On this International Literacy Day

Vahe H Apelian

Hamazkayin Vahe Setian publishing Armenian book exhibit

Hagop K. Havatian’s posting alerted me that today, September 8, 2024,  is the International Literacy Day. Hagop K. Havatian is the director of Hamazkayin Vahe Setian publishing. He is organizing an exhibit of Armenian books or Armenian literary books. The exhibit is scheduled to take place in Beirut, from October 9 to 18, exhibiting books from Armenia, Artsakh, Lebanon, Canada, United States, England, France, Turkey, Syria, Egypt, Kuwait, Greece, Cyprus.

Hagop K Havatian's quote reads as follows: «The process of reading, writing, accumulating knowledge in the course of history raises the level of civilization of nations and communities and strengthens the faith and pride of the people in the values of the given nation.

In the end, literacy is an irreplaceable way to connect the past life experience with the present, to permanently study the experiences, defeats and victories of the nation, and in that way also to value the present, far from superficiality, sloganeering and irresponsibility, so that it is possible to put our collective life on the right track and our collective desire to strive for good.

Read, read again, and never deviate from the mission of development and accumulation of knowledge. Reading expands one's horizons to face the outside world with self-confidence. Let's read and always try to change our life and turn around the unfavorable situations of the nation's survival.»

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I was also reminded of Simon Simonian. I quote Levon Sharoyan from his book I translated “Simon Simonian, the last scion of the mountaineers». Levon Sharoyan wrote: «Simon Simonian was a prolific writer and his thirst for literature was unquenchable. He professed a deep love of Armenian book. He regarded these books one of the essential constituents for the preservation of Armenian culture and identity.»

In 1960 Simon Simonian proposed the following, "designate the Armenian Martyrs' Day on April 24, as «Armenian Book's Day», and have the following slogan – to read an Armenian book for every martyr during the Genocide, and perpetuate this year after year. If one million Armennians in the Diaspora, would buy and read one Armenian book a year, as an offering in memory of a martyr, the legacy of our forefathers would be perpetuated and we would best avenge the victims of the Genocide». (Spurk, 24.4.1960)