Chalo

Vahe H. Apelian

Chalo Martin

Chalo is name of the legendary dog of the Armenian village Hamasdegh captured in his namesake titled story in his “The Village” book that was first published in Boston by Hairenik publications in 1924, a hundred years ago. How many pages does it take to write about a dear dog - two, three or four - all the while retaining the interest and the curiosity of a reader? Hamasdegh immortalized Chalo in the annals of the Western Armenian literature and brought it live in eleven pages! That is to say, conservatively estimating, in more than 2500 words. Since then, Chalo has remained a favorite name for a dear dog many Armenian families have owned.

But no one owned Chalo, Hamasdegh depicted. It also was not a stray dog either. Chalo was the village’s dog. Like any other villager, it had its standing in the village. In a single stroke, or shall I say in a superb one liner, the genius of a writer Hamasdegh was, he introduced and personalized Chalo to the readers with the following one sentence long introductory paragraph: “Older than the village’s elder, but unlike him, Chalo did not use eye glasses!”s. Let us mindful too that different articles do not exist in the Armenian language. Also, Hamasdegh did not use the word “dog” in depicting Chalo. The eleven pages long story was all about Chalo. A dog it may have been. But foremost it was a villager in its own right, like any other villager

In the next paragraph Hamasdegh described Chalo as follows: “Like two broad leaves, its two ears were hanging down. Its tail was limp, unable to curl on its back anymore. Its heavy and always protruding eyelids gave it a pensive look. The face was mystifying, especially when it was on the road by itself, with its muzzle pointed towards the moon, attempting to sniffle it.” At times, in the utter silence of the night, the villagers would hear Chalo howling. They would open the window and shout at him, “Chalo, shush”. 

The children liked to play with Chalo. They teased him, at times by pulling its ears, other times they attempted to ride him. And when Chalo resisted and had the kid riding it thrown on the ground, the kid would run home, with a bruised head complaining that Chalo mishandled him and would vow never to play with Chalo again.

Chalo followed the conversation of the villagers. He did not understand them but he would follow the expressions on their faces. He too had a lot to tell. But Chalo was getting old and had started not to be around the village as it did once.

One night, there was a commotion in the village and a gunfire was heard. When the villagers came out to check what had happened. They found thieves had attempted to steal the village’s prized bull but were confronted by Chalo and in the mayhem, the thieves had fired at him killing Chalo, leaving the bull unfazed and oblivious of what had transpired. Thus ended Chalo’s life.

I once attempted to translate the story but I realized that the translation would not do justice to Hamasdegh’s depiction of that village and its dog, Chalo. But I had conjured an image of Chalo and retained it since my youth when I read Hamasdegh’s books, “The Village” and “The Rain” for the very first time.

***

The other day I was looking at pictures Kenneth Martin had posted. There was a picture of a dog. It reminded me of Chalo and I commented the same. Lo and behold, Kenneth replied that indeed it is a picture of  Chalo. Like a good Kharpertsi, his parental family had named the dog young Kenneth brought home for them to keep, Chalo. This time around Chalo had first reincarnated as the Camp Haiastan’s watch dog before it became the Martin family dog. I quote Kenneth Martin.

“Chalo, was the Camp Haiastan watch dog in 1970. Director Krikor Miziblian got him from a local dog pound, older than a puppy. Since, I have heard that Bob Avakian, long time camp director and trustee got the dog and must have given it to the camp that year. His daughter mentions a young dog they had for a while that looked like Chalo. Called him Brandy I think. Anyway, Chalo became the watchdog and a good one too. Would bark when a stranger or workman approached the gates. He was loved by all. King of the camp! At the end of the summer Krikor said he could not take the dog across the border to Canada, some restrictions. So asked me if I would take over. I took Chalo home to Worcester and told my parents this was our dog now. I left him with them and went to AYF Olympics! Anyway, Chalo joined our family for 14 years! Best friend, watchdog, and king of the neighborhood!”

Indeed, it must have been Chalo re-incarnated with attributes such as “He was loved by all. King of the camp!”, “best friend, watchdog and king of the neighborhood”, much like the dog Hamasdegh depicted in his story. There it is, Chalo, with its floppy ears hanging, with a pensive look and a bit older looking and grown wise.

Yes, indeed, I finally saw a picture Chalo.