Lucy Deukmejian: Contemplation of a Repatriate

 Lucy Deukmejian: Contemplation of a Repatriate. 

The attached is my translation of an article Lucy Deukmejian - Լիւսի Տէօքմէճեան - posted in keghart.com this week, titled: ‘Վարդանանց նահատակաց անժամանցելի պատգամը» (The Enduring Message of Vardanants Martyrdom), linked below. But I opted to title the translation as “A Contemplation of a Repatriate.”  Vahe H. Apelian

Courtesy ARF Archives 

“Armenians living in the diaspora including I,  as a Lebanese Armenian until two and a half years ago when we repatriated as a family in September 2020,  celebrated the heroic Vardanants battle every year with great pomp. It is true that it is not a state or an official holiday in Lebanon, but we have the freedom to turn it into a holiday from community point of view, with all our institutions: church, school, commercial and non-commercial closed, as we have made it a non-working day for commemorating the battle of Vardanants.

In history, the battle of Avarayr, which took place on May 26, 451, is celebrated the Thursday before the Poon Paregentan feast, to glorify the bravery of the Vardan soldiers, who meaningfully sacrified themselves. One thousand, five hundred and seventy-two (1572) years later, we observe it to convey the battle’s messages to us. But now that I already live in Yerevan, when I asked my native Armenian colleague on Vardanant's Day, as noted on the Diaspora calendar, if she knew that today was Vardanant's Day. She said “no, do you?” I said, “yes, it's today." Jokingly, she said, "Is Vardan aware?"

But when I asked another native Armenian friend if she knew the message the Vardanants' holiday conveys to them. She said: "Yes, I always remind my children of meaningful death... as well as the oath to defend the Fatherland and to preserve it until the last drop of blood."

I asked myself. Why are the native Armenians living in Armenia accused of "disrespecting" the Vardanants holiday by not celebrating it in any official capacity? It didn't take long for me to find the answer. How would an Armenian living in Armenia celebrate the defeat of the many battles in our history? Should the Armenian living in Armenia celebrate Vardanants for what it stood for? Or, as a moral victory? 

Preseserving our language and faith, have been passed down to us from generation to generation in the Diaspora and is symbolized as the message of the Vardanats War. But who said that the language and the faith are not preserved in the Fatherland? Or let's ask in another way. Who said that the Armenians in Armenia are indifferent? It is true that there are such Armenians living in the Fatherland, but they are far from the threat of assimilation and far from the danger of giving up on their Armenian language and faith. In fact, it is the Armenian living in the Diaspora who must strive to keep the mother tongue and faith intact because of the influence of foreign languages, foreign customs, and foreign faiths and sects. Although many times we do not want to admit it out loud that the diaspora is temporary.  Sooner or later everyone in the Diaspora will be assimilated, no matter how hard we try to endure and persevere.

Should the Armenians in Armenia celebrate Vardanants War as a national holiday? Why are the statues of Vardan Mamikonian erected in the heart of Yerevan and Kyumri, along with the statues of other national heroes? Being a nationalistic is not just a word, it is not just observing a holiday that has become a tradition. Nationalism is education. In the Diaspora, every effort is made to preserve that education. The Armenians living in Armenia are also brought up with that awareness. The Armenian in Armenia knows well the history, culture and traditions of his or her nation. Another proof of this are the billboards on the streets and on the walls of buildings in Armenia, which carry brief, sometimes bilingual, information about prominent Armenian spiritual, national, literary and cultural personalities, military personnel, and about churches and monastic complexes. They are not only meant to introduce our greatness and historical riches to foreigners, but also are reminders for Armenians that they should always keep them alive in their memory.

Vardan Mamikonyan Statue in Armenia

Should Vardanats be celebrated “For the fatherland, for the faith” battle cry?  Who has waged and is still waging battles of this nature against visible and invisible enemies more than the native Armenians? Witness the Artsakh wars. The people left everything and went to the boarder with the possibility of never returning. But they went because they have to go. They go because the Fatherland calls them, because the priority is the safety of the Fatherland, because they must protect their "home” They go because the Fatherland is above everything else. In the end, they go because patriotism dictates ownership of the Fatherland which is manifested by living up to that ownership. They go because protecting the Fatherland and standing up for it should not be expected from a foreigner who, at best, will only serve their own inteinterests.

Actually, Armenians living in Armenia, although not in an idealized way and with some shortcomings; but by thinking, speaking, reading and writing in Armenian, confessing the doctrine of the Armenian Church, preserving Armenian cultural values ​​and shedding blood for the safety of the Fatherland, have implements the message of Vardanants. It is true that Diaspora Armenians are proud of those messages and remember them hundreds of years later, but the essential thing is to demonstrate that patriotims and put it into practice.

Who assumes ownership of the Fatherland today? Is it the Armenian sitting far from his homeland where he has laid its foundation and strives to strengthen it further, claims that "there is no future in Armenia?"  Is it the Armenian who is looking for a prosperous and peaceful life far from his homeland, who says "in the future, when I retire, I will come and live peacefully in Armenia with my accumulated money"?  Or is it the Armenian who criticizes his homeland and at every crisis and at every opportunity gives a piece of his mind in abundance? Is it a secret that Armenia needs the potential of the Diaspora now. Its strong arms and creative minds of young people?

"I am the grandson of the brave Vardan who liberated Armenia" ( a line from a poem recited mostly by children)  should not be a cliché. Talk is meaningless without action. Each of us can "liberate Armenia" in the way we can, not just by fighting over the boarder. There are many challenges and our homeland does not only wage military struggle. Are there not Diaspora Armenians who, with their talent, knowledge and ability, can "liberate Armenia" and make it a "strong, prosperous, law-abiding country, from which no one wants to leave", as Berj Zeytuntsian would say?  Will Armenian talent, experience, ability always be enjoyed by foreigners? And then shamelessly say that "Armenia is not a developed country". OK, let's develop this country... OUR COUNTRY. How beautifully and wisely my repatriated friend expressed it when she said: "Let my children study so that with their profession they can better serve Armenia in the future.”

Serving Armenia is not only in words. It is not only by singing revolutionary songs with raised fists (many times in a drunken state). It is not just by saying "we will be going sooner or later" and in the best of circumstances end up going to Armenia for vacation. It is not only by uttering hostile and obscene words against Turks. It is n not only by noting Vardanants' Day and April 24 (dates outside of which we are disunited and divided).

Yes, in the Fatherland or in the Diaspora, we should make it our supreme goal to remain Armenian at all costs and to serve the Fatherland, but also to believe that we are the master of our homeland and its destiny and that ARMENIA is the only home of the Armenian nation. Armenia is our legal refuge and the guarantee of our longevity.

