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For more than a decade, the Institute of Armenian Studies of Hamazkayin has operated in Aleppo, where young Armenians are trained to acquire knowledge and skills in Armenian studies. They will become the educators of future generations with their knowledge of Armenian language and literature and will fulfill the need of teachers on Armenian subjects in Armenian in various cities and towns across Syria.
Therefore, it is obvious why the Institute is financially and morally supported by the Armenian community in Aleppo, such as the Kalousd Gulbengian Foundation, the Armenian Red Cross in Syria, and the committees of the Armenian Apostolic Churches. As such, it has become an institute of great importance.
Besides having proficient lecturers from Aleppo, the Institute of Armenian Studies of Hamazkayin invites guest lecturers from Armenia and various diaspora communities, like young French-Armenian Dikran Yegavian. Yegavian has specialized in politics, is a reporter for Lebanon’s Aztag Daily, and is a member of the editorial staff of the “France Arme’nie” published in France. He discussed the topic “The French-Armenian press” with the students at the Institute.
The lecture, sponsored by the Regional Committee of Hamazkayin, was held Tuesday, December 29, 2009, at 6:00 PM at the Institute of Armenian Studies. Members of Hamazkayin, as well as students, lecturers and Institute staff attended the lecture.
Following an introduction, the discussion became an opportunity for the students to reflect upon press and the Armenian press, in particular, whose mission is to provide information, as well as to develop and spread knowledge and culture.
The lecturer said that the diasporan-Armenian press has played an important role in the cultural life of the Armenian diaspora and has been the sole means to exchange news between the homeland and the diaspora. It is also crucial for exchanging news about corresponding cultural, literary, and youth activities.
The young lecturer presented a panorama of the French-Armenian press in a very pleasant style through the use of a slide show. He spoke about the daily newspapers that were part the early phase of its development, and the role they played. He paid special attention to Harach, the first Armenian daily paper to be published in Europe, and to its mission, which was devoted to the protection of the interests of the French-Armenian community and of the Armenian people. This is something worthy of respect. This paper gave new breath to Western Armenians and echoed its life on the foreign shores.
Afterward, the lecturer also spoke about the gradual isolation of Harach, the reasons of which were the rejection of
modernization, the lack of inheritors, as well as not having prepared a successor generation. Mr. Yegavian also said that the New Harach has nothing in common with the one founded by Misakian, the Harach which for decades preached the importance of everything Armenian and prepared a culturally and politicaly aware generation.
Afterwards, Mr. Yegavian discussed each of the other French-Armenian papers and periodicals, the Armenian denominational press published in France, as well as the Armenian-oriented press. He spoke about the conditions in which each of them developed, their directions, and the role they have played.
Besides Harach, the guest speaker also focused on France Arménie, and said the paper has undergone major modifications since 1982. He also spoke about the struggle for the pan-Armenian press, for transnationalism, and its contribution to the development of diasporan awareness.
With his lecture, the students of the Institute of Armenian Studies were convinced that the press has played an important role in the international and national reality and has shed lights on events, thus becoming a mirror of our society.
Mr. Yegavian also pinned down the sad reality of the loss of quality and the weakening of the French-Armenian press, noting the lack of intellectual writers and analytical columns as the reason. He said that maintaining a paper going in the diaspora is bravery. A press should also become a cooperative initiative so as to enlarge its subscriber and reader base.
It was with great pleasure that the students followed Mr. Yegavian’s lecture with a discussion. The chosen topic, “The French-Armenian press” was indeed a very interesting one, especially given the fact that out of 40 diasporan press publications, eighteen have been published in Paris.
Toward the end of the lecture, the lecturers and students of the Institute asked questions, and the young guest lecturer answered them with pleasure.
We wish Mr. Yegavian new triumphs and we hope there will be another meeting with him at the Institute of Armenian Studies.
Ani Chalian
Alumnus of Institute of Armenian Studies
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