1996_11 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper November 1996

              4
Hye Sharzhoom
November 1996
Topics in Modern Armenian History
What:   Fall   1996  Armenian
Studies  Lecture  Series
Who:     Houri Berberian
The Armenian Revolutionary
Federation and the Iranian Constitutional Revolution (1905-1911)
September  26
Dr.   Isabel  Kaprelian
Armenians in America
October  3
Stephen H.   Astourian
Ethnic Conflict in the Late Ottoman
Empire: The Armeno-Turkish Case
October  10
Staff Article
Speaking to an audience
of community members and students, Houri Berberian presented
her topic in the Alice Peters Auditorium. Berberian received her
Bachelor degree in History at University of California, Berkeley and
completed her Master degree at
UCLA. She is currently working
towards her doctorate at UCLA.
Her lecture came out of her doctorate thesis. She has been published
several times including an article
in the Armenian Review.
The emphasis of her interest is to highlight the involvement ofthe Armenians in the constitutional movement of the early
1900's in Iran. An Armenian political party, the Tashnaks, took a
leading and vital part in Iran's revolution to become a constitutional
nation from 1905-1911. The revolution eventually failed under the
oppression of the Shaw, but the
involvement and prominence ofthe
Armenians historically remains.
Berberian presented a
brief history of the Tashnaks and
their rise up until its involvement in
the revolution. Established in Tiflis
in 1890, the Tashnakparty saw it's
greatest achievement, in this period, after the turn of the century.
Through policies of organizing national self defense, the Tashnaks at
one point enjoyed a fifty-five out of
sixty member majority in the Armenian congress. At their peak
Berberian observed the membership was 30% women. Though not
Houri Berberian
involved in the fighting forces,
women participated in support and
community awareness.
Iran was of importance to
the Armenians for several reasons.
Berberian asserted the relationship
between the Tashnaks and the Iranian Constitutionalists was especially important. In addition to Iran
as a base for Tashnak Turkish-Armenian operations, Berberian proposed five reasons for involvement.
Among those five was the political
hope that success in Iran would
further assist neighboring regions
both Ottoman and Russian to also
acquire constitutional reform. Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid also
oppressed the Iranians. The Iranians did not have the money, force,
or diplomatic influence to prevent
against the onslaught of the Ottoman-Turks and it therefore befell
the Tashnaks to assist as a blow
against the Turks and to protect
their own interests.
The culmination of
Berberian's focus leads up until
1911. The disappointment and frustration ofthe Tashnaks concerning
the dissolution of the Iranian constitutional movement came at a
period of change of the party's
agenda. Attention had already begun to turn todevelopmentsin Turkish Armenia and Russian Armenia,
the end ofthe constitutional movement emphasized the closure of
Armenian involvement in the Iranian political structure.
Presented by one of Dr.
Kouymjian's trademark generous
introductions, listing her many ac-
complishments,
Isabel Kaprielian
spoke about Armenians in America in
theearlypartofthis
century. Dr.
Kaprielian is a native of Canada who
received both her
MA and Ph.D. at
the University of
Toronto. She has a
double interest in
history and phi-
1 o s o p h y .
Kaprielian recent
focus has been in
immigration his
tory studies with a special interest
in the Armenian Diaspora both in
America and Canada. She has co-
authored two books with her husband; most recently Pulse of the
World: Refugees in Our Schools
was published in 1994 and Facing
Pluralism, published earlier. Currently Kaprielian is lecturing in the
History Department at Fresno State
teaching a course in immigration
history. She also teaches an Armenian Studies 10 course.
Her lecture for the evening
focused on the Armenians coming
from Europe settling and moving
through Canada to America. The
topic is comparably so recent that
many of the families and connections still hold reference to people
living in Fresno today. Her lecture
covered all facets of community
life including religion, language,
culture, and politics. She spoke of
the accomplishments of these early
immigrants and the freedom they
enjoyed. According to Kaprielian
the strength of the communities
was within the organizations and
Stephan H. Astourian
Zeitoun was the
last ofthe medieval
vestiges of Armenian autonomy. As
the Ottoman empire pressed for destruction of Cilicia
in the late 1850's,
Zeitoun soon
found itself also
part ofthe Ottoman
aggression.
