2021_02 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper December 2021

              HAYrmE eSnHiaAnR ZAHcOtiOoMn
ՀԱՅ ՇԱՐԺՈՒՄ 43 Year
California State University, Fresno
Armenian Studies Program
and Armenian Students Organization
5245 N. Backer Ave. M/S PB 4
Fresno, CA 93740-8001
Change Service Requested
December 2021 Vol. 43, No. 2 (156) Ethnic Supplement to The Collegian
See Beglaryan, page 3
Non-Profit
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PAID
Permit No. 262
FRESNO, CA
Zabel Yessayan’s Short Stories
Featured in New Book Published
by The Armenian Series
Photo: ASP Archive
Ambassador Lilit Makunts Visits
William Saroyan House Museum
Photo: Andrew Hagopian
Armenia’s Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Lilit
Makunts (center) visited the William Saroyan House Muse-um
on Sunday, October 24. Accompanying Amb. Makunts on
the visit were Honorary Consul of the Republic of Armenia
in Fresno, Mr. Berj Apkarian (left), and Prof. Barlow Der Mu-grdechian
(right). Ambassador Makunts attended the AMAA
Annual Banquet in Fresno on Saturday, Oct 23.
The Committee of Union and Progress Book
Launch Hosted by Tekeyan Cultural Association
Helen Zevart Peterson
Photo: ASP Archive
Photo: ASP Archive
See Peters Page 3 State Minister of Artsakh Artak Beglaryan met with students
and faculty of the Armenian Studies Program on October 23.
A special presentation of the new book, The Committee of
Union and Progress: Founders, Ideology, and Structures,
was held at the Tekeyan Center in Altadena, California on
Saturday, November 6. Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, cen-ter,
poured ceremonial wine on a copy of the book.
See Tekeyan Page 7
See Yesayan page 7
Helen Zevart Peterson Endowed Fund Established
with $50,000 Gift to Benefit Armenian Studies
rd
Staff Report
Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian,
Berberian Coordinator of the
Armenian Studies Program at
Fresno State, discussed the newly
published book, The Committee of
Union and Progress: Founders,
Ideology, and Structure, at a
special presentation and kinetson
on Saturday, November 6, 2021.
The Committee of Union and
Progress is volume 13 in the
Armenian Series of The Press
at California State University,
Fresno. The special event was
co-sponsored by the Tekeyan
Cultural Association Metro Los
Angeles chapter and took place at
the Tekeyan Center in Altadena.
Master of Ceremonies Mihran
Toumajan introduced some of the
special guests in attendance at the
event including H.E. Ambassador
Dr. Armen Baibourtian, Consul
General of the Republic of
Armenia in Los Angeles and His
Eminence Archbishop Hovnan
Derderian, Primate of the Western
Diocese of the Armenian Church.
In their remarks both Ambassador
Baibourtian and Archbishop
Derderian congratulated Prof.
Der Mugrdechian, who was a co-editor
of the book, together with
Dr. Ümit Kurt and Ara Sarafian.
A cultural program preceded
the main speaker. Fourth-grader
Arev Bardakian from the St.
Staff Report
Patricia Peterson Hansen
of Sacramento, California, has
established a new Endowment
Fund of $50,000 at Fresno State
in the name of her late sister
Helen Zevart Peterson. The Helen
Zevart Peterson Fund will provide
funding for programming musical
performances and speakers in the
Armenian Studies Program.
Helen Zevart Peterson was
born to Simon and Haiganoosh
Peterson in Hanford, California
and raised in Fresno. She was the
eldest of five siblings: Virginia,
Paul, Jae, and Patricia. As a
member of a young immigrant
family, Peterson did not have an
opportunity to attend college.
Instead, she went to work for a
luggage store after graduating
from high school to help the
family. She went on to work in
a furniture store in downtown
Fresno and later worked as an
account clerk for the city of
Fresno Finance Department for
nine years.
See Peterson, page 2
State Minister of Artsakh Artak Beglaryan Holds
Discussion with Fresno State Students and Faculty
Natalie Agazarian
Staff Writer
Artak Beglaryan, State Min-ister
of Artsakh, has conducted
a significant amount of research
and dedicated much of his time
serving the people of Artsakh. Mr.
Beglaryan, who was in Fresno
to speak at the annual meeting
and banquet of the Armenian
Missionary Association of
America, held a conversation with
Fresno State students on Friday,
October 22, 2021. He provided an
update to the situation in Artsakh
and insight into the political
climate and security situation in
Leon S. Peters Foundation Donates
$30,000 to Armenian Studies
Staff Report
Armenian Studies Program
Coordinator Prof. Barlow Der
Mugrdechian announced that
the Leon S. Peters Foundation
has made a generous donation
of $30,000 to the Armenian
Studies Program at Fresno State
for 2021. The Peters Foundation
has donated over $270,000 to the
Program since 2013.
Leon S. Peters was born in
Fowler, California, and graduated
from Fowler High School as
valedictorian of his class in
1923. His family, of Armenian
descent, started farming in the San
Staff Report
The Armenian Series of
The Press at California State
University, Fresno announces
the publication of its fourteenth
volume, Captive Nights: From the
Bosphorus to Gallipoli with Zabel
Yessayan. This new collection of
translations from Zabel Yessayan’s
(1878 – 1943?) internationally
renowned body of work presents
three of her least-known and most
revealing stories: Meliha Nuri
Hanum, The Veil, and Enough!
Written between 1914 and 1928,
these works share a common
theme of women – both Armenian
and Turkish – struggling against
adverse social, political, and
cultural circumstances, as they
also examine questions of identity
and marginalization.
Commenting on its signi-ficance,
Dr. Vahé Tachjian,
Director of Houshamadyan, stated
that these are “three impressive
works from Zabel Yessayan that
shed light on Turkish society
and Turkish-Armenian relations
during a crucial period of the
Ottoman Empire marked by
wars, dictatorial regime, military
Hye Sharzhoom
2
December 2021
Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Prof. Sergio La Porta, and the Armenian Studies Program would like to thank the donors, authors, and publishers for the following books, periodicals, videos, and archival gifts, either offered personally, or to the Program.
HYE SHARZHOOM
ՀԱՅ ՇԱՐԺՈՒՄ
Advisor
Barlow Der Mugrdechian
barlowd@csufresno.edu
Visit the Armenian Studies Program
Online Library and Photo Archive
The site can be accessed at
http://www.fresnostate.edu/artshum/
armenianstudies/library/index.html
Armenian Studies Program Faculty:
Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Berberian Coordinator, Armenian Studies Program and Director of the Center for Armenian Studies, ASO Advisor, Hye Sharzhoom Advisor
(barlowd@csufresno.edu)
Sergio La Porta, Haig and Isabel Berberian Professor of Armenian Studies,
Interim Associate Dean, College of Arts & Humanities
Hagop Ohanessian, Lecturer, Armenian Studies Program
Dickran Kouymjian, Berberian Professor Emeritus of Armenian Studies
Give Your Way
to the Armenian Studies Program
There are many ways to support
the Armenian
Studies Program.