Link: https://keghart.org/deukmejian-vartanants/

 

Lebanon's Currency Depreciates Further, Heading to Turmoil

Attached is my translation of a commentary that was posted in Aztag Daily today, March 15, 2023. The original is copied and pasted below.. Vahe H. Apelian

 

Yesterday morning, the Lebanese woke up with a disheartening news. The market exchange rate for the American dollar had reached 100,000 Lebanese Liras. In other words, the Lebanese currency was further devalued, depressing the citizen even more.

In the morning hours, angry citizens blocked the road in front of Mar Mikhael Church, protesting against the increase in the cost of living due to the rise in the exchange rate of the US dollar. In the afternoon, the transpiration bus drivers and the truck drivers blocked the coastal road of Sidon.  One probably wonders. Where are the citizens who for months gathered in Beirut city center and blocked the streets and kept the highways closed by burning car tires?

The citizens are silenced in their suffering, and continue to be suffocated, tormented but endure all this without raising a voice of protest having resigned, in worst case, to a bad ending, such as dying of a stroke, or committing suicide; and in the best case, continuing their existence as breathing beings, because they no longer live.

Citizens' rights in Lebanon are in a tragic situation. More than 80 percent of the Lebanese are impoverished. It should also be noted that the rate of suicides in the country has increased and turned into a suicide every other day, and a suicide attempt every 6 hours.

The only way the lending institutions have realized they can have their complaints against the judicial heard, is by going on an indefinite strike. Yesterday they closed the doors of their institutions as they had announced earlier. 

This segment, which is also responsible for denying the money they owe to the citizens, makes arbitrary decisions and opens or closes its doors according to its whim, without thinking that the citizens, who still have a meager salary in Lebanese Liras, need to resort to their savings to try to meet their basic nutritional needs.  What are they to do if the banks are closed?

 But yesterday afternoon, the Union of the Bankers announced that it will rescind its decision of the open strike and will be open for business starting Monday, March 20, 2023. They noted that that the situation is untenable and the state must assume its responsibility for finding a comprehensive solution.

However, whether the banks are open or closed will not solve the issues, as long as the country is in political turmoil.

Hopeful signs seem to appear for the presidential election. But the issues that have engulfed the country persist, and are getting entrenched further making clear to everyone that uncertainty prevails.

*****

Լիբանանեան Դրամանիշը Աւելի Եւս Կ՛արժեզրկուի` Ուղղուելով Դէպի Խայտառակութիւն

Մարտ 15, 2023  | Գլխաւոր լուրեր, Լիբանանեան

 

Երէկ առաւօտեան լիբանանցիները արթնցան բոթով մը. սեւ շուկային մէջ ամերիկեան տոլարին փոխարժէքը հասած էր 100.000 լ. ոսկիի: Այլ խօսքով` լիբանանեան դրամանիշը աւելի եւս արժեզրկուած էր, աւելի եւս ընկճելով քաղաքացին:

Առաւօտեան ժամերուն, ցասկոտ քաղաքացիներ Շիյյահի Մար Մխայէլ եկեղեցիին դիմաց ճամբան փակեցին` բողոքելով ամերիկեան տոլարի փոխարժէքին արձանագրած բարձրացումին եւ սղաճին դէմ, իսկ կէսօրին փոխադրատարներու եւ բեռնատարներու վարորդները Սայտայի ծովային ճամբան փակեցին նոյն պատճառով:

Հոս հաւանաբար պէտք է զարմանք արտայայտել, թէ ո՞ւր են 6 տոլարի համար փողոցները փակող քաղաքացիները, որոնք ամիսներ շարունակ ողողեցին Կեդրոնական Պէյրութի հրապարակները, եւ երկրին տարբեր նահանգները իրարու կապող մայրուղիներն ու միջազգային մայրուղիները փակ պահեցին հրկիզուող անիւներով:

Իր տառապանքին մէջ լուռ տնքացող քաղաքացին կը շարունակէ առանձինն խեղդուիլ, տանջուիլ ու առանց բողոքի ձայն բարձրացնելու տոկալ այս բոլորին` յոռեգոյն պարագային ունենալով վատ աւարտ մը` ինչպէս` կաթուածահար ըլլալով մահանալ, կամ անձնասպանութիւն գործել, իսկ լաւագոյն պարագային` իբրեւ շնչող էակներ շարունակել իրենց կեանքը, որովհետեւ անոնք չեն ապրիր:

Լիբանանի մէջ քաղաքացիներու իրաւունքները ողբերգական իրավիճակի մատնուած են: Լիբանանցիներուն աւելի քան 80 առ հարիւրը աղքատացած են:

Նշենք նաեւ, որ երկրին մէջ անձնասպանութիւն գործողներուն համեմատութիւնը իր կարգին բարձրացած է եւ վերածուած 2 օրը անգամ մը մէկ անձնասպանութեան պարագայի, իսկ իւրաքանչիւր 6 ժամը անգամ մը` անձնասպանական փորձ մը կատարելու պարագայի:

Միւս կողմէ, դատական մարզին նկատմամբ իրենց բողոքը արտայայտելու միակ միջոցը գտած դրամատուները երէկ փակեցին իրենց դռները` սկսելով բաց գործադուլ մը, ինչպէս նախապէս յայտարարած էին:

Այս մարզը, որ նաեւ պատասխանատու է քաղաքացիներուն ունեցած գումարներուն վերացման, ինքնագլուխ որոշումներ կու տայ, եւ իր քմահաճոյքին համաձայն իր դռները կը բանայ կամ կը փակէ, առանց մտածելու, որ դրամատան մէջ տակաւին քիչ մը աշխատավարձ ունեցող քաղաքացին, որ պիտի փորձէ իր սննդեղէնի տարրական կարիքները հոգալ, ի՛նչ կ՛ընէ, երբ դրամատուները փակ են:

Բայց եւ այնպէս երէկ կէսօրէ ետք Դրամատուներու միութիւնը յայտնեց, որ կ՛ուղղուի երկուշաբթի, 20 մարտ 2023-էն սկսեալ իր յայտարարած բաց գործադուլի որոշումը բեկանելու` հաստատելով, որ կացութիւնը վտանգաւոր դարձած է, եւ պետութիւնը պէտք է իր պատասխանատուութիւնը ստանձնէ` ամբողջական լուծումներու յանգելու առումով:

Ընդհանուր պատկերին մէջ սակայն, դրամատուներուն բաց կամ փակ ըլլալը պիտի չկարենայ հարցեր լուծել, այնքան ատեն որ երկրին քաղաքական տագնապը կը յամենայ:

Այս շրջագիծին մէջ նախագահական ընտրութեան առումով թերեւս յոյսի նշոյլներ սկսած են երեւիլ, սակայն երկիրը յուզող տագնապները կը գոյատեւեն եւ աւելի եւս կ՛ամրապնդեն իրենց դիրքերը` բոլորին համար յստակ դարձնելով, թէ անոնց լուծման առումով անորոշութիւնն է տիրականը:

 

 

 

Lebanon’s Quagmire: it’s the fault of the Italians!

