Although, the diaspora writer Hagop Garabents mostly lived in the United States of America, his inner world combined three different continents - his birthplace Tabriz, Armenia, which he was proud of, and, which inspired his soul and mind in creating literery works, and of course, the United States, which provided his future education and wide recognition.
Unfortunately, the writer's creations were not available to his native reader. The truth is that in his works, which often are within the Tabriz-US-Armenia triangle, he seeks for himself and for a native appropriate society accepting his thoughts and ideas as its own. In fact, the event dedicated to Hagop Garabents writer showed that there really exists such a society in the Diaspora interested in the writer's literary creations reflecting his deep and sensitive soul.
The event organized by the Literary Committee of Hamazkayin Gladzor Chapter took place on 20 January 2017, at the Hamazkayin Theater. It began with screening a DVD telling the writer’s life and work in detail. Garabents delivered a speech in the video and expressed his fury and protest coming from the depth of his heart.Those were feelings, which by his own testimony, had served as a basis for his creations.
His anger toward injustice of life, and not only Armenian life but universal, is expressed in his literature. There Garabents clearly expresses his thoughts about the importance of conscious patriotism, Armenian culture, land and language.
Chair of Gladzor Chapter, Tamar Donabedian Kuzuian delivered the opening speech of the event saying that for the book lover community of Toronto the gathering was not the first of its kind, but was a long awaited opportunity to remember once again the writer's service, his previous visit to Toronto, and his meetings with the Toronto Armenian Community.
Mrs. Tamar Donabedian Kuzuian briefly presented the writer's life and work. She said that the organized event was a good opportunity to show respect to the writer and appreciate his literary work.
The guests enjoyed the sophisticated artistic program, which included very beautiful performances. First, soloist Melania Shamahian performed the piece Mother, accompanied by the Hamazkayin Armenian Stars Choir and pianist Vanik Hovhannisian. Then, Hayk Harutyunyan read an excerpt from A Man and a Country by Hagop Garabents, and pianist Narek Garamartian performed Karoun a by Gomidas.
Hamazkayin's Kousan Choir member, soloist, Silva Khachikian professionally performed the song Don't Cry Anymore, accompanied by pianist Vanik Hovhannisian.
After an introduction, the event conductor presented the keynote speaker, Dr. of International Law and Diplomacy, Armenian Review's editorial staff member, Zorian Institution's administrative staff member, translator, editor, Dr. Ara Ghazariants that has closely studied the writer's literary creations, his emotional outbursts, the issues, about which the author was concerned, including his thoughts about Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora.
The honorable speaker expressed his gratitude to Hamazkayin for initiating the event 23 years after the writer's death, and for providing an opportunity to speak about such a great writer like Garabents.
After presenting the life and activities of Garabents, Dr. Ara Ghazariants pointed to the fact that Garabents opened a new page in the history of modern Armenian literature through his creations, and occupied his unique and deserved place as an interpreter of the genereations' emotions, dreams and concerns in the Diaspora. In his analytical approach, the speaker noted, "Garabents, in his elegant artistic style, successfully linked the Armenian and the universal together, always staying faithful to the Armenian unique virtues. No one can match him in making deep psychological analysis, especially concerning the Armenian's unique inner world. In his descriptions, the language and style innovations, through which he equally speaks about both the native Armenian life and that of the diaspora, are noteworthy."
Speaking about his personal acquaintance with the writer, Dr. Ghazariants said, "I became acquainted with Garabents, and it lasted a short period, just for a while. Nevertheless, he stayed in my heart for ever." Then, he mentioned that the roots of Garabents were from Artsakh, and he had strong faith and belief toward the new history of Artsakh. Dr. Ghazariants added that Garabents was optimistic and believed that "After the outburst of Artsakh, there is no way back to the past, as the lava of igneous volcano can’t turn his way back."
At the end of his speech, honorable speaker once again stressed that the writer’s pen taken the path of struggle, has moved to eternity in bold steps.
Toward the end of the event, the chapter chairperson expressed gratefulness to Dr. Ghazariants and presented him as a gift the Through the Lens of my Inner World book of photos taken by the writer’s friend and Hamazkayin member Galust Papian called.
At the end of the program, Antoinette Manoukian performed the musical piece Prelude h-moll on the piano. Afterwards, the Literary Committee member Varag Papian read the piece My Son, the Sun and the Sea from the book of Garabents A Man and a Country.
Hagop Garabents dedicated his entire life to the idea One Nation, One Homeland and strove for it.
Betty Panossian