1) A gift today could come through the donation of cash, stock, or goods.
2) The Armenian Studies Program can also be sup­ported in the future in es­tate plans.
California State University, Fresno
Armenian Studies Program
Spring 2022 Schedule of Courses
Course Units Time Day Instructor
General Education-Breadth, Humanities, Area C2
• Arm 1B-Elementary Armenian 4 10:00A-11:50A MW B. Der Mugrdechian (Class #32364)
General Education-Breadth, Arts, Area C1
• ArmS 20-Arts of Armenia 3 11:00A-12:15P TuTh B. Der Mugrdechian
(Class #33267)
General Education-Breadth, Area D2
• ArmS 10-Intro Arm Studies 3 9:00A- 9:50A MWF H. Ohanessian
(Class #33544)
General Education-Integration, Area IC
• Arm 148-Mastrpcs Arm Cult 3 10:00A-10:50A MWF H. Ohanessian
(Class #33681)
• Arm 148-Mastrpcs Arm Cult 3 2:00P-3:15P MW H. Ohanessian
(Class #33348)
Upper Division Armenian Studies Course
• ArmS 108B-Arm History II 3 9:30A-10:45A TuTh B. Der Mugrdechian
(Class #32363)
Get a Minor in Armenian Studies
For more information call the Armenian Studies Program at 278-2669.
Check on requirements for the Minor in Armenian Studies in the current catalog.
Editor
Andrew Hagopian
Layout
Barlow Der Mugrdechian
Photographers
Andrew Hagopian
Barlow Der Mugrdechian
Hye Sharzhoom is an ethnic supplement of The Colle­gian and is the newspaper of the Fresno State Armenian Students Organization and the Armenian Studies Pro­gram and is funded by the Associated Students. Articles may be reprinted provided Hye Sharzhoom is acknowl­edged. Hye Sharzhoom welcomes prose, poetry, articles and other material from its student readers. For further information concerning the newspaper or the Armenian Studies Program contact us at:
A
rmenian Studies Program
5245 N. Backer Ave. PB4
F
resno, CA 93740-8001
T
elephone 559.278.2669
www.fresnostate.edu/armenianstudies
b
arlowd@csufresno.edu
Staff Writers
Arshak Abelyan
Natalie Agazarian
Sosse Baloian
Sara Beberian
Michael Mazman
Christine Pambukyan
Armenian Studies Program
Book/Video/CD Archival Gifts
Staff Report
A large collection of Armenian themed books and periodicals was received from the estate of the late June Shamshoian. Her daughter Janine Shamshoian Economides and husband Dr. Nicholas Economides made the generous donation in October of this year. The books will be incorporated into the Armenian Studies Program collection.
June Shamshoian was born on August 22, 1927, in San Francisco. Her parents were Haigaz “Harry” and Parantzem Paul. She had a brother, Peter, who died in the Battle of Okinawa in World War II, and a younger sister, Elaine, who passed before her.
June studied piano and played very well. She loved art, and was a good student. She attended the University of California, Berkeley, and was one of only three women students in the business department. She later graduated with a degree in business.
She met her future husband, John S. Shamshoian, while he was a student at Stanford University, and she was attending Berkeley, in a meeting of Armenian Students clubs. She and John married in 1953. June was a school teacher until her first child was born. June and John had three children, Janine, Gary, and Peter.
Always a very independent woman, after retiring, she enjoyed traveling to many countries, and to her mother’s native Kharpert and the regions of western Armenia.
June attended many of the Armenian Studies Program presentations and took courses as well.
She loved her friends and they cherished her, and her closest friends from her girlhood, her college years, and as a young mother remained extremely close throughout her entire life.
June Shamshoian
Edgar Elbakyan and Varoujan Geghamyan, Yerevan State University, Yerevan, Armenia, for a copy of Ժամանակակից Ադրբեջան (Contemporary Azerbaijan), a handbook on Azerbaijan (Yerevan State University, 2019), 101pp., in Armenian.
John Haleblian, Saratoga, CA, for copies of the 1887 and 1895 volumes of Avedaper (The Messenger) weekly newspaper, published in Constantinople. Avedaper was published by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.
Supervisor Sal Quintero, District 3, Fresno, for two year-books from the First Armenian Presbyterian Church, 1897-1981, and 1897-1997 and for a commemorative hat from Longfellow Junior High School.
Tekeyan Cultural Association Metro Los Angeles Chapter, Altadena, California, for copies of Edmond Yervant Azadian’s two volume In Armenian-Political Whirlpool (Ազգային-Քաղաքական Յորձանուտի Մէջ) (Yerevan: Tekeyan Cultural Association, 2021), in Armenian. The books are compilations of Azadian’s political commentary columns, published in the Baikar weekly newspaper (Boston), 2017-2018.
The TCA also donated a copy of Armenian Genocide: Front Page Coverage in the World Press, by Hayk Demoyan (Yerevan, 2014), in Armenian and English.
Peterson recognized and appreciated music and the arts. She shared her passions with her siblings, introducing Patricia Peterson Hansen to orchestra, theatre, and travel. Helen Zevart Peterson played the piano and she and her family were members of Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church.
The Armenian Studies Program expresses its appreci-ation to Patricia Peterson Hansen for establishing the new endowment.
P
eterson, From Page 1
Estate of June Shamshoian Donates Books to Armenian Studies Program3
December 2021
Hye Sharzhoom
Photo: ASP Archive
Hye Oozh - Saturdays 9:00 AM - Noon
90.7 FM-KFSR
Hye Oozh is 90.7 KFSR’s weekly program dedicated
to contemporary and traditional
Armenian music and culture.
Hye Oozh DJ:
Vartush Mesropyan
Beglaryan, From Page 1
Dr. Ümit Kurt discussed his new book on October 30.
Dr. Kurt Speaks on “The Armenians of Aintab:
The Economics of Genocide in an Ottoman Province”
Topic of “Gendercide” Studied in Dr. Manukyan’s Genocide Class
A
rshak Abelyan
Staff Writer
“The base motives of their former neighbors, unfortunately, left some of the most indelible wounds, which more than a century later remain unhealed,” said Dr. Ümit Kurt when dis-cussing the economic motives behind the Armenian Genocide.
Dr. Kurt, a historian who studies the late Ottoman Empire, has a particular focus on the transformations of imperial structures and their role in constituting the republican regime. He presented an over-view of his newly published book, The Armenians of Aintab: The Economics of Genocide in an Ottoman Province (Harvard University Press, 2021) on Saturday, October 30, as part of the Armenian Studies Program Fall 2021 Lecture Series. Berberian Coordinator of the ASP Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian introduced Dr. Kurt, who was a Kazan Visiting Professor at Fresno State in Fall of 2018.