Vahe H. Apelian

The determination of the Lebanese currency rate is a mystery. 

On February 1, Reuters reported the following: “BEIRUT, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Lebanon devalued its official exchange rate for the first time in 25 years on Wednesday, weakening it by 90% but still leaving the local currency well below its market value. The pound has crashed since a financial meltdown in 2019 after decades of corruption, profligate spending and mismanagement by the ruling elite in Lebanon which has left the crisis to fester despite soaring poverty. The central bank confirmed the new official rate of 15,000 pounds per dollar, scrapping the rate of 1,507.5 pounds at which the currency was pegged for decades before the collapse.”

But that official exchange rate pales in comparison to what the market bears and no one in Lebanon seems to care what the official exchange rate is, for that very reason. Also, for the fact that the banks have put a cap on the amount of dollar a depositor may withdraw from savings, should the person have a savings account. But all claim the allowance of withdrawing their own money is not enough to cover their ongoing needs given the state of the economy and hyperinflation.

 On February 11, 2023, the exchange rate on the market was 66,300 LL for a green buck. Today the exchange rate is 92,300 LL for a $. When I ask my friends in Lebanon who sets that exchange rate and titrates to a fraction such as 93,200 LL? They tell me nobody seems to know. They tell me that they read the rate posted in the internet or become aware of it on the market, and realize that their purchasing power has eroded further and that their daily necessities will be even more expensive. This hyperinflation appears to have no end in sight.

Meguerditch Hagop Bouldoukian is an internationally acclaimed economist and the author of many books. He was the founding Dean of the Business and Economics Department at Haigazian University, former Deputy Governor at Banque du Liban - The Central Bank of Lebanon and has held other important positions in the finance world. A few days ago, he noted the following on his Facebook page: 

“If the current indecent leaders of the Lebanese state (for more than 30 years) leave the arena, optimism can be created among the public, which brings forth confidence, which is what everyone needs. The value of the paper currency devalued from 12,000 to 91,500 per $, after Najib Mikadi became the prime minister.” Najib Mikadi is a billionaire. He was elected as the prime minister on September 10, 2021, thirteen months after the resignation of the previous prime minister. It is not hard to visualize the implication on the people’s lives the devaluation of the Lebanese currency from 12, 000 LL to 91, 500 had during the past 18 months. 

Lebanese are known for their resiliency and for their pungent humor in face of adversity. My friends Krikor Kradjian, let me know yesterday that the Lebanese are sarcastically faulting the Italians for their anguish  - حق على الايطاليان" ! - "sparing" their illustrious leaders !

Krikor emailed me the following:

“Lebanon is the country where civilizations, armies, conquerors and tyrants have come and gone and left their mark.

The Lebanese have this saying: "The fault is with the Italians".

In order to impose its presence in the Mediterranean Sea and, in particular, to keep the Suez Canal open, the command of the Italian Navy decided to destroy the battleships and maritime centers belonging to the Ottoman naval forces stationed along the coast of Beirut.

On February 24, 1912, two Italian warships attacked and sank the warships of the Ottoman Navy. The city of Beirut also received its share of bombing. Sixty-six (66) citizens were killed and hundreds were injured. The attack by the Italians was unexpected and a surprise for the citizens of Beirut, who were leading a peaceful life.

Thereon, whatever calamity or adversity happened, the Lebanese attribute it to the Italians, even nowadays, they repeat the claim (dismissively of course):

"Italians are the culprits. !" 

 

 

 

A Significant if not also a Rare Gift

Vahe H. Apelian

 Last year Harout Aprahamian gifted me a booklet type package titled “The Official 1980 United States Olympic Committee Proofcard Collection”. Marilyn, Harout’s wife, presented it to me after a church service. It’s a collection of stamps issued on the occasion of 1980 Olympics. I was very appreciative that Harout had thought of me when he came across this booklet and purchased it for gifting it to me. But I had not realized the historical significance of the collection until very recently.

The package is a collection of the first day covers of the stamps the United States Postal Service (USPS) issued celebrating the 1980 Olympic Games. Each stamp has the first day of issue and the issuance city postmarked, celebrating a sporting event of the Olympics. They are as follows:

September 5, 1979 in OLYMPIA, WA celebrating, DECATHOLON

September 28, 1979 in LOS ANGELES, CA, celebrating TRACK

September 28, 1979 in LOS ANGELES, CA, celebrating SWIMMING

September 28, 1979 in LOS ANGELES, CA, celebrating CREW ROVING

September 28, 1979 in LOS ANGELES, CA, celebrating THE EQUESTRIAN EVENTS

September 28, 1979 in LOS ANGELES, CA, celebrating ARCHERY

November 1, 1979 in COLORADO SPRINGS, CA, celebrating HIGH JUMP

February 1, 1980 in LAKE PLACE, NY, celebrating SPEED SKATING

February 1, 1980 in LAKE PLACE, NY, celebrating SLALOM SKIING

February 1, 1980 in LAKE PLACE, NY, celebrating SKI JUMPING

February 1, 1980 in LAKE PLACE, NY, celebrating HOCKEY

February 1, 1980 in LAKE PLACE, NY, celebrating BOBSLEDDING

The package also contains a few pages long booklet titled “The United States Olympic Committee presents a History of the Olympic”, and each U.S. Olympic Committee Official card depicts the story of the game along with the first day issue postmarked stamp.

I unearthed the following information about the 1980 Olympic. 

The summer Olympics took place in Moscow between July 19 to August 3, 1980. The chairman of the Soviet Socialist Central Committee Leonid Brezhnev opened the games which took place in the Grand Arena of the Central Lenin Stadium. I cite the names to make a point of the change in history during the past five decades.

The 1980 Winter Olympics games were held before, from February 13 to 24, 1980, in Lake Placid, New York. During the games Olympic history was made when the U.S. hockey team beat the Soviet hockey team. I quote: “U.S. hockey team beats the Soviets in the "Miracle on Ice" In one of the most dramatic upsets in Olympic history, on February 22, 1980, the underdog U.S. hockey team, made up of college players, defeats the four-time defending gold-medal winning Soviet team.”

These stamps are not significant because of the “Miracle on Ice”, but for what transpired afterwards. The U.S. boycotted the upcoming summer games in Moscow. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan took place on December 24, 1979.   On February 20, 1980, President Carter demanded that the Soviet Union withdraw its troop from Afghanistan. But the Soviet Union made clear that it had no intention of removing its troop. Consequently, on March 2, 1980, I quote: “President Jimmy Carter informed some 160 U.S. athletes and coaches that the United States would boycott the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow in response to the December 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. It marked the first and only time the United States boycotted the Olympics.”

From philatelic point of view, the more significant event is what transpired afterwards. A few days after President Carter’s announced boycotting the 1980 Summer Olympic Games, the United States Postal Service removed from circulation the stamps it had issued a few months earlier celebrating the 1980 Olympics. I quote: “On March 11, 1980, the USPS removed all the stamps it had issued for the upcoming Summer Olympics in Moscow from sale as part of an American boycott of the games. According the USPS, this was the first time they removed stamps from sale for political reasons since the Civil War.” (see the link below).

