APPRECIATION OF NATIONAL HEROES EMERGES AS DAILY NECESSITY
By Karine Mangassarian
Yerkir.am
June 02, 2006
The presentation of historian Ashot Nersissian’s book titled “Living
Heroes” was held at ARF on May 30. The book tells about the lives
and activities of outstanding Armenian leaders of the First Republic
period Avetik Sahakian, Karo Sasuni and Zoravar (Commander) Sepuh.
The prominent Iranian-Armenian author Hovsep Hovhannissian’s book
“Memoirs” was also presented at this event. Ashot Nersissian has
also published two monographs titled “Djokhq Hrayr” (Hell Hrayr) and
“Ruben”.
ARF representatives, professors from YSU’s department of history and
Diaspora Armenian attended the presentation. Artashes Shahbazian,
ARF, stressed the importance of the publication since in the fifteen
years after the independence there is a lack of national literature
and historiography. The generation that wants to learn about its
national political identity needs such works.
ARF Bureau Representative Board Hrant Margarian notes in his speech
that even though the books are not ARF’s publications ARF appreciates
and values such initiatives that tell about outstanding people of
our history that are not known to our nation.
“These books are important because they tell about historic realities
not known to our people before. They are important for another
reason: in our materialized life when material values are preached
everywhere and when the value system in the whole state system has
been distorted our generations are shaped with no national value
systems. It is foreign states that shape our young generation’s
outlook and we seem to have surrendered to this situation. In this
context, the publication of this book is crucial for the upbringing
of generations,” Margarian stated.
Margarian assured the national leaders of those times can serve as
an example for today’s leaders and young people. Head of the history
chair at YSU Babken Harutyunian noted that today it is necessary to
remind our young people about our history every second.
“Not a single nation can make its future without properly examining
its past. The First Republic of Armenia gave us a number of dedicated
national leaders who were ready to sacrifice their lives