Dr. Kurt’s book focuses on the economic dimension of the Genocide as it affected the Aintab Armenians, who were forcibly deported, thus benefiting their neighbors. According to Dr. Kurt, the inspiration for writing this book came about through his learning of the story of Nazar Nazaretian.
Dr. Kurt was going to meet a friend at the “Papirus” café in his hometown of Gaziantep (Aintab). Upon his arrival, he was astonished by the exotic appearance of the architectural work of the café. He approached the owner to compliment him and asked, “How did you obtain this place?” The owner explained that he inherited the structure from his grandfather and that Armenians once lived there. Dr. Kurt learned that the building was originally owned by Nazar Nazaretian. Dr. Kurt stated that he no longer refers to it as the Papirus café, but rather the house of Nazaretian.
“Properties belonging to Ottoman Armenians were seized through various laws and other legal regulations passed by the Committee of Union and Progress government and later the rank and file of the Republican regime and both governments concocted ways of making this illegal process look legitimate under the veil of the law,” stated Dr. Kurt.
Under one specific law, Armenians were not allowed to sell, rent, or transfer any property. Abandoned property laws and liquidations also made it easier for the Committee of Union and Progress and many of the Muslim elite to be able to acquire property and resources under a legalized regime of plunder.
The Armenians of Aintab owned approximately six thou-sand residential homes and seven thousand parcels of land. Dr. Kurt pointed out that many of the transactions were used to meet the needs of refugees and immigrant Muslims. He utilized primary sources and archival materials to investigate what happened to these properties.
Not everything went as planned for Dr. Kurt in his attempts to obtain the information needed to understand and investigate these events.
“Over the course of my one and a half years of research in the Ottoman Prime Ministerial archives, all my requests to see these records were denied or turned away,” said Dr. Kurt.
Dr. Kurt concluded the discuss-ion of his book by pointing out that his insight is just a small part of the whole story and that there are still many questions that have been left unanswered. Much more research is needed to unlock the full picture of the events that transpired during the Armenian Genocide.
“My book is the story of Aintab Armenians, who were torn away from their homes, neighborhoods and the city where they were born and raised… so this is the account of how their material and spatial wealth changed hands and was transformed,” concluded Dr. Kurt.
Soss e Baloian
Staff Writer
As a student taking Kazan Visiting Professor Suren Manukyan’s “Introduction to Genocide Studies” course, I was tasked with researching and presenting an aspect within the topic of Genocide. Each student in the course was asked to present on a topic related to the Genocide. Among those topics were “Genocide Denial,” “Methods of Extermination During the Genocide,” “Resistance During the Genocide,” and “Genocide Memorials and Museums.”
I chose to explore “gendercide” and specifically examined the case of Armenian tattooed women.
The term “gendercide” was first coined by Mary Anne Warren in her book, Gendercide: The Implications of Sex Selection, published in 1985. The definition of gendercide is the deliberate extermination of persons of a particular gender. Gendercide is a sex neutral term, in that the victims could be either male or female.
Genocide affects women differently than men. The first difference is that specific biological attributes of women have historically made them both vulnerable and valuable. The second difference is the assumptions of a patriarchal society that women are weak, dependent, and the sexual property of males, who may appropriate their bodies, labor, and reproductive power.
For my presentation I referenced an article published through the Armenian Genocide-Museum in Yerevan, Armenia, “Becoming Someone Else: Genocide and Kidnapped Armenian Women.”
During the Armenian Geno-cide, thousands of Armenian women were kidnapped from their families, usually during deportations or overnight stops. They were forcibly integrated into Muslim family life which caused some to forget how to speak in their native tongue and about their Armenian ethnicity overtime. In order to save their own lives and the lives of their loved ones, many Armenian women adopted Islam under duress. They were married off to Muslim men and in keeping with local customs, were marked with specific tattoos. These tattoos were used as amulets in the Middle East and Islamic countries with wearers believing that the mark instilled them with magical powers. The tattoos were often represented in the form of dots or a small “x” and were thought to provide protection, strength, or fertility. These tattoos marked a new belonging and a change in one’s live for Armenian women.
By the end of World War I, many Armenian organizations and foreign missionaries helped rescue Armenian women and children from their captors. Danish missionary Karen Yeppe, with assistance from some Arab tribe leaders, rescued approximately 2,000 Armenian women and children from Muslim captivity up until 1928.
For those who are interested in learning more, Suzanne Khardalian’s 2011 documentary, “Grandma’s Tattoos,” is an informative film available on YouTube. The Armenian Genocide-Museum article can be accessed at: http://www.genocide-museum.am/eng/online_exhibition_2.php.
Kazan Visiting Professor Dr. Suren Manukyan.
Artsakh today.
Mr. Beglaryan graduated from Yerevan State University and completed a public policy and administration program at Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy near Boston. He has also served as a Human Rights Ombudsman for Artsakh during the 2020 war, Press Secretary of the Prime Minister, and Chief-of-Staff of the President.
In September 2020, Azerbaijan attacked Artsakh with the support of Turkey. The war deliberately targeted cultural monuments with the intent to eradicate evidence of Armenian roots. The use of internationally banned weapons, such as phosphorus and cluster munitions, had disastrous effects on Artsakh society as a whole. During the war, at least 250 civilians have been confirmed missing and forty hostages have not been returned after the war.
According to Mr. Beglaryan, the war directly targeted 80% of the territory of Artsakh, whether deliberately or indiscriminately, through attacks on schools, hospitals, or infrastructure. Overall, thousands of people were displaced during the war and many are still displaced today.
Both Mr. Beglaryan and his advisor Davit Akopyan noted the strategy behind the timing of the war and how events in the world provided Turkey and Azerbaijan the perfect opportunity to strike Artsakh. Azerbaijan took advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic, internal problems in the European Union, and the 2020 presidential elections in the United States, to attack Artsakh.
Both Mr. Beglaryan and Mr. Akopyan mentioned that security is essential to guaranteeing an international presence, economic development, and housing for displaced families and individuals. Artsakh is currently striving to build housing for the displaced families. Artsakh has little or no international humanitarian support, as most of finances for the war recovery (an estimated $250 million US dollars) has been raised by the Armenian Diaspora.
Mr. Beglaryan’s visit to Fresno State provided students with a better understanding of the ongoing conflicts in Artsakh and Armenia.
Mr. Beglaryan gave the students clarity and knowledge about the reality and severity of developments in Artsakh, and how the Armenian diaspora, humanitarian aid groups, and the world as a whole can support the right to self-determination of the Armenian people.
Joaquin Valley. The eldest of five children, he experienced the loss of his mother when he was just 17 years old. He worked daily on his father’s ranch, helped raise the other children and also did custom tractor work in what little spare time he had.