Harout's gift to me is the collection of the first day covers of those very stamps that the USPS printed and then removed from circulation, making the first day cover collection of these stamps significant if not also rare.

Olympics Stamps Removed from Sale: https://info.mysticstamp.com/olympic-stamps-removed-from-sale_tdih/?fbclid=IwAR19cJR-QhX8rpGIuIsTqQsGhCCxZ4u4p8g94-DAvCtCJsI18ZGixBNbn84

Thoughts from Unger Sarkis Zeitlian’s 1979 Speech

Attached is my translation of an article Ara Khanjian wrote and posted in Asbarez Daily on March 9, 2023 and linked it to his Facebook page. The article pertains to a speech Unger Sarkis Zeitlian has delivered in 1979. I attempted to translate it as verbatim as I could. My translation of the text was reviewed and approved by Ara Khanjian. The original text in Armenian is linked. Vahe H. Apelian

Courtesy Tsolag Hovsepian "Familiar Faces", p. 64

In 1979, Unger Sargis Zeitlian delivered a magnificent speech in Bourj Hammoud, Lebanon at the occasion of the 89th anniversary of the ARF, during which he shared many thoughts and commendations every ARF member should be aware of and keep in mind. We should also be grateful to Taniel Madzounian who forty-four years ago had the foresight to record the speech and preserve it in his archives. 

The speech is so admirable and relevant that I thought of quoting some of his statements I found insightful, for the benefit of those who may not have the time to listen to the 35 minutes long speech. Surely it is better to hear the speech and be in tune with Sarkis Zeiltian’s oration that renders his thoughts more impressionable and more meaningful. At the end I will also share a personal experience with Unger Zeitlian.

ARF is a “means, a path and not an aim”.

Six minutes into the speech, Unger Zeitlian says ARF is a “means, a path and not an aim”.

This assertion is important because many members and supporters of the ARF forget that the aim is the Armenia and Armenians and not the ARF.

"Woe to the rank and file who has contempt towards the masses of his people"

Approximately 18:12 minutes into the speech, he says: “Without the people ARF is nothing. It is everything with its people. Consequently, everywhere and in every front, we will stand with the people.”

He continues saying that there should be no contempt for our people.

“"Woe to the ARF rank-and-file who has contempt for the masses of his people. Woe to the youth who thinks salvation is only by himself, but ignores the masses. Woe to those ranks, whether ARF or otherwise, who think that by doing five or a thousand deeds of heroism, the entire people are subjugated to their will. The fate of such ranks, such youth, such parties will inevitably lead to bankruptcy."

These lines are very relevant, because sometimes ARF ers scorn, blame, and even disparage the people, when the people do not support them or do not vote for them to their last vote or to the extent, they are expected they should. This behavior, as Unger Zeitlian says, is very harmful and dangerous.

"The Federation’s strength is not in its ranks, but in the organization of the whole Armenians "

At approximately 19:35 into the speech, Unger Zeitlian says: "On the path of service to the Armenian people, giving everything, on the condition of demanding nothing in return, that is the way of the ideological and moral conception of the ARF. To take from the people, but to multiply it, to return it to the same people. Apart from this, the ARF has nothing else to do, nor does it have the right to demand rights or honor. Its honor is in its giving. Its reward is in its moral satisfaction. His success lies in revolutionizing the will, the psychology and mind of the Armenian people. Its strength is not in its ranks, but in the organization of the whole of what constitutes Armenian (hayutyun)."

This opinion is also very important. It is not enough for the ARF to have strong and active ranks, but it is necessary to organize all that constitute Armenian (hayoutyun), which will entail working closely with all the classes of the people, dealing with them and serving them. Without working directly with the people, it is not possible to organize the people.

Unger Zeitlian continues to discuss ​​the importance of organizing the Armenian people. At 27:50 minutes into his speech, he says: "It is not enough to say that we gave a hundred heroes, if the people who are called to serve, are not organized to give tens of thousands instead. It is not enough to say that I have a thousand ideological rank-and-file, if the people are not organized to re-enlist in tens of thousands more for your ideological struggle."

Unger Zeitlian affirms that the purpose of the ARF is not to propose a law or to undertake a task and be proud of it, but to toil and carry on work so that the people or the state adopt and implement them on a large scale.

If the people do not adopt ARF policies and mode of operation, ARF then needs to find ways to convince the people of their usefulness and inspire them. If the people do not follow ARF, it is up to the ARF to explain and inspire the people of its ideology. It is gravely wrong to criticize, despise and disrespect the people from whose bosom the ARF was founded 

“The ARF... demanded from its ranks... to keep with time and with the most progressive ideology"

At the 16th minute of the speech, Unger Zeitlian says: "For this reason, the ARF has always demanded from its ranks and from its people to be with its time, to be with the most progressive ideas, to be with the most just revolutionary movements..."

This is also a very relevant because sometimes ARFers equate the national (my note: its brand of national socialistic) ideology with regression, conservatism and dissent. Unger Zeitlian's generation, and especially the founding generation of the ARF, who studied in European universities, were the most progressive among the Armenians and were supportive of the ideologies of that time.

All Armenians in the four corners of the world are part of the Armenian people

I would like to emphasize here that for Unger Zeitlian, Armenian was not only the Armenians of the Middle East that he knew directly, but all the Armenians in the four corners of the world. It is true that the Armenians of each region have their own characteristics and culture, but all of them are part of the Armenians that Unger Zeitlian talks about in his speech.

I remember when I was a student in New York City in the early 1980s, Unger Zeitlian visited the New York Armenian community. At that time, personal computers were a novelty, and we were enthusiastically caught in the new device. We wanted to organize the addresses of the supporters of the ARF in the community in the computer to contact them. When Unger Zeitlian found out that we were only collecting and sorting the addresses of supporters of the ARF, he told us that all Armenians in New York belong to the Armenian people, and we should collect all the addresses and keep everyone informed about our ideology and activities, even if they some were staunchly opposed to ARF.  For Unger Zeitlian, no matter where Armenians in the world live, even if they do not sympathize with the ARF and opposes the ARF, they are part of the Armenian people he mentioned in his speech, and worthy of the ARF’s concern for their welfare.

Unger Zeitlian's thoughts should be passed on to the new generation, so that they may correctly perceive the essence of the ARF, its working and its ideology.

