2011_10 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper October 2011

              October 2011
Hye Sharzhoom
3
"Genocide Library" Presented by Hagop Manjikian
Ruzan Orkusyan
Staff Wrfter
Yet another eventful Spring
Lecture series for the Armenian
Studies Program came to a
close on May 4, 2011 with the
emotional presentation of books
from the "Armenian Genocide
Library Book Series," founded
by Mr. and Mrs. Hagop and Knar
Manjikian.
Armenian Studies Program
Director Prof. Barlow Der
Mugrdechianintroducedtwo guest
speakers for the evening: Mr. Mark
Arax, speaking in English, and
Mr. Hagop Manjikian, who spoke
in Armenian about his motivation
to create and implement a book
series on survivor testimonies of
the Armenian Genocide.
Author, journalist, and
Fresno State professor Arax,
read excerpts from three of the
volumes in the series, bringing
each of the passages to life. The
memoirs, translated into English
by Ishkhan Jinbashian, were
written by Genocide survivors,
who expressed their horror and
the sadness that affected them, and
continues to affect, the Armenian
people.
Readings from Armen Anush's
Passage Through Hell, Mikayel
Shamtanchian's The Fatal Night,
and Shahan Derderian's Death
March painted a colorful albeit
painful image of the hopelessness,
desperation, terror, and utter
anguish that gripped all those
who experienced the horrors of
Hagop Manjikian
the Genocide. Heartbreaking
scenes were dramatically and
emotionally read from each
volume. Finally, Mr. Arax's
comments added a personal touch
that made the stories even more
poignant.
Themood was then lightenedby
the enthusiastic Hagop Manjikian,
who talked about why he and his
wife Knar published the memoirs.
Mr. Manjikian related how he
heard stories of deportations and
massacres during the Armenian
Genocide while he was growing
up, and how he decided to
dedicate his life to keeping the
memory of the Genocide alive.
Ever since, he has been a very
active and dedicated member of
the Armenian community. He was
involved in the construction of the
Soghomon Tehlirian monument
in Fresno, compiling biographies
Armenians on the Internet
Armen Arikian • Staff Writer
Armenia Info
www. armenianinfo. am
Main Categories:
About Armenia, Why Armenia, Travel & Transportation, Lodging
& Dining, Entertainment & Culture, Activities, Sites of Interest.
Summary:
Terms such as "scenic beauty" and "rich history" often come to mind
when referring to Armenia, but "vacation getaway" and "tourist
destination" may not be as common. This is partly due to the lack of
information about traveling to Armenia. The small size of Armenia
may give the impression that there is not much to explore there,
particularly for non-Armenians.
Armeniainfo is the ideal resource to gain an education about various
tourist and recreational attractions in Armenia. The possibilities range
from sightseeing, entertainment, education, as well as adventure.
This website serves as an extensive database to educate people on
the under-recognized potential that Armenia has to offer.
It is no longer necessary to devote hours of time on Google to
find a particular destination in Armenia. Armeniainfo categorizes
the country making points of interest easy to find. Nearly every
important site in the nation—ranging from restaurants to museums—
is available on the website.
The website also has a search engine, in case one has a specific
location in mind, such as "Ani Plaza Hotel." A simple entry of the
name into the search engine will locate the background and contact
information of the hotel.
Armeniainfo features an interactive map, located under the section
titled Travel & Transportation. The map displays Armenia with
colored labels of the various regions of the country. Selecting a
region will display further details on that particular part of Armenia
and explain its significance. The interactive map also goes into depth
of the precise location of a variety of buildings, each represented by
a specific icon, which if selected, provides further information on its
location.
Armeniainfo welcomes people of all backgrounds, whether one is an
expert on Armenian culture or an interested newcomer. Armeniainfo
has plentiful information and ideas of exciting places to visit in
Armenia. The website serves its purpose as an educational tool of the
Armenian nation and culture.
Photo: Barlow Der Mugrdechian
and pictures of Armenian
survivors, and together with his
wife established the "Armenian
Genocide Library Book Series."
His goal is to educate new
generations of Armenians about
the Genocide through the English
translations of the Armenian
memoirs.
The idea for the "Armenian
Genocide Library Book Series"
came to him about six years ago,
on the eve of the 90th anniversary
of the Genocide. Mr. and Mrs.
Manjikian felt that it was their
national duty and their cultural
responsibility to have these
memoirs translated into English
f or ne w gene rati ons of A rm em ans.