Some years later after the loss of his parents, Peters went to work as a salesman for Valley Foundry in 1929. He worked his way up to manager and eventually purchased the company.
Leon S. Peters was respected as a businessman, civic leader, and philanthropist who lived and worked according to the highest ethical standards.
He cherished his community and considered its well-being his personal responsibility.
Since the early 1980s, the Peters family has provided numerous gifts to Fresno State including the Pete P. Peters Endowment in Armenian Studies, the President’s Fund, Ag One Foundation, the Henry Madden Library, the Bulldog Foundation, the Leon S. Peters Honors Scholars, and the Business Associates Program.
P
eters, From Page 1Hye Sharzhoom
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December 2021
Photos: ASP Archive
Roger Tatarian
Congratulations to Students Graduating with a Minor in Armenian Studies in 2021
Elementary School Renamed for Former Fresno State Professor Roger Tatarian
Violeta Agabekyan
Recreation Administration
Minor in Armenian Studies
What encouraged you to take an Armenian Studies course?
My strong interest in my culture encouraged me. I wanted to learn more about the Armenian culture, and in doing so I learned about the history of Armenia, the meaning of being Armenian, and the importance of keeping my culture alive.
What was your favorite Armenian Studies class, activity, or event?
My favorite event was the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day in the year I was most involved in the Armenian Students Organization. The ASO organized and planned the speeches, vigil, performances, and music, and it was a beautiful sight to see. Armenians from all over came to experience this commemoration, and I had such a great time assisting with it.
What did you value most from your experiences in the Armenian Studies Program?
I am thankful for the professors that have dedicated so much of their time to teaching students and keeping the history of the Armenians relevant. It is definitely challenging, and I appreciate Professors Barlow Der Mugrdechian and Hagop Ohanessian for their consistent efforts to encourage students to get involved and take an Armenian Studies course. They made my experience with the Minor valuable and challenging, and I enjoyed it!
What are your plans after graduation?
I plan to utilize my degree and find a job as a Park Ranger. However, I am leaving my options open. There is so much that I am passionate about, it is hard to narrow my choices down. Whatever I decide to do with my degree, I am constantly finding ways to incorporate my culture and reflect on what it took for my parents to get me here.
Suzanna Ekmekchyan
Biology
Minor in Armenian Studies
What encouraged you to take an Armenian Studies course?
My mom was involved in Armenian Studies while at Fresno State and she would always tell me about how great her experience was. I was also excited to further my knowledge about Armenian history and arts because I believe it is so important to maintain my culture outside of our homeland, since that is the main connecting factor of what makes us Armenian.
What was your favorite Armenian Studies class, activity, or event?
My favorite Armenian Studies class would have to be the Armenian Studies 120T weekend courses. I had the opportunity to take the “Fresno Armenians” course and the “Armenian Church” course. Both were very insightful and related to living as an Armenian in Fresno. It was a very fun experience to spend time with my peers learning about important moments in Armenian history and traveling around Fresno to see the impact that Armenians have had on the community we live in. The Armenian Studies Summer Study trip to Armenia as well, was an unforgettable experience.
What did you value most from your experiences in the Armenian Studies Program?
I value the connections I have made with my peers and the invaluable information that I have learned over the years. I get excited when I am granted the opportunity to educate people on topics I have learned about in my courses. I am so proud to have furthered my education about my culture and history. I am also so happy to have been a part of such an amazing Program that has given me opportunities that I would have never been given otherwise.
What are your plans after graduation?
I am currently in the process of applying to Dental School. I hope to finish my dental education and then return to the Central Valley. I plan to take over my father’s private practice and continue to serve my community.
Matthew Mugrdechian
Kinesiology-Physical Education
Minor in Armenian Studies
What encouraged you to take an Armenian Studies course?
I took the Armenian Studies courses because I wanted to learn more about Armenia and become closer with the community.
What was your favorite Armenian Studies class, activity, or event?
My favorite was the Armenian Studies Summer Study trip to Armenia. I felt like I learned more there and connected better with my culture than I have anywhere else.
What did you value most from your experiences in the Armenian Studies Program?
I value most the relationships that I have formed with my peers in the Armenian Studies Program.
What are your plans after graduation?
I plan to become a Physical Education teacher.
Kara Statler
History
Minor in Armenian Studies
What encouraged you to take an Armenian Studies course?
I was originally going to just take Armenian Studies 10, because I am Armenian and it filled a General Education requirement. However, I really enjoyed that class and the next semester I signed up to take two more Armenian Studies classes. And then the Armenian Studies Program was taking a trip to Armenia, and I decided to go, and before I knew it, I had gone to Armenia twice and completed my Minor.
What was your favorite Armenian Studies class, activity, or event?
I think my favorite activity was my two trips to Armenia. They were both so eye-opening and made me realize how important being Armenian is to me.
What did you value most from your experiences in the Armenian Studies Program?
I value how much these classes and this Program made me fall in love with my culture. While I always knew I was Armenian, I never really knew what it meant until I was given the opportunity to take these classes, participate in activities, and be a member of the Armenian Students Organization. This Program helped shape me into who I am today.
What are your plans after graduation?
I plan to further pursue my studies in the field of history.
F
resno State News-
Benjamin Kirk
The Fresno Unified School Board voted on Oct. 13 to change the name of the Forkner Elementary School to H. Roger Tatarian Elementary School in honor of the award-winning journalist, Fresno State alumnus and faculty member.
“Roger Tatarian’s career as a journalist and professor demonstrates the transformative power of a Fresno State education,” said Dr. Honora Chapman, dean of the College of Arts and Humanities at Fresno State. “By returning to his alma mater to educate a new generation, he changed his students’ lives, and now a Fresno school in his name will inspire countless children to pursue their dreams.”
Tatarian was a Fresno State Media, Communications and Journalism (MCJ) faculty member for 15 years.
The Roger Tatarian Journalism Grant, the Roger Tatarian Endowed Chair in Journalism and the Roger Tatarian Symposium were established in his honor.
“Roger Tatarian had an international reputation in journalism, and it reached well beyond our Fresno State community,” said Professor Betsy Hays, chair of the department. “But here in MCJ, we consider him family. He made his reputation around the world, and then came back to Fresno State to teach and inspire future journalists. His students remain active as alumni, giving back to the community and beyond in their chosen fields. They quickly got behind the effort to name a school for him, knowing that he deserved this honor. We in MCJ are thrilled that the school board chose to recognize Roger Tatarian in this very special way.”
Tatarian graduated from Fresno State in 1938 with a degree in political science. He began his career at United Press International, then a worldwide news reporting wire service. During World War II, he was a correspondent and continued to work for United Press International for the next 34 years.
He had a successful career, serving as the general news manager for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He was bureau chief in London and Rome, served as news editor in Washington D.C. and eventually became editor in chief.