Original article: https://asbarez.am/ընկեր-սարգիս-զէյթլեանի-1979ի-ճառէն-կարգ-մ/?fbclid=IwAR3ugpWfM89A1vOz7q3owp_gPEX0qobxq7xqJCH3PM2kCldjrFsfVYnnoBo

Մինաս Թէօլէօլեան ՝ իմ յուշագրութեամբ եւ Խաչիկ Թէօլէօլեանին հաստատումով

Վահէ Յ. Աբէլեան

 

 Նոր ստացայ «Բագին» գրական թերթին 2022, թիւ 2 հրատարակութիւնը։ Հոն հաճոյքով կարդացի Մարուշ Երամեանին՝ Խաչիկ Թէօլէօլեանին հետ ունեցած հարցազրոյցը։ Խաչիկը եւ ես Քիորքիւնայի մեր պապենական տանը մէջ անցուցած ենք ամառ մը։ Միասբանաբար գացած էինք անցնելու մեր ամառուան արձակուրթը եւ այդպէս մեր մէջ մնաց կապ մը որ շրջան մը  նամակագրութեամբ շարունակուեցաւ Թէօլէօլեաններուն Ամերիկայ գաղթէն ետք եւ տակաւին պարբերաբար կը շարունակուի իմէյլով եւ Խաչիկին Լատինատառ հայերէնով։

Խաչիկին «Բագին»ի այդ հարցազրոյցէն կը մէջբերեմ հօրը մասին ըրած հետեւեալ հաստտումները որոնք կը թուակագրեմ քանի որ անոնց պիտի ակնարկեմ այսկէ քանի մը տարիներ առաջ՝ իր հօրը՝ Մինաս Թէօլէօլեանի մասին իմ գրած յիշատագրութեանս մէջ, «Դէմքեր եւ Դէպքեր Պանդոկէն՝ Մինաս Թէօլէօլեան» խորագրով։ 

Ակնարկելով հօրը՝ Խաչիկը կ՚ըսէ -

Ա.«եւ վերջապէս ըսաւ շեշտելով, ապագայի լեզուն անգլերէնն է, եւ Ֆրանսացիներուն նմամ ՝ ճեմարանի հայ վարիչներն ալ պատրաստ չեն այդ ընդունելու։ Դուն պէտք է սահուն անգլերէնի տիրապետես։» 

Բ. «Հայաստանի մէջ պիտի ըսէին՝ վիթխարի քանակով լրագրական արձակ-գոնէ 15,000 էջ խմբագրական ու սիւնակ հրատարակած է, այսինքն 50 հատոր, իւրաքանչիւրը 300 էջ, եթէ հաւաքուէին։ Սփիւռքահայութեան մօր իր բարձր արժեւորուած նուաճումը եղած է իր երկհատորեայ «Դար մը Գրականութիւն»ը։ »

Գ. «Երբ ինը կարեկան էի, գործի լծած էր զիս. Կ՚օգնէի իրեն բազմաթիւ ցանկեր կազմելով, զանոնք նոր տեղեկութիւններով թարմացընելով – գրողներու անոււններ, իրենց հեղինակած գիրքերը, թուականները։ Ես իր reference indexն էի երբ դար մը գրականութիւնը կը պատրաստէր։ »

Կը կցեմ Մինաս Թէօլէօլեանին իմ յուշագրութիւնս ուր պիտի նշեմ Խաչիկին ըրած վերոյիշեալ թուագրուած մէջբերումները։

Պրն. Տարօնեանէն ետք Սուրբ Նշան դպրոցին տնօրէն եղաւ Պրն. Մինաս Թէօլէօլեանը: Տնօրէնին եւ ուսուցիչ-ուսուցչուհիներուն միջեւ միայն մէկ տարբերութիւն կար աշակերտներուն համար: Վերջինները կը ճանչցուէին որպէս «Պրն. այսինչեան» կամ «Օրիորդ» կամ «Տիկին այնինչ», իսկ դպրոցին տնօրէնը՝ «Պարոն Տնօրէն» էր: Բայց ես ծանօթացայ Թէօլէօլեան ընտանիքին, շնորհիւ մօրս, որ ուսուցչուհի էր Սուրբ Նշան Վարժարանէն ներս:

Շուրջ յիսուն տարիներու իր ուսուցչութեան ասպարէզին ընթացքին, մայրս միշտ ընտանեկան բարեկամութիւն մշակեց դպրոցի տնօրէնին ընտանիքին հետ եւ պատանեկութեանս յաճախ զիս հետը առնելով կ’երթար այցելութեան անոնց: Այդ այցելութիւններէն յատկապէս կը յիշեմ Տօրա քաղաքի երբեմնի Էհրամճեան վարժարանի տնօրէն Պրն. Մանուկ Ուզունեանինը, որ կը բնակէր Անթիլիաս, վանքին մօտ: Ձանձրացուցիչ ու տաղտկալի այցելութիւն մըն էր ինծի համար՝ Պէյրութի հրապարակէն հանրակառքով եւ ապա քալելով իրենց երթալը: Այսպէս, շնորհիւ մօրս սովորութեան ընտանեկան բարեկամութիւն մը սկսաւ նաեւ Թէօլէօլեանենց հետ եւ ես բարեկամացայ Խաչիկին, որուն առաջնորդութեամբ ես, քոյրը՝ Սօսին եւ զարմիկը՝ Շահանը շաբաթ օրերը, կէսօրէ ետք, սինեմա կ’երթայինք:

Մայրս իր «Ես եւ Ուսուցչութիւնը» գիրքին մէջ աշակերտին մասին հետեւեալը կը գրէ. «Խիստ խուզարկող է աշակերտ անհատը: Ան կը դիտէ, կը պեղէ: Մեծագոյն դատաւորն է ան: Շուտ կը ճանչնայ, արագ կը վճռէ»: Մեզի համար ալ երկար չտեւեց ճանչնալ նոր Պարոն Տնօրէնը եւ վճռել: Թեթեւութիւն մը կար դպրոցէն ներս: Զինք չէինք տեսներ բակը, զբօսանքի կամ շարքի շարուած ատեն, դասարան երթալու համար, ինչպէս սովոր էինք տեսնել նախկինը՝ Պրնղ Տարօնեանը իր սեւածայր գաւազանով եւ խիստ դէմքով։ Այս Պարոն Տնօրէնը արագաշարժ էր, դպրոցի շէնքի աստիճաններէն արագ-արագ վեր կ’ելլէր կամ վար կ’ինջնէր: 

Պրն. Մինասի տնօրինութեան շրջանին էր որ անգլերէնի դասընթացք մըն ալ սկսաւ դպրոցին մէջ, դպրոցին ֆրանսական Պրէօվէի համար պատրաստուած ծրագրին կողքին: Մայրս կ’ըսէր որ Պարոն Տնօրէնը կ’ուզէր որ անգլերէն լեզուն եւս դասաւանդուէր, Ֆրանսերէնի կողքին։ Այդպէս ալ մնաց մինչեւ իմ աւարտելս եւ ես շրջանաւարտութեան հանդէսին արտասանեցի Ամերիկացի գրող Ուալթ Ուիթմընէն կտոր մը, որ ինծի սորվեցուցած էր մեր անգլերէն լեզուի ուսուցիչ՝ հանցուցեալ բանաստեղծ Յակոբ Մանուկեանը, որուն «Անրջական վաղորդայն» գիրքը հրատարակուած է Գէորգ Մելիտինեցի Գրական Մրցանակի մատենաշարով:  Ինծի համար շատ օգտակարութիւն ունեցաւ անգլերէն լեզուի դասընթացքը, քանի որ շրջանաւարտ ըլլալէ ետք ուսումս շարունակեցի Հայ Աւետարանական Գոլէճ երկրորդական վարժարանը, որուն գիտութեան, թուաբանութեան, պատմութեան դասերը անգլերէնով էին ինչպէս նաեւ օտար լեզուի դասաւանդութիւնը։ (Տե՛ս Ա մէջբերումը)

