1990_10 The Daily Collegian October 1990

              October 1990
Hye Sharzhoom
Page 5, FEATURES
Book Review
Author describes his venture to fatherland
pEafredby University of La
"'~~Press, JM-VerMj*
yomia,Jm.
By Araaen AgWihlan
Staff Writer
II has been said that the best way to
learn about a country is to actually
visit the country. Unfortunately for
most people (including myself) a trip
to Armenia is well beyond any feasible
budget However (to our benefit),
Garbis Der Ycghiayan has presented us
with the next best thing with his
concise yet thorough account of his
pilgrimage to our fatberland-
Armenia. From the nervousness
instilled in his stomach upon
departure, lo the deep feelings of
triumph and accomplishment he
experienced as he completed the
voyage, we get a true sense of his
strong emotional involvement as well
as the incredible amount of knowledge
he possesses of the heritige and
history of Armenia.
As Der Ycghiayan began his
flight to Istanbul, he described the
purpose and goals of his trip clearly.
His endeavor was to see the church
where his great grandfather had served
as a priest, to visit the house where his
grandfather was raised, and to walk the
very streets that the both of them had
walked. During the flight, he
contrasted himself in the comfort of an
airplane to the cold and starving
Armenians in forced exile 75 years
earlier. Ii is these thoughts and
feelings that make it evident that his
journey was much more than, a
sightseeing trip - it was going to be
serious and challenjrng expedition.
When be arrived in Istanbul, he
fell uncomfortable, and was very
careful of his actions and statements as
he was in Turkish hands.
From there he taxied to Aintab,
which is now the center of Turkey^
pistachio nui production. Here he
visited many ancient Armenian
churches. He was surprised and elated
thai the people on the streets still
recognized these churches as Armenian-
even though they were -not
functioning as Armenian churches any
longer. The Franciscan and the St
Mary's church were two churches he
visited. He'also visited ihe locations
of many Armenian schools as well as
impressive Aintab College (est '
1876). Years ago many Armenians
graduated from these prestigious
schools. Unfortunately these schools
closed when the Genocide began.
A gripping incident elaborated
Students answer questions
' about trip to Armenia
By Sonia Devejian
and JooeHc Garo
Staff Writers   .
They left on Saturday morning, June 2,
1990 from Los Angelea^Bjlernational
Airport. Five young "men, with
hundreds of thoughts crossing their
minds, were on their way to the
motherland. Armenia. In an exclusive
and provocative mterview, the Hye
Sharshoom spoke with three of the
men: Philip Garo, a twenty-two year
old student of engineering at Fresno
State; Matthew A. Jendian, a twenty-
one year old sociology major al
Fresno State; and Armen M. Devejian,
a     twenty-year     old     student     of
jrcni lecture.
Question  I  Whydidyougo?
Phil  :   I   wanted  to  experience  my
Armenian heritage and see where my
ancestors lived.
Mast:  The purpose of my voyage was
to get see my motlierland and get in
touch with my roots.
Amen -. I wanted to experience this
place I had heard so much about but in
reality knew so little. s
Q : Did you have any hesitations aobut
the trip?'
FhB : -Yes, because of Ihe miliary
violence by the Soviet troops and the
rumors of Armenian radical military
groups.
Malt: No. no hesitations.
Armen : My only hesitation was a
slight -apprehension of traveling lo
the Soviet Union at a time when there
is so much happening so quickly.-. I
did not know what ihe status & the
region was going to be from one
diy to the next
Q : Were yon able to achieve your
purpose for going?
/»**   :   Yes,   it   was   definetly   an
adventure.
Men   - Yes. we saw and did so much
upon by Ihe author occured in Aintab.
A 75 year old man, who had been left
as an orphan with his brother, bad a
book which would reveal his identity -
his heritige.- which to this day he did
not know. The book had been left to
him and his older brother upon their
father's death in 1915. Since then,
they had been raised by Turks as Turks.
His brother had since died.
Fonuruuely for this man, Garbis is
knowledgeable in many languages,
and agreed to take a took at the book.
He readiiy identified it! Full of
suspended emotions, Garbis revealed
to the man that the Bible was'
Armenian and subsequently that the
man was indeed not Turkish, but
Armenian.
Among the numerous other cities
be visited was Kharpert (today's
Harput), which was the home of his
grandfather, and his paternal great
grandfather. Kharpert was rich in
churches and schools. There were a
number of Apostolic, Cainolic. and
Protestant churches established here.
Garbis visited one church which is at
present Assyrian Through the priest
be was able lo meet some local
Armenians who provided him with
mformatioti and facts about some of
the ancient buildings of the city. One
of those building was the St Sarkis
Armenian Apostolic Church. 'It was at
this church where his great grandfather
served as a priest, and his grandfather
as assistant He also walked the very
streets that his ancestors had walked.