Tatarian received many awards and honors, including the Elijah Parrish Lovejoy Award, a special citation by Ohio University and an honorary doctorate in law from Colby College in Maine in 1980. He was named a fellow of the Society of Professional Journalists Sigma Delta Chi in 1972 and was among the first group inducted into the New York Society’s Hall of Fame. He also served as a Pulitzer Prize nomination juror in 1960, 1961 and 1985.
After his retirement, Tatarian returned to Fresno and joined the faculty at Fresno State. During that time, he served as a consultant to newspapers and wrote a regular column for The Fresno Bee. He also wrote a collection of essays, “Day of Mourning, Day of Shame,” published by Word Dancer Press in 1996. Tatarian passed away in 1995 at the age of 78.
According to media reports, the Fresno Unified School Board began looking into changing the school’s name after it came to light in historical legal documents that Jessie Clayton Forkner, the developer for the Fig Garden area, forbade the sale or occupancy of property to minoritized people, including Armenians.
Journalist, author and Fresno State alumnus Mark Arax proposed the name change at a board meeting in June after James Tatarian, the journalist’s grandson, requested his grand-father’s name be withdrawn from consideration for a new building, calling it “a consolation prize that is not suitable for a man of his accomplishments and stature.”
“The Armenian community is pleased that the Fresno Unified School District has chosen to recognize Roger Tatarian by naming a school after him,” said Professor Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Berberian Coordinator of the Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State. “This recognition, with the naming of the first school in the district for an Armenian, is long overdue. This is a fitting honor for Tatarian.”
Read Hye Sharzhoom online:
hyesharzhoom.com
All issues have been archived on the site.Hye Sharzhoom
5
December 2021
Humanities 120 Course Explores Commonalities of Genocide
Dr. Amila Becirbegovic
The Zvartnots Cultural Committee celebrated its 10th anniversary with a cultural program at St. Gregory Armenian Church, featuring a keynote speech by Prof. Der Mugrdechian.
Prof. Der Mugrdechian Keynote Speaker for the Zvartnots Cultural Committee’s 10th Anniversary
Staff Report
The Zvartnots Cultural Committee of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church marked its 10th Anniversary Celebration with a cultural program on Sunday, November 7, 2021, at the St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church, in Pasadena.
The keynote speaker for the evening was Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Berberian Coordinator of the Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State. Zvartnots Cultural Committee Chairman Dr. Simon Simonian gave the welcoming remarks and presented an overview of the Armenian language and its key role in the maintenance of Armenian culture.
Honored on the occasion were Armenian language teachers from various schools in the greater Los Angeles area, who were recognized for their dedication to the profession.
The evening included reci-tations of Armenian poetry (Lorig Artinian and Ellen Vartanyan), performances on the duduk (Ruben Harutyunyan), violin (Meruzhan Margarian), kanun (Alexandra and Lilia Yaralian) and a series of Armenian ethnographic dances by the Zvartnots Dance Ensemble, under the direction of Vartan and Armin Aghajanian.
The theme for the evening was the Armenian language and its role in the vitality of the Armenian culture. Prof. Der Mugrdechian discussed the challenges in maintaining Western Armenian in a world which is constantly changing. He challenged the audience to look to the future to guarantee the survival of Western Armenian, by making the language accessible to the new generations. Speaking in both Armenian and English, Prof. Der Mugrdechian noted how the Armenian culture was also a means for the persistence of the Armenian people.
Remarks were made by H.E. Ambassador Dr. Armen Baibourtian, Consul General of the Republic of Armenia in Los Angeles, who shared his experiences in bringing greater awareness of Armenian culture to the American community in Los Angeles.
Concluding remarks were made by the Very Rev. Fr. Dajad Yardemian, representing Archbishop Hovnan Derderian.
A
ndrew Hagopian
E
ditor
As I sat in Dr. Amila Becir-begovic’s Humanities 120 “Genocide, Memory, Media” class at Fresno State, there was a familiarity about the topic which was being taught. The more I listened to what the professor had to say and what my peers said in response, the more I appreciated the importance of the class.
The Armenian Genocide of 1915 provides crucial perspective and is a discussion point in Dr. Becirbegovic’s class. It may be common to discuss the Armenian Genocide in an Armenian Studies class at Fresno State but to have it recognized and acknowledged in another department was exciting. Learning about the Armenian Genocide from the viewpoint of a survivor of the Bosnian Genocide gave me a whole new outlook on the subject when comparing and contrasting the events of the Armenian Genocide to other genocides of the 20th century.
Dr. Becirbegovic, professor of German and Ethnic Humanities in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures, finds an importance in studying genocide and educating future generations on the topic in order to prevent such tragic acts against humanity.
Dr. Becirbegovic was origin-ally from Prijedor, Bosnia, which is a small city with gorgeous landscapes and great fishing, situated between the picturesque Sana River and the majestic Kozara mountains. She was born and raised in Prijedor until the 1992 genocide when she and her family were forced to flee to Germany.
“As we watched our home attacked by Serb paramilitary forces, neighbors, friends and family began to disappear or were taken to nearby concentration camps,” said Prof. Becirbegovic who considers it “the worst genocide Europe had seen since the Holocaust.”
Her experiences led Dr. Becirbegovic into a career in academics. She is a Germanist with an emphasis in Critical Theory and Human Rights, and she works at the intersection of literature, genocide studies and visual culture. Her personal experiences as a Bosnian refugee in Germany gave her a unique perspective and have deeply shaped her academic interests. This led her down a path of exploration within the humanities, focusing specifically on representations of genocide and the important role that images play in affecting genocide memory. Her research seeks to “investigate what genocide representations look like today and what potential these renditions play in international intervention and atrocity remembrance.”
Although Dr. Becirbegovic was aware of Ottoman History while growing up, she only began to seriously grapple with modern genocide history when she investigated connections between the Armenian Genocide and other case histories. It was at the University of California, Davis where she began teaching courses about the Armenian Genocide and the Holocaust and developed lesson plans and outreach material that addressed the need to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide alongside other cases, such as Bosnia and Rwanda.
“I feel that I have a unique entry point into other genocide case histories and am able to relate on a personal level to the hardships and atrocities that others have experienced,” said Dr. Becirbegovic. “It is empowering to see other survivors, who strive for justice and peace and I find solidarity in their work. I have learned a great deal from Armenians in the Central Valley and appreciate their stories and perspectives. I think we share many commonalities, though every case and history is different, there is a shared experience and a sort of kinship.”
According to Dr. Becir-begovic, media is “powerful and unavoidable in our time, particularly visual media… Contemporary media can bring a lot of awareness to a genocide case, like it initially did for Bosnia, but media, usually motivated by political or economic ties, can also skew the other way and deny, gloss over or neglect to give all of the facts. Unfortunately, the last stage of genocide is the silent continuation of the genocide, a perpetual double killing.”
The Humanities 120 class teaches the importance of becoming global citizens, as it may someday save lives. Dr. Becirbegovic’s course emphasizes historical awareness and ways that students can make an impact.