Պրն. Մինաս Թէօլէօլեանի շրջանին Սուրբ Նշսն դպրոցը երկսեռ էր, ըսել կ’ուզեմ աղջիկները եւ տղաքը նոյն դասարանը կը մեկտեղուէին: Միշտ այդպէս չէր եղած, բայց վստահ չեմ որ փոփոխութիւնը իրմով սկսաւ: Թէեւ զբօսանքի պահերուն աղջիկները եւ տղաքը տարբեր բակերու մէջ կը հաւաքուէին: Սուրբ Նշան դպրոցը, եկեղեցին ու առաջնորդարանը նոյն համալիրին մէջ կը գտնուէին: Եթէ եկեղեցիին մուտքը դիմացդ ունենայիր ձախ կողմի բակը ընդհանրապէս աղջիկներուն զբօսավայրն էր, իսկ աջ կողմինը՝ տղոցը, որ կը նայէր դէպի Պէյրութի Ռիատ-Էլ-Սոլհի հրապարակը տանող ճամբուն եւ կը գտնուէր Հայ Բարեգործական Ընդհանուր Միութեան՝ Յովակիմեան-Մանուկեան մանչերու վարժարանին դիմացը: Մտքիս մէջ դրոշմուած մնացած է հետեւեալը։ Առտուները եկեղեցիին դրան առջեւ կը շարուէինք դասարան երթալու համար «Առաւօտ Լուսոյ»էն քանի մը տողեր արտասանելէ ետք: Նոյն այդ պահուն Յովակիմեան-Մանուկեան դպրոցի աշակերտներէն ոմանք իրենց դպրոցի շէնքին տանիքը ելած սրբիչները պատին կը զարնէին մաքրելու համար եւ ձայնը մեզի կը հասնէր:

Երբ Պրն. Թէօլէօլեան դպրոցին տնօրէնը նշանակուեցաւ, ես արդէն Հ.Յ.Դ. Բաբգէն Սիւնի պատանեկան միութեան անդամ էի: Մեր ժողովները տեղի կ’ունենային շաբաթ կէսօրէ ետք: Այդ տարիներուն դպրոցը վեց օր կ’ըլլար, իսկ Չորեքշաբթի եւ Շաբաթ օրերը դասերը միայն կէս օր կը տեւէին: Բաբգէն Սիւնի պատանեկան միութեան անդամները Նշան Փալանճեան Ճեմարանի եւ Սուրբ Նշան դպրոցի աշակերտներն էին: Օր մը լսեցինք որ Սուրբ Նշան դպրոցին տնօրէնը մեզի պիտի գայ դասախօսելու: Սուրբ Նշան դպրոցին աշակերտներս այդ օրը աճապարեցինք առաջին շարքին վրայ նստիլ, որպէսզի մեր դպրոցի տնօրէնին «աչքը մտնենք»: Պրն. Մինաս Թէօլէօլեան եկաւ, ճանչցաւ մեզ եւ ակնարկ մըն ալ ըրաւ, որ Սուրբ Նշան դպրոցին աշակերտներէն ոմանք հոն էին: Սուրբ Նշանցիներուս համար յաղթանակի օր մը եղաւ: Այն ժամանակ այսպէս բաներ ուրախացուցած ըլլալու են պատանիները:

Թէօլէօլեանները կը բնակէին Սուրբ Նշան դպրոցին դիմացը, ներքին թաղին մէջ, ուր կը բնակէր նաեւ ընտանեօք Պրն. Եդուարդ Պոյաճեանը, որ հայերէնի մեր ուսուցիչն էր այն ժամանակ: Բայց թաղը ընդհանրապէս հայաբնակ չէր նկատուեր: Լիբանանի քաշաքական պատերազմին պատճառով Թէօլէօլեանները շրջան մը Պանդոկը մնացին ինչպէս մնացինք մենք ընտանիոք: Նմանապէս Պանդոկը մնացին երբ ընտանեօք պատրաստուած էին Ամերիկա գաղթել, եւ որքան որ կը յիշեմ նաւով էր որ գաղթեցին: Այդ շրջանին, կը յիշեմ, Պրն. Մինասը պանդոկը, վերանտային վրայ գրելով զբաղած կ’ըլլար: Հետաքրքրականն այն էր ինծի համար, որ երբ թուականի մը պէտքը զգար, յաճախ իր զաւակին՝ Խաչիկին էր որ կը հարցնէր: (Տե՛ս Գ մէջբերումը)

Մինաս Թէօլէօլեանէն իմ տպաւորութեանս գլխաւոր պատճառը մայրս եղաւ: Տարիներ անցան, բայց մայրս պարբերաբար կը յիշէր զինք: Կը պատմէր, թէ ինչպէս յաճախ կը պատահէր, որ ուսուցչական ժողովի ընթացքին, երբ ուսուցիչներ տարուած կ’ըլլային օրակարգի հարցերով, յանկարծ կ’անդրադառնային որ Պրն. Տնօրէնը զբաղ էր եւ տարուած էր գրելով եւ ժողովին հրատապ նիւթին հետեւելու տրամադրութիւն ցոյց չէր տար: Ուսուցիչները կանգ առնելու կը սկսէին, երբ կը միջամտէր Պարոն Տնօրէնը եւ համադրելէ ետք արտայայտուած միտքերը, իր մատնանշումները կ’ընէր եւ կը հրաւիրէր ուսուցիչները շարունակելու քննել օրակարգի հարցերը, մինչ ինք կրկին կը սկսէր գրել եւ գրելով տարուած մնալ կարծես կրկին անգամ ժողովինկ հետեւելու տրամադրութիւն ցոյց չէր տար:

Մայրս գործակցած է աւելի քան տասնեակ մը տնօրէններու հետ, որոնց անունները յիշած է իր գիրքին մէջ, սակայն միայն Մինաս Թէօլէօլեանին բնածին տաղանդովն է միշտ տպաւորուած մնաց: Մայրս բազմիցս ըսած է ինծի որ մէկ նախանձ ունեցած է եւ այդ ալ Աստուծոյ ոմանց շնորհած բացառիկ տաղանդն է: Անկասկած որ մայրս Պրն. Մինաս Թէօլէօլեանի տաղանդը, զոր վայելած է որպէս գործակից եւ ընտանեկան բարեկամ, դասած էր այդ մենաշնորհեալներու կարգին: (Տե՛ս Բ մէջբերունը)

