollars, does that not remind you of anything?”
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“There are times when poverty is a social issue, and times when it is a matter of national security. In the case of Armenia, poverty has invisibly but firmly chained our minds and souls.”
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Nowadays the peace deal Armenia signed is the talk of Diaspora social media. Concerns are raised. Analysis is made. Social wheels are discovered anew. What would Iran think? How would Russia react? Surely these are valid concerns and surely too, the Armenian government officials are aware of these issues as the Armenian pundits on the social media are. Although I doubt that the Armenian government officials who set the pollical course likely considered the ramification of the Panama Canal America built and operated for long.
The Armenian pundits, alluding especially to those who reside in the West, rarely study how the citizens of Armenia perceive the peace deal. As the Armenian saying goes, "the satiated does not understand the hungry”, "Կուշտը սովածին չի հասկանա"` «կուշտը քաղցածին չի հասկնար։»
Links
1.“Raffi, The Prophet From Payajuk By Murad A. Meneshian» -
2.“Աղքատութիւնը՝ Հայաստանի Ազգային Աղէտը” - https://darperag21.net/%d5%a1%d5%b2%d6%84%d5%a1%d5%bf%d5%b8%d6%82%d5%a9%d5%ab%d6%82%d5%b6%d5%a8%d5%9d-%d5%b0%d5%a1%d5%b5%d5%a1%d5%bd%d5%bf%d5%a1%d5%b6%d5%ab-%d5%a1%d5%a6%d5%a3%d5%a1%d5%b5%d5%ab%d5%b6-%d5%a1%d5%b2%d5%a7/?fbclid=IwY2xjawMK2Z1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHphvjcdpFkJ21CHtXug5gCYvoB4XPGKxfRmcsLcsvIAzX9OEf_hTcRz35L0V_aem_QasMB4wMd5IKPak73lGSwQ
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