Dr. Becirbegovic’s class is highly recommended for any student who would like to learn more about Genocide, its inner workings, its perpetrators, and the politics surrounding it.
Simon Maghakyan Lecture Provides Assessment of the Threat to Cultural Heritage in Artsakh
Sara Beberian
Staff Writer
For Armenians, experiencing threats to their culture and heritage is not uncommon. For centuries, Armenians have had to fight to protect their land, monuments, culture, and religion. Even though things should be different in 2021, Armenians are still forced to do this every day. The recent 2020 war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, reflects an Armenian people who have had to stand up and protect what has been theirs for centuries. This does not mean fighting as just a soldier – everyday people can help by protecting Armenian monuments, churches, cemeteries, and important artifacts from destruction. These monuments are centuries old and are a vital part of Armenian culture and heritage – physical evidence of how Armenians are a productive and ancient people.
Simon Maghakyan is an outspoken advocate for the preservation of these important Armenian monuments. He joined the Fresno State community via Zoom on Thursday, October 21 to present a lecture entitled “Lessons From Nakhichevan: Assessing the Threat to Heritage in Nagorno Karabagh” for the ASP Fall Lecture Series.
Maghakyan is a political scientist, a Ph.D. student, as well as an investigative researcher working from Denver, Colorado. He is very involved in human rights advocacy, especially when it comes to Armenian issues. He speaks on behalf of Armenians in many ways and is currently serving as Amnesty International USA’s primary specialist and campaigner for the former USSR republics.
Maghakyan recently spoke at the International Religious Freedom and Peace Conference, in Holy Etchmiadzin, on preventing cultural genocide in Artsakh through religious freedom.
Maghakyan also manages an important informational website: savearmenianmonuments.com, which highlights Armenian sacred sites.
Maghakyan started his presentation by giving a brief history of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is taking part in a literal “cancel culture” against Armenians by destroying sacred sites and monuments in areas of Artsakh which were occupied as a result of the 2020 war.
Maghakyan tracks the monuments that are being demolished or damaged using geo-spatial data, eyewitness testimony, and visual crowdsourcing. Azerbaijan denies that they are destroying monuments and at the same time their government passes legislation demanding the removal of Armenian
See Maghakyan Page 6monuments. Maghakyan noted that, “we are not talking about individuals or communities engaged in vandalism… we are talking about a state apparatus engaging and deploying its military and its resources to wipe out a culture.” This is a deliberate and state-sponsored cultural genocide followed by denial and cover-ups. The best example of this, and the most disheartening for Armenians, is the story of the Djulfa cemetery Hye Sharzhoom
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December 2021
Director Jivan Avetisyan, top right, participated in a Zoom discussion with Prof. Mary Husain’s CineCulture class.
Avetisyan’s “Gate to Heaven” Screened at CineCulture Event
See Maghakyan Page 8
Dr. Suren Manukyan Presents Second in Three Part Series of Talks on Armenian Genocide Perpetrators
M
ichael Mazman
Staff Writer
On Friday, October 15, 2021, the Armenian Studies Program hosted Dr. Suren Manukyan for the second installment of his three-part lecture series on the perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide, titled “Bureaucrats of the Armenian Genocide: The Mid-Level Perpetrators.”
Similarly to his first presentation, “Architects of the Armenian Genocide,” Dr. Manukyan began his presentation by discussing the hierarchy of perpetrators involved in the Armenian Genocide, which consists of government decision makers, local public officials, and ordinary private individuals. This presentation was primarily focused on the mid-level perpetrators – local Ottoman bureaucrats, who were directly involved in regulating and perpetrating the Armenian Genocide under the orders of top government authorities.
Dr. Manukyan introduce some of the Ottoman bureaucrats that were most notable for their active involvement in the perpetuation of the Armenian Genocide: Cevdet Bey, the vali (governor) of Van, who personally led the executions of Armenians in his jurisdiction and Cemal Azmi, the vali of Trebizond, who was famous for his cruelty. “Nightly discussions were held at the headquarters of the Committee of Union and Progress about torture techniques,” stated Dr. Manukyan. “Each new method of inflicting pain was hailed as a splendid discovery… and Cemal Azmi was the champion of proposing these new methods of torture.”
Dr. Mehmed Reshid, the vali of Diyarbekir, was another infamous local official who personally participated in the murders of countless Armenians. Being a medical doctor, Mehmed Rashid justified his cruelty towards the Ottoman Armenians by comparing them to “hazardous microbes” in the body of his country, stating that it was his duty to kill “microbes.” In fact, many of the Young Turk government officials were physicians, so the use of this medical terminology (i.e. microbes, cancers, tumors, etc.) was very common in a constant effort to dehumanize the Armenian population.
Although these provincial governors played an instrumental role in leading the Ottoman Empire to plan and commit genocide, they accomplished this task with the help of other like-minded bureaucrats such as the heads of the gendarmerie, local police, mutasarifs (district heads), religious leaders, and even members of the Ottoman parliament. In 1913, the Committee of Union and Progress carefully selected and appointed party agents to form clubs with these bureaucrats that would serve as a form of regional governmental authority.
Once these clubs were established, they took over the role of facilitating the Armenian Genocide by becoming the link between the high-ranking Ottoman government officials and ordinary Ottoman citizens.
The bureaucrats fulfilled this role through their control over the Ottoman Empire’s means of communication, such as the telegraphs and the railways. With full control of these tools, they were able to convey the directives of the Committee of Union and Progress to the public – often personally participating in deportations, killings, and lootings in an effort to lead the masses by example.
“On the local level, these party agents were licensed for total control with a purpose of ensuring the proper process of the Genocide,” stated Dr. Manukyan. “[The Young Turks] needed people that they knew were committed enough to take orders from above without relenting or hesitating.”
Most of the appointed party agents were former military officers, so they were capable of leading their local clubs with strict efficiency. The killings and seizure of Armenian property were often carried out through paramilitary violence. “They would circle Armenian settlements, break into the homes, and forcibly detain the population for deportation,” explained Dr. Manukyan.
The Armenians that were not killed on sight were mostly forced to participate in death marches, which were supervised by the gendarmerie. They were driven through the desert, where they would be deprived of rest, prohibited from eating or drinking, expropriated of their clothes/jewelry, raped, and tortured until they eventually perished.
Cruel and unusual punishment such as the death marches were not uncommon among the acts of genocide perpetuated by the Ottoman bureaucrats. Unfortunately, any effort to delegitimize the existence of the Armenian population was praised and encouraged by the top-level decision makers at the Committee of Union and Progress.
Henry Morgenthau, the Am-bassador of the United States in the Ottoman Empire from 1913-1916, is famously quoted in his book titled The Murder of a Nation, “Up to that time most of them had been combatants, but now they were all stripped of their arms and transformed into workmen. Instead of serving their country as artillerymen and cavalrymen, these former soldiers now discovered that they had been transformed into road laborers and pack animals.”