Refugees
of the Cilician defeat found themselves in and
around Zeitoun. At
one point Napoleon of France intervened on behalf of the city to
prevent the Ottomans from attacking and massacring the people of
Zeitoun as well. The Turkish oppression came in the form of subjugating the governor and heavy taxation. By 1884 the Zeitoun autonomy
was terminated.
The Armenians attempted
to lobby for relief in Istanbul, they
were compensated with further
atrocities. The 1870's found the
Armenian Congress in Istanbul providing reports of incidents of aggression from the Turks. The Ottoman government did nothing and
allowing the racial tension to rise.
The Armenian peasants suffered
the greatest discriminations and
hardship. Taxes were severely levied as well as crops taken in the
name of revenue. Men were forced
into yearly compulsory military
service. And during the winter
months Kurdish troops forcibly
quartered in peasant homes.
The Fall Semester Lecture Series was an excellent opportunity for exposure to scholars currently in the field. The most remarkable observation about the series is that is it able to exist at all.
Without charging cover or enrollment students and community
members can enjoy these fascinating speakers. What an educational
experience it would be if every
department and program on campus followed the example of the
Armenian Studies Program and provided these kinds of occasions for
Fresno State and the community.
His Holiness Aram I Visits Fresno State
Dr. Isabel Kaprielian
benevolent societies the Armenians formed to preserve traditions
and reach back to Armenia.
The feature of her lecture
was a video presentation of her
own family history. Highlighting
her grandmother Rose, the remembrance was an accomplishment of
emotion and storytelling skill.
Funded by grant money the presentation transcended its slim budget
and allowed the viewer to empathize with Rose and her struggles
and sacrifices. The video was a
montage of antique photos joined
togetherto tell a story. Kreprielian's
daughter provided the narrative that
told Rose's story It was a heartfelt
tribute to both one woman and entire people.
The third lecturer in die
series was a native of France. Educated through France's strict education system. Stephan Astourian
is now in America earning his doctorate at UCLA. Currently he is
lecturer at California State University, Long Beach. He has published several articles most recently
an article about the Nagorno
Karabagh in the Mediterranean
Quarterly. Astourian also took the
opportunity to speak to classes individually the following day.
Using the example ofthe
city of Zeitoun in Ottoman Armenia as a correlation to the subject.
Astourian gave a chronological
account of the growing conflicts
that led up to the 1915 Genocide.
Left to Right: The Very Rev. Fr. Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate of
the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church; His Holiness
Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia; Barlow Der Mugrdechian
of the Armenian Studies Program, who interviewed His Holiness on
the Armenian Studies Program TV show "Hye Talk."
His Holiness Aram I,
Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia
was a guest ofthe Western Prelacy
of the Armenian Church June 30
through July 3,1996. As part of his
visit to California he paid a pastoral
visit to Fresno, where he celebrated
the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, June
30 at Holy Trinity Armenian
Church. He was accompanied by
the Very Rev. Fr. Moushegh
Mardirossian, Prelate ofthe Western Prelacy and by Very Rev. Fr.
Muron Aznikian, Dean ofthe Holy
Trinity Armenian Church. Later
that evening His Holiness was a
guest of honor at a banquet held in
the Holiday Inn Centre Plaza.
On Monday. July 1 His Holi
ness was a guest on the Armenian
Studies Program television show.
"Hye Talk'* hosted by Barlow Der
Mugrdechian. During the half-hour
interview, His Holiness expressed
his views on issues concerning the
mission of the Armenian Church
and his views on the most important issues facing the Armenian
Church today.
On Monday. His Holiness also
visited St. Paul Armenian Church
in Fresno where he was welcomed
by His Eminence Archbishop
Vatche Hovsepian. Primate of the
Western Diocese ofthe Armenian
Church and by the pastor, the Very
Rev. Fr. Sasoon Zumrookhdian.