It was one of the bright summer Sundays on July 29, 2012 at 2:30 PM. A group of book lovers flowed into the Haroutioun Manoogian Library of the Armenian Center, while an anthology of poems by Kevork Emin was recited through a video shown on a screen.
Megheti Mnatsaganian, a member of the Literature Committee, welcomed the attendees and after featuring briefly describing the book lovers’ club she presented Tamar Najarian. The latter is the representative of the Toronto Armenian youth who are the bearers of Armenian education. She has graduated from the everyday Armenian school of ARS and has received a higher education in psychology. She is also an active member of ARS, Armen Karo, the Canada Youth Association of ARF, as well as a newly joined member of Hamazkayin.
Najarian comprehensively featured the Armenian poet Kevork Emin (1918-1998.) Kevork Emin was born in Ashtarak, on September 30, 1918. He received his basic education in his hometown and then moved to Yerevan, where he studied at the Polytechnic Institute. To improve his innate talent and literary knowledge, he studied at the House of Armenian Art in Moscow, as well as followed higher courses in literature. He was enchanted by Charents. He contributed to and was editor for several literary magazines, as well as a lecturer of Armenian literature at the University of Moscow. He was a laureate of several literary prizes. He achieved fame through his poetry volumes; “Nork,” “Voronoumner” (“Quests,”) “Yergou Janabarh” (“Two roads,”) “Minchev aisor” (“Till today,”) “Ais Darikoum” (“In this age,”) “Ksanerort tar” (“Twentieth century,”) as well as a journalistic volume titled “Yot yerk hayasdani masin” (“Seven songs about Armenia.”) “There are plenty of warm feelings and emotions in the lines by Emin, but he is more renowned for his civil and patriotic topics, were he sings about being Armenian, the love of the fatherland and of human beings,” Najarian said. “Emin is a master of concluding a poem with powerful and emblematic descriptions. He has also done a great number of translations.”
Najarian chose poems that appeal to the heart of the listener and distributed copies to the audience. The poems included “Zarmanali hay” (“Incredible Armenian,”) “Badkam” (“Message,”) also known as “Speak carefully in Armenia,” “Anbadaskhan hartse” (“Question left unanswered,”) “Dkhour kef” (“Sad party,”) and the very well known “Menk” (“We.”) She read the poems with clear intonation and full of emotion. She also read “Der Zor,” which she said had impressed her from an earlier age; as well as very short, but eloquent poem titled “Microphone.”
A video film was presented and featured excerpts from “Sassountsineri bare” (“The dance of people of Sassoun,”) one of the more famous works by Emin. A discussion followed during which the audience spoke about the bold and natural writing style of Emin, the character of the Armenian people, his lines that penetrate into the depths of current situations, as well as Emin’s palpable and undeniable patriotism.
Towards the end of the meeting Megheti Mnatsaganian thanked Tamar Najarian for her carefully prepared presentation and gave her a volume comprising the best Armenian poems by Hamo Sahyan and Vahagn Davtyan. “This gathering helped me to deepen my study the poems by Kevork Emin that I have loved ever since I was a child,” Najarian said. “I encourage the Armenian youth to take part in these gatherings. Our writers have great work to share with us and it’s a pity if we happen to be ignorant of the rich world of Armenian literature,” she said.
The audience greatly appreciated the presentation.
Tamar Donabedian