Surely, a project as large-scale as the Armenian Genocide would not have been possible without the involvement and approval of its mid-level perpetrators, the Ottoman bureaucrats. Their contribution to spreading the Young Turk’s hateful regime played an essential role in encouraging the Ottoman population to rise up against the Armenians.
At the conclusion of the lecture, Dr. Manukyan gave his closing remarks and moderator Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian facilitated the question-and-answer portion of the discussion.
Dr. Manukyan’s series on “Perpetrators of the Genocide.”
khatchkars (stone-crosses), once the world’s largest collection of Armenian khatchkars, before it was destroyed by Azerbaijan in 2005.
The Azerbaijani government is motivated to destroy Armenian culture for different reasons. Maghakyan reports the most obvious: the Azerbaijan wants to complete the final erasure of Armenians, and that includes erasing its history. Other reasons include wanting to demonstrate their own legitimacy and power, and pulling ahead in their competition with Turkey to see who can do the most damage to the Armenian people. Armenians are fighting an uphill battle when it comes to the preservation of their culture.
The best way to make sure that Armenian sacred sites are preserved is to visit them. “The targeted group has agency in this process – individuals and communities can play a role in the preservation and in peace,” stated Maghakyan. It could become easy, especially when it seems difficult, to just give up in trying to preserve Armenian culture, but this is exactly the opposite of what we should do.
Sara Beberian
Staff Writer
Imagine a huge, beautiful canyon, with birds flying through it, and the wind whistling through the distance. This was an everyday reality for Sophia Marti (Tatian Spivakova), who grew up in a home overlooking a canyon in Artsakh that her family nicknamed the “Gate to Heaven.” The name was fitting, as the canyon was so beautiful and “filled with such an energy” that it made the young Marti want to fill the canyons with music and song. However, despite this indescribable beauty and atmosphere, she could not be at peace because her home was in Artsakh, which had been plagued by wars and unrest for years.
Prominent Armenian film-maker Jivan Avetisyan, who directed “Gate to Heaven,” is no stranger to the topic of Artsakh. In fact, Avetisyan was raised in Artsakh and has grown up witnessing the constant unrest in the region. This did not prevent him from following his dream to become a filmmaker.
With a creative passion for filmmaking, Avetisyan attended and graduated from the Yerevan Institute of Cinematography and Theatre. He has produced over twenty works, including “Tevanik” and “The Last Inhabitant,” which he discussed with Fresno State students last year.
On Friday, October 1, 2021, Avetisyan joined Fresno State students and community members in a virtual discussion of “Gate to Heaven” as part of the CineCulture class and film series. CineCulture Prof. Mary Husain and Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian led the discussion with Avetisyan. Executive Producer Adrineh Mirzayan also offered her insight on the production of the film.
“Gate to Heaven” is the story of Sophia Marti, an Artsakh native and opera singer, and her relationship with Robert Sternvall (Richard Sammel), a German war photographer. Sternvall had met Marti’s father, photographer Edgar Martirosyan, while covering the war in Artsakh in 1992. The films has several plot twists which bring the opera star and German photographer together romantically before revealing several secrets. As the film progresses, one becomes engrossed in a compelling story, told with layers that even the characters do not understand from the beginning.
During the discussion, students had the opportunity to consider many aspects of the film with Avetisyan, who was able to shed light on some of the more important details. Since portions of the film were recorded in Artsakh, the question of safety was a major concern.
Avetisyan stressed the point that war and the possibility of war are a constant looming threat to the Armenians who live in Artsakh, and this is not something that only the filmmakers worry about. He emphasized that, “war can happen to anyone at any time,” and that we must not think of war as a “faraway concept.”
One of the main characters in the film is Sophia, who has lived in tumultuous times for more than twenty-five years. The Karabagh war took the life of her father, and the 2016 war uprooted her whole life. Avetisyan explained that for the characters in the movie, the “Gate to Heaven” represented dealing with their past traumas and moving through the gate towards a brighter future.
Avetisyan explained that people have the opportunity to do the same in their own lives every day. Avetisyan’s films reflect important stories that are full of truth and reflect real life.
When asked about the main message of the film, Avestisyan stated that it is a “message of peace.” All people and all countries must feel a responsibility to protect and promote peace, not only for the Armenians in Artsakh but around the world.
Unfortunately, it seems that for the natives of Artsakh that war is always a part of their lives. Avetisyan, having lived in Artsakh, was able to authentically capture these real life situations and suffering that Armenians in Artsakh go through.
Avetisyan’s films are a success because they are personal and real.
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aghakyan, From Page 5Hye Sharzhoom
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December 2021
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ess ayan, From Page 1
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Staff Report
The Charles K. Pategian and Pansy Pategian Zlokovich Scholarship was established by Charles K. Pategian in 1972 and is the oldest scholarship fund established to support students in the Armenian Studies Program. Scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate an interest in Armenian culture and who have a financial need to continue their university education. The scholarship pro-vides full tuition, fees, and books for each student awarded.
Tatian Samouie, a Biology major at Fresno State, was awarded the Pategian scholarship for the Fall 2021 semester.
What are you studying and what are your plans for the future?
I am majoring in Biology and Minoring in Armenian Studies. I hope to attend law school in Fall of 2022, so that I can continue to help the Armenian cause.
I plan on using my juris doctorate degree to aid in the collection of evidence of war crimes against Armenia, so that one day I can present them in international courts, while still pursuing a career in intellectual property law.
How has the Pategian scholarship made a difference for you?
In a time where there was political, health, and economic instability in society, the Pategian scholarship allowed me to focus on my studies. Without having the burden to worry about the financial aspect of attending school, I was able to spend my time studying for exams, preparing for the LSAT, and applying to law schools.
How did you get interested in an Armenian Studies Minor?
At a young age, I was very involved in the Armenian community through school and scouting. Although I learned the stories of David of Sassoun, and many other Armenian figures through my grandmother or at Saturday Armenian school, I wanted to learn more about our history, traditions, and heritage. After taking the first semester of Armenian language, I wanted to continue with earning an Armenian Studies Minor.
Taking Armenians Studies courses has broadened my knowledge and allowed me to have a deeper appreciation of our Armenian culture, land, and history.
Tell us about your background and about your activities in the community.
I was born in Glendale, California and moved to Fresno at the start of the eighth grade. Moving from a school, whose population was majority Armenian, to a school where there were few Armenians was an adjustment. Being only one out of a total of four Armenian students at my new middle school, I wanted to get involved in the local Armenian community. I joined Homenetmen scouting, where I soon earned leadership position. Joining scouts allowed me to not only connect with my Armenian roots, but also meet new Armenian peers. Once I entered Fresno State, I soon craved those Armenian connections once more. I joined the Armenian Students Organization, where I served as Treasurer during the 2020-2021 school year. Through ASO, I was able to meet many new friends.
