There is no culture without land. If the sun is a precondition for life, then the culture is a precondition for the nation's survival.
Avedis Aaronian
An exceptional Celebration of Honor, dedicated to Avedis Aharonian, a fighter for freedom, writer and politician, a great son of the Armenian people, was organized by the Literary Committee of the Regional Executive Board of Hamazkayin Australia, on Sunday, April 14, 2018, at 5.45pm, at Nalpantian Hall of the Hamazkayin Arshak and Sophie Golsten Djemaran.
The public’s punctuality was obvious. Reverend Father Norayr Patanian and his wife, distinguished guests, as well as admirers of Armenian culture and a compact group of book lovers were present at the event.
Before the welcome speech, a group of young boys and girls entered the stage and performed the great orator Avedis Aaronian’s speeches. It was a modest appeal addressed to his people, telling how he as a kneeling votary Armenian, with pure merit bemoaned for his Homeland and its liberty, how painful was for him the threat of white massacre, the tremor of the Armenian mothers, and those stubborn voices heard everywhere.
Lilik Kotoyan delivered the opening speech in the name of the Committee. She expressed her pride for the present generation, who participated in this special evening voluntarily and with enthusiasm. They expressed their love and appreciation towards literature with their native and clear pronunciation and diction. Their contribution was great, and it was the result of their great efforts. The speaker also praised the Literary Committee, its great work in promoting the Armenian literature in the Community and added, ″ it is the mother tongue that guarantees the beauty of the language." Then she referred to how Avedis Aharonian sowed the idea of freedom and patriotism.
Video films telling about Avedis Aharonyan, the creator of the Armenian Cause, his national activities, life, and his decisive speeches were screened.
The speaker of the day, Asadour Shougayan, presented Avedis Aharonyan's biography in details; spoke about the two largest Armenian symbols of Aharonyan's birthplace Surmalu region. They are the Arax River and Mount Ararat, which seemed to predetermine the worldview of the writer, political and public figure.
"Masis is my first teacher," Aharonyan said. In Aharonyan’s writings the idea of freedom was trumpeted and was closely connected with the magic of that mountain. His noble spirit stood against the injustice. His inner world was totally absorbed by striving for liberty and struggle, and his birthplace village was the only source for his creations, no matter what he wrote about.
Asadour Shougayan continued his speech saying that Aharonyan was a real diplomat. He remembered how a French diplomat statesman once had said about Aharonyan: "A nation that has Aharonyans cannot ever perish." Meanwhile, Zapel Yesayan compared him with Mount Ararat, and Daniel Varujan addressed to the birds saying "build your nest on Metekhi prison, there a great Armenian lives."
Politician Aharonyan was always in work in 1918. He, together with Khatisian and Boghos Nubar Pasha, knocked at every door in the interests of Armenians. "I would like the Free and Independent Homeland to become an old fairy tale for our future generations, because the pain of the Armenian people is eternal," said Aharonyan. He remained the singer of the Armenian People's pain.
Afterward, Sylvia Iskenderian, Lilik Kotoyan, Azniv Ingilizian and Marina Avakian delivered speeches on the following: "I swear an oath of loyalty to my Homeland", "Open the road, Barbarians, Armenia is coming ", "Glory and peace to the Martyred Nation’s offspring″ and finally ″Praising the beauty of Armenian Women".
The evening continued in a very gorgeous atmosphere. The audience enjoyed the music and dances. Amy Davitian and Anna Berberian performed Komitas's Apricot Tree, Mane Hakobyan's You, Armenian and R. Amirkhanian's Native Country songs, accompanied by pianist Hrant Boujikian. Kanon player Lusine Tovmasian performed Sayat Nova's Eshkhemet and Komitas's Horovel.
The program continued and Zaruhi Manoukian brilliantly read a short and a very impressive excerpt from Aharonyan’s Collection of Works My soul is an altar for you, where the author bowed to the martyred generation, and burned incense on the lost graves at the evening prayer time.
In the last part of the program, Mosig Injejikian performed the piece Respect to You dedicated to Avedis Aharonyan, the following quote of which impressed everybody: ″Hit when they chase you, hit when they block your glorious way, go on hitting even when the bloody, ferocious enemy kneels before you and pronounces Respect to you.″
At the end of the event, the Regional Executive Board Chair Viken Kalloghlian delivered a heartfelt speech confirming the key speaker’s the views, and then added that in 1926, Aharonian had been among Nobel peace prize nominees as a great intellectual and a great politician.
"There is no other nation in the world that is so closely tied to its land as much as the Armenians, I do not compare my nation with any other nation, and Armenians have no need to take their hats before any of them." (A. A)
The event ended with Reverend Father Norayr Patanian’s blessing and Preservation prayer, and the participants sang the song Sardarapat.
The guests left the hall in high spirit after the modest reception.
Good Job, Organizing Committee!