Ծնողական ընտանիքիս հետ մեր վերջին հանդիպումը Պրն. Մինաս Թէօլէօլեանին հետ եղաւ Պանդոկին մէջ, երբ ընդունեց ծնողքիս ճաշի հրաւէրը: Պէյրութ կը գտնուէր ազգային գործով մը 1963ին, հիմնուելով կցուած նկարին վրայ տպուած թուականին: Իսկ ես երբ Ամերիկա գաղթեցի 1976ին, առաջին այցելութիւնս եղաւ իրենց եւ ապա Պրն. Գէորգ Տօնապետեանին, «Հայրենիք»ի շէնքէն ներս: Պրն. Տօնապետեանն ալ շրջան մը Պանդոկ մնաց տիկնոջը հետ, մինչեւ Ամիրիկա փոխադրուիլը եւ այսպէս ընտանեկան բարեկամութիւն մը նմանապէս մշակուեցաւ մեր միջեւ: Իսկ Խաչիկին հետ կապս չխզուեցաււ, տակաւին մերթ ընդ մերթ կապ պահենք:

Անշուշտ որ տարիներու ընթացքին հետեւած էի Պրն. Թէօլէօլեան     հրապարագրութեան։ Պատահեցաւ անսպասելին, գէթ ինծի համար եւ թերեւս ալ սերնդակիցներուս համար, եւ յառաջ եկաւ Հայաստանի երրորդ հանրապետութիւնը՝ եւ կամ Հայաստանը վերանկախացաւ: Չեմ գիտեր ինչո՞ւ այն տպաւորութեամբ մնացած էի որ Պրն. Մինաս Թէօլէօլեանը պիտի հրաւիրուէր նոր Հանրապետութեան կողմէ կարեւոր պաշտօնի մը: կը կասկածիմ որ իրեն նման սփիւռքը ճանչցող ուրիշ մէկը կար: Բայց այդ չպատահեցաւ: Ուրիշ դէպքեր պատահեցան եւ ուրիշ դէմքեր հրապարակի վրայ երեւցան յանկարծ: 

Այդ ալ ուրիշ պատմութիւն:

ARF Day, My Take

Vahe H. Apelian

 

Lately it has become common place to come across on the Armenian social media, announcements of the ARF Day celebrations with most of them, if not all of them, noting ARF’s anniversary year.  ARF Day was celebrated in Glendale on February 19 and will also be celebrated tomorrow, on March 4, 2023, The poster notes 132 next to the ARF flag. While the poster did not overtly note that it is the 132nd anniversary of the ARF, having been founded in 1890, but it clearly implied that. However, the others mostly noted the anniversary celebration. On January 25, 2023, Sossi Essajanian reported in the Armenian Weekly that the Detroit Armenian community celebrated 132 years of the ARF. The poster for ARF Day in Lebanon noted the 132nd anniversary.

I became reflective of the ARF Day, the New Jersey Armenian community celebrated well over thirty years ago. The event has remained etched in my memory because the world order we knew, was dismantling in front of our very own eyes. James Baker III, the secretary of the state had said that the Soviet Union we knew does not exist anymore. It had downed on me that Soviet Socialist Republic of Armenia will likely emerge as a free and independent country. But strangely, instead of being jubilant, the probability of the immergence of a free and independent Armenia weighed heavy on me, and I reflected on it in my remarks, as I was a speaker at that year’s ARF Day celebration. But I know that it never occurred to me to mention the anniversary year. It seemed to have no relevance.

ARF Day came about during the 10th ARF world congress that was held in Paris. Ani Armenian Research Center has listed the dates the ARF world congresses were held. Accordingly, the 10^th world congress started on November 17, 1924, and lasted until January 17, 1925, in Paris France. A few months after concluding the congress, on July 25, 1925, Simon Vratsian reflected upon it in the ARF organ “Troshag” and noted the following;

“An extremely difficult burden was destined for the world council, to review and justify our activities of the last five years and, considering the new circumstances that have arisen in life, to formulate an action plan for the future……. Delegates came from the Homeland, Iran, Syria, Egypt, Greece, the Balkans, America, etc. The agenda was multifaceted. A lot of material was collected. Extensive reports and detailed coverage of political, accounting, judicial, organizational, and programmatic issues were prepared. This General Assembly was not just an ordinary convention of a political party, but a kind of parliament.”

It is that historical ARF world congress that ruled once a year, preferably in the month of November, ARF presented itself to the public and addressed the issues the Armenian nation faced and naturally elaborated on the contribution the ARF made.

In Lebanon

The first ARF Day likely took place the following year, in 1926. The eminent editor of the “Haratch Daily”in Paris, Shavarsh Missakian, in a 1926 editorial noted the following: “"The ARF Day is not an anniversary in the literal sense of the word, nor a commemoration of this or that great event, but the condensation of the history of an entire period, with its victories and upheavals……… the ARF, established for itself a special day in a year, not only to look at its past 35 years with just pride, as the most powerful impetus to the Armenian liberation struggle, but also to renew itself, to strengthen itself.”

The ARF Day is not celebrated as a single yearly event. It is rather a communal celebration for good reason, because each community has its own needs and challenges ARF responds or is expected to respond for its greater vision of a free, united, and independent Armenia. It is not meant to be a celebration in the conventional sense of the verb to celebrate, nor it is meant to be, quoting Shavarsh Missakian, “an anniversary celebration in the literal sense of the word.” The Social Democrat Hunchakian Party, active to this day, with which ARF collaborates at times, was founded in 1887, hence it is three years older than the ARF. This year is its 135^th anniversary. But, the number of years of their founding is incidental.

The ARF day is simply an annual public report to the stakeholder, who naturally is the Armenian people. More than anything else, I liken it to State of the  Armenians address. Was, during the past year, the local Armenian community, and hence the Armenian nation better off than it was because of the contribution the ARF rendered?

ARF Day is the year’s reckoning, done every year. In the words of Shavarsh Missakian, it is a day for reflection, " to renew itself, to strengthen itself.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

KEA evening school: why and how it was opened? - 1/2

 The attached blog is my translation of Varkes Apelian’s recollection of the founding Lebanon’s Kessab Educational Association’s (KEA) evening school. The article was posted in the 2020 KEA Yearbook and Directory but was written in 2019 and is dedicated to the memory of Gabriel Injejikian, who passed away on April 14, 2019.

This year we had the misfortune of losing our beloved Gappi (Gabriel Avedis Injejikian),a person who was worthy of great respect and honor, as the founder of the first Armenian day school in  United States of America. He also gave us reasons, as compatriot Kesabtsiand member of KEA, to be little bit boastfull and proud.