With the collaboration of ASO executives and the local Armenian community, we were able to fundraise $4,000 (matched to $8,000) to aid Armenia during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. During a global pandemic and political unrest, Armenians from around the world (including our Fresno community) were able to unite in support. This showed the importance of having an Armenian community because as an Armenian you can always find a friend within another Armenian.
Armenian Studies Pategian Zlokovich Scholarship Provides Support for Fresno State Students
Gregory Hovsepian School of Pasadena recited Vahan Tekeyan’s poem “Մայրենի Լեզու” [Mother Language]; fifth-grader Ella Markarian recited Jaques Hagopian’s poem “Խօսէ՛ Հայերէն” [Speak Armenian!]; and seventh-grader Anthony Kassardjian recited Vahan Tekeyan’s “Տաղ Հայերէն Լեզուին” [Ode to the Armenian Language] poem. Mrs. Liza Manoyan of the St. Gregory Hovsepian School was recognized for her dedicated teaching of the Armenian language.
Prof. Der Mugrdechian began his remarks by giving an overview of the contents of the book, which includes an “Introduction” by Ümit Kurt and five chapters: “The Unionist Regime: Ideology in Command,” by Raymond H. Kévorkian; “Ziya Gökalp, Duumvir,” by Hans-Lukas Kieser; “When Revolutionaries Must Govern: The Vicissitudes of ARF-CUP Relations” by Dikran Kaligian; “The Post-Revolutionary Period in Aintab and the Curious Case of Necmeddin Bey, by Ümit Kurt; and “Homeland and Nation Revisited: A Discourse Analysis of the Memoirs of Young Turks,” by Duygu Coşkuntuna.
Although there is some knowledge of the Committee of Union and Progress, it remains an enigma today due to the lack of sources. Most of the CUP deliberations were conducted in secret and those archives have yet to be found. Prof. Der Mugrdechian emphasized this fact to point out how the new book focuses on some aspects of the CUP that have been little studied.
Three aspects of the CUP, its foundation, ideology, and structure, are all explored in the book. The role of ideology was particularly important in the transformation of the party from 1908 until the outbreak of World War I in 1914.
The CUP view on power and how or if it should be shared with minorities in the Ottoman Empire would shape their future decisions and ultimately the decision to embark upon the Armenian Genocide. The question of “Ottomanism” and how it was to be ultimately interpreted by the CUP was to have far-reaching consequences.
“A truly enlightening pres-entation. There is so much more to genocide history than what we are generally taught. In learning about the Committee of Union and Progress, we are offered deeper insight into how the geopolitical landscape of that time continues to echo today in our current and future plight,” said Tekeyan Cultural Association Committee member Talene Hachikian.
The afternoon presentation concluded with the traditional wine ceremony, where Prof. Der Mugrdechian poured wine on a copy of the book, as an expression and wish of success and good luck.
The new book is available at: http://www.abrilbooks.com/books/history/organizations/committee-of-union-and-progress-the.html or at the NAASR bookstore: https://naasr.org/products/committee-of-union-and-progress-the-founders-ideology-and-structure?_pos=1&_sid=498d83da0&_ss=r.
T
ekeyan, From Page 1
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defeats, territorial losses, and genocide.”
“Captive Nights: From the Bosphorus to Gallipoli with Zabel Yessayan is an important addition to the Armenian Series,” stated co-editor Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian. “The new book broadens the scope of the series by introducing the English-speaking world to a gem of Armenian literature. Zabel Yessayan’s work maintains its timelessness and vitality today.”
In recent years, Yessayan has become one of the best-known Armenian intellectuals of the early twentieth century, earning international acclaim as author, humanitarian, and an activist for social equality and women’s rights. Her career spanned a cosmopolitan and eventful life that took her from Istanbul to Paris and that ended tragically in Soviet Armenia.
This groundbreaking book was initiated by its main editor, Dr. Nanor Kebranian, with generous funding from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon and the Fesjian Fund at Columbia University. Following the translation and publication of Hagop Oshagan’s Remnants (2013), Captive Nights marks Kebranian’s second collaboration with award-winning translator, G. M. Goshgarian. Situating Yessayan in the context of larger issues affecting Turkish society and drawing on her research expertise in literature, history, and law, Kebranian’s insightful introduction shows how these stories of social justice are as resonant today as they were a century ago.
Addressing the broader resonance of this volume, Dr. Christine Philliou, Professor of History at the University of California, Berkeley stated, “Three beautiful stories written by a remarkable person that happened to have been a woman and an Armenian in the early twentieth century. Zabel Yessayan—in her life and work—signified a triumph of humanism and empathy over the violence of ethnic divisions, persecution, and genocide that prevailed in her time. And her stories, lovingly translated here by G. M. Goshgarian, and edited by Nanor Kebranian and Barlow Der Mugrdechian, remain a fascinating ray of light and redemption for all the suffering she endured.”
Dr. Valentina Calzolari, President of the International Association of Armenian Studies, added, “This book is a precious gift. We are deeply indebted to G. M. Goshgarian for this elegant and beautiful translation, and to Nanor Kebranian for the selection of these texts.
Kebranian’s incisive intro-duction stresses one of the main concerns of these three short stories: the senselessness of ethno-confessional hatred.”
The Armenian Series at California State University, Fresno was established through the generous support of the M. Victoria Karagozian Kazan and Henry S. Khanzadian Kazan Endowment.
Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian is the general editor of the series.
Captive Nights From the Bosphorus to Gallipoli with Zabel Yessayan is available through Abril Books: http://www.abrilbooks.com/captive-nights-from-the-bosphorus-to-gallipoli-with-zabel-yessayan.html or through the NAASR bookstore at https://naasr.org/products/captive-nights-from-the-bosphorus-to-gallipoli-with-zabel-yessayan.8
December 2021
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aghakyan, From Page 6
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Armenian Studies Program
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http://www.keyboardconcerts.com/
As individuals, it is important to do what we can to preserve Armenian culture as a whole.
“The easiest thing to do is to expect the state and international organizations to address these concerns but it is important to come back to the question of what individuals and communities can do,” stated Maghakyan. “It is so easy to sit back and criticize… instead, proactively do something to help protect the monuments.” What will you do?
A
ndrew Hagopian
E
ditor
The Armenian Students Organization (ASO) has been very active during the 2021 Fall semester at Fresno State. ASO members gathered for a bowling night on Friday, October 22, held at Bowlero Bowling Alley with over 35 members in attendance. The ASO also organized a Thanksgiving “Friendsgiving” Fellowship night which brought together 40 Armenian students.
Members had a potluck style meal, enjoyed each other’s company, danced, and played games.
The Armenian Students Organization enjoyed an evening of bowling on Friday, October 22.