Most importantly, they wanted to
ensure that time would not rob
new generations of the memory
of the Armenian Genocide. With
these goals in mind, the couple
began publishing the memoirs.
Four have been published thus
far. Each book has the same
emblem on its cover—a black
circle symbolizing our suffering,
with a candle symbolizing hope
inside. These books have been
distributed to Armenian day
schools, high schools, and the
Genocide Museum in A mi em a.
Mr. Manjikian's most recent
campaign has been to search for
sponsors to distribute the books
to libraries in the Los Angles,
Fresno, and San Francisco areas.
Mr. Manjikian spoke with
great fervor, zeal, and love for
Armenia and Armenian culture.
He stood as a sharp contrast
to the tragic stories of the
memoirs—each of which will be
reviewed in upcoming issues of
Hye Sharzhoom—suggesting that
even though our people have been
tortured and massacred, there is
hope for a better future as long
as the memory of the Genocide is
never forgotten.
Are you receiving
multiple copies of
Hye Sharzhoom?
Have you recently
moved?
Please contact the
Armenian Studies
Program with your
address changes.
559-278-2669
Review-"Passage Through Hell"
Andrew Esguerra
Staff Writer
Passage Through Hell: A Memoir
by Armen Anush. Studio City, CA:
H. and K. Manjikian Publishers.
2005. 123 pp. Volume 1 of the
Armenian Genocide Library
Book Series.
The eyes of a boy just shy
of ten years old capture details
more horrific and vivid than any
photograph of the Armenian
Genocide. These experiences
were r ecorde d in Passage Through
Hell: A Memoir by Armen Anush,
the first volume in a series of four
eyewitness accounts by Genocide
survivors in the "Armenian
Genocide Library Book Series."
Series founder Hagop Manjikian
presented the volumes at a lecture
this past May at Fresno State.
Young Armen Anush's story
opens to the lessons, legends,
and history he recalls from his
school work. One spring morning,
he finds that the school is boarded
up and the children are chased
away by armed men. The story
follows his actions from that day
onward, when the men and older
boys defended their homes and
villages against Turkish soldiers.
It was the last time he saw many
members of his close-knit family
before he was put through a living
hell, conveyed so poignantly that
Anush's loss and devastation feels
like your own. The humanity
of his experience is found in
the eight family members who
witness and suffer at the hands
of despicable Turkish soldiers,
greedy merchants, and those who
turn a blind eye to them; however,
it is the strength and stoicism of
the Armenian spirit that makes
reading the gory details of
Genocide bearable.
Death loomed all around
the exiled people, which makes
Anush question what had changed
in the Armenian people. People,
who prior to the Genocide, would
stop their daily lives, and even
weddings, to mourn the death
of one person from their village,
now walked passed hacked
up   corpses   without   saying   a
word. It was this tragedy and
commonality of horrific things
that scarred the Armenians and
was seared into the minds of the
survivors such as Armen Anush.
Yet it is the realistic portrayal of
a lone family's fight for survival
in a sea of tired, starving women
and children that draws the reader
into the depressing story. The
desperation and suffering drove
some insane, and the diet of
crumbs and dirty water left many
as walking skeletons, always
near death. Memories painful
and sickening are written in the
book, which makes it all the more
necessary to read and hard to put
down.
Genoritie© library "Volume I
ARMEN ANUSH
PASSAGE THROUGH HELL
tiiiiJWMnwmna
Anush later became a
distinguished writer and principal,
yet he still notes in the author's
foreword his apprehension
towards putting into words
what he experienced. In the
end, Passage Through Hell: A
Memoir is a fundamental read for
Armenian and non-Armenians
alike who want to fully grasp the
endless circles marched in the
deserts by the Armenians. Not
many survivors are left to describe
first-hand the cruel efficiency of
the soldiers who murdered the
Armenian women and children
too starved to keep up the pace.
I applaud Hagop and Knar
Manjikian for publishing this
translation that immortalizes
one man's account of the Great
Crime that until day goes
unacknowledged by too many.
2012-2013 Academic Year
Scholarships in Armenian Studies
2012-2013 Scholarship Applications
Now Available On-Line
https://scholarship.csufresno.edu/
Make sure to mark one of the areas pertaining to
Armenian Studies on the application
1) Will enroll in Armenian Studies
or
2) Armenian-Supplemental application required
The scholarship application for California State
University, Fresno is only available online.
Priority Application Period:
October 1, 2011-February 29, 2012
For applications to be considered you must also complete the
Armenian Studies supplemental form which can be found at:
http://armenianstudies.csufresno.edu/schoIarships.htm