His destination, his goal, his heritige
ami roots-found! /-
In my opinion, what made this
book so effective was the interaction
with various people thai the author
encountered during the journey. Each
one of these people had their own
grisly account of the Genocide, and of
the various cities the Genocide
entailed. I also give much credit to the
author for his extensive knowledge in
the various aspects of Armenian
history. He goes into explicit detail
of many incidents - both historic as
well as current These details of
names, dates, and events allow us - as
readers and pursuers of the Armenian
cause ■ to broaden our knowledge of
our ancestery and history. And most
importantly, the author brings us into
his voyage, and interacts with the
reader quite well.
In conclusion, excellent
communication and interaction with
the readers, coupled with the colorful
interaction with the numerous
passersby and acquaintances along the
way provides us with an informative,
intercsung, and truly touching
conmbution to the Armenian cause; -
in such a short amount of time.
Armen :     Yes and no.   Many of my
questions   were   answered,   but   even
many, many more ate now in my mind.
Q : What was your greatest experience?
l*Sfl : Meeting and having one-on-
one contact with the lative
Armenians. I got a feeling of how
misfortunate they are and how
fortunate we are living in America.
Mat : Waking up every morning
and seeing Mt Ararat
Armen : Living each day subrnerged
in a totally Armenian environment It
was unbelievable. I had never
expected it to be that purely traditional
arid genuine.
Q :  What was your worst experience?
Phil, Molt, ami Armen : Being
stuck in Moscow airport waiting for
our flight to Yerevan for twenty-two
hours with no food os^rurining water.
There was no bathroom, no place to
sleep, and no one-«poke English or
even Armenian.
Q : What were die people like? Then-
attitudes and personalilies?
Phlt    : The people were willing to
give the shin off of their own back.
They  barely  had  enough  goods  for
themselves, yet they were giving.
Malt The    people    were    very
hospitable. They would give us thetr
last piece of food. They were eager for
knowledge about our American life.
Armen : They were very genuine and
sincere. I saw an innocence that they
have tost They were not naive about
their lives, yet they still had hope.
They knew that there was something
better out there nan what they were
living.
Q : Could you have stayed longer?
Phil : I could have probably stayed
See QUESTIONS, pg.8
Campus "HYe" -Profile
r -
Students Answer Question on Armenia
Understanding that the Armenians
have been persecuted in the past and
many were forced to leave their
homeland and also knowing that
traveling to and from Armenia is easier
these days, would you be willing to
move to Armenia?"
PhlUpe Markarian
Junior-Finance major
"No, I would not move back to
Armenia because I am of American
descent. I truly love the United States.
We are more sophisicatnd technology-
wise and educational-wise.. The life
style there crjmpared to here is very
different Therefore, 1 would continue to
live here."
Tamar Chaderjian
Fresfcman-PolUical Science
major
"Yet, 1 would definitely move to
Armenia for as much lime as it would
take for me to aid the Armenians. I
would then bring back to the United
States an awareness of their problems.
Furthermore, 1 would take back from the
United Stales the answers that the
Armenians in Armenia would need to
grow and increase."
Cindy Alikian
Senior-Acconatiarg major
"My   Armenian   heritage  is   very
important to me and if the Armenians
living in Armenia are experiencing some
type of strife or catastrophe, I would be
more than willing to help out in any
way I could, which includes making the
trip there." 	
AraKebabjian
Soprjomort-Business        j
Administration major
"No. I have established my
Armenian roots in the United States and
would be more than willing to continue
to support the Armenian community
here.*   .
Khajag ZeiUian .
Freshman-Functional Biology
Btajor
"Yes, but not now. When Armenia
is completely saved from the Soviet
Union, then I would be more than
willing to move. For the time being) I
will do anything possible to work for
, Armenia's inderjeridence while I residejn
'the United States.'
Tania Alikian
Freshman-Marketing major
'I really don't think I would be
willing to go at this lime, because I
would like to continue my studies in
order to gain more knowledge and
understanding to help out in the future."
Roger Shirin
Sophomore-Industrial Waste
Technotogy major
"It all depends, if my grandmother is
willing to pay for the air fare, then I
might consider it*
Gifts to ASP
Mr. Thomas T. Arnirlan of
Brookline, Massachusetts donated the
DOC* "Treasures of Yarsbourakan" (in
Arrneman) to the Sahtdjran Lfcrary of
the ACenter forAtrnenian StarJies-
Mrs.s Beatrice Bruderiaa of
Fresno has drjrsnett tare volumes of
books blading works by Raffi and an
eaHyprmtedlccaoriafy.
Mr. Smren Ermoyah. an an
director who live*; in New *York. - and
Fresno, presented the Armenian Studies
Program with a poster which he
designed and which was the cover of the
ixmrncmorative book  "Armenians of
Amciica", published by the Armenian
Assembly of Arnerica.
Mr. Richard N. IVmlrjiaa of
Walnut Creek presented a signed copy of
bis recently poWurhed, "Anneniart-
Arrierk^nA'ariadjan» Wbos Who of
.Outstanding. Athletes, Oaachet and
SpcrisPersoiBlitiea, 1906-1989'.
Mr. Berge BulbpBa* of Sanger
donated "History of Annerua", ia\ I by
V.C. Vaban, Boston,. 1936 and also
presented two Armenia ww.tottd*: dated
1920 to the Avedian Archive of the
Center for Armenian Studies.