Recently, we were very happy to read an article titled "The History of a School Ferahian School" written by the honorable Boghos Shahmelikian ("Asbarez", Saturday, April 6, 2019.) Our heartfelt thanks to the honorable Mr. Boghos for this very important story. However, in this story, you wouldn't get to know about the evening school we founded with Gappi (note: henceforth Gabriel), which is what I want to introduce to you.

First of all, how did I meet Gabriel? We moved to Beirut as a family in 1939 when I was nine years old, so I did not know him in his childhood and youth. But in the fifties, when I graduated from the city's Armenian Evangelical high school, I attended the American University of Beirut(AUB), where we met. He had come from Kessab to further his education.

In AUB, Armenian students who came from Kessab and other various countries of the Middle East would get together and have a very pleasant time. Gabriel had an attractive personality  and was a loving presence in this group and we soon became acquaintances and soon after close friends.  

Gabriel’s father was one of the ARF party leaders. Gabriel was nurtured in that environmen. He was a member and a leader of the ARF Youth Association of Kessab. Their hearts were filled with patriotism.

The proverb says "A sweet tongue entices a snake out of its hole". I think that was said for Gabriel. He convinced me and I became a member of the ARF Zavarian Student Association. Of course, along with the Zavarian Association, we were also members of the Kessab Educational Association and active in both as members of the  administrative committee.

Where did the idea of ​​opening our night school come from?

When we were AUB students, we had a sociology class in our first year, and that class required that each student, in order to successfully complete the course, had to do voluntary work for the benefit of the community. The assistant to the teacher of that class was an Armenian student senior to us (Mr. Karegin Sadrian). He gathered the Armenian students of the class and took them to a poor school in Bourj Hammoud, surrounded by tin huts. Boys, girls and grown ups of all ages came to the school. They were divided into classes. Each class was housed in a room. We taught them to read and write Armenian. It was a voluntary work that we did with great love and joy.

We passed the course and forgot all about it, but we couldn't forget that teaching experience, which gave us so much joy. It also downed on us that in a place like greater Beirut, where there were so many Armenian schools, there still were many Armenians who did not go to school for economic and other reasons. They were forced to leave school early on and go to work in order to support their families. We wondered if there were such students in the city as well and if there were, an evening school was the only way to teach out t them to teach them. Therefore, we decided to look into the matter.

The community center where ARF Kristapor Gomideh and KEA held their meetings had a good number of rooms that remained idle for the many days of the week and served no purpose but they were very convenient as classrooms for an evening school.

Gabriel and I decided to present this issue to the KEA committee and solicit their support. That became very easy because our association is “educational” and our goal was to teach. Here, Gabiriel did not have to tire his tongue. The KEA did not object and the proposal was passed.

We also had to get permission from the ARF Kristapor Gomideh. Even though we were not strangers to them and we had the backing of the attendant of the community center, our Kessab compatriot Assadour Terterian, but we needed Gabriel to put his toque in good use. He would not stop doing that, until he got an affirmative reply, and he did.

We were now ready to start work. Gabriel Injejikian was appointed the principal of the school and I, Vartkes Apelian,  was appointed as the vice principal.  Rupena Pakradouni, whom we knew well from the ARF Zavarian Student Association volunteered as the secretary.  The teaching staff consisted of our friends who volunteered to teach.

The motto of the school was one line from one Taniel Varoujan’s poem: “I AM OFF TO THE SOURCE OF LIGHT.”

The following taught at the school, Ms. Shake’ Momjian (Օր. Շաքէ Մոմճեան), presently Mrs. Kassabian (Տիկ. Գասապեան), Dr. Onnig Keshishian (Տօքթ. Օնիկ Քէշիշեան), the ex-principal of the Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School, Mr. Hagop Makhoulian (Պրն. Յակոբ Մախուլեան), Mr. Varoujan Etemezian (Պր. Վարուժան Եթէմեզեան), and many others who continued teaching after I life. 

The first year we had more than a hundred students. In the beginning, our intention was to give Armenian lessons to those who did not know how to read and write Armenian, but we soon added English, because at that time the demand for English was very high. 

In addition to classes, the school also had other activities such as lectures, especially on the occasion of national holidays such as April 24, May 28, and at other events related to Armenian history; as well as other activities such as trips, visiting snowcapped mountain slopes, choir and theater, not forgetting the most important and most popular, the dances. Gabriel considered these activities very important. He said that this way the youth would learn more about Armenians and get to know each other better, get closer and eventually form Armenian families and populate the the Armenian nation. This was his conviction.

At the end of every school year, it was customary to part with our beloved teachers with a banquet where we presented each one of them a valuable "Parker" pen as a keepsake and in appreciation for their dedicated work.

I would like to express my personal deep gratitude to each and every teacher who selflessly served to teach their brothers and sisters in need of education. Also, special thanks to Miss Rubena Pakradouni (Rubena is the sister of unger Seno Pakradouni, the former editor of "Asbarez" daily.) She served the longest as the secretary of the evening school from 1951 to 1963.

Gabriel left for the U.S. in 1953, to further his higher education in the field of teaching. I became the principal of the KEA evening school.

I continued in that position until 1962. Throughout those years Gabriel was in America looking for the realization of his new dream (of opening a day school. In the U.S.). Our evening school in Beirut continued and prospered year after year, bringing the number of the students to 250. The excitement the school created, gave life to the once muted center.

 During 1965-1970, the ARF Kristapor Gomideh was moved to their newly purchased building. Our communal life got disrupted with the onset of the civil war in Lebanon and the school was closed.  (Note: The KEA evening school continued during the early years of 1970’s where I also taught, see footnote).

Yes, very dear friend Gabriel, many skeptical persons laughed at you, "a fool would think of opening a day school in America," they said. But you showed who you are, and today, following your example, Armenian schools in Los Angeles have multiplied, and I'm sure more will open in other Armenian populated cities in America as well.

Graduates from your school and the other schools received an Armenian education and formed beautiful Armenian families, and now their children attend Armenian schools. If not one hundred percent, but a good percentage of them retain their active Armenian communal affiliation.

Many of the students of the Beirut KEA evening school were forced to migrate to America, Europe and elsewhere because of the civil war in Lebanon. Now they give a thousand praises to their foreign language teachers. The foreign language they learned in the evening school helped them make their lives a bit easier and help them adapt to their new environment. They speak with great gratitude and kindness about their teachers, especially about you dear Gabriel, as the founding principal, a great Armenian and a patriot, a Tashnagsagan and the son of a Tashnagsagan, you were the last to laugh at those who laughed at you.

Also, we had the pleasure of seeing our beloved Motherland free and independent and we believe that one day it will be united as well.

Until then, dear friend, rest to your tired mind and bones.

May the earth be light upon you (hogheh tetev ka vrat), my precious friend.

Vartkes Apelian “

The KEA Evening School Gabrial Injejikian founded - 2/2

http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2019/04/the-evening-school-gabriel-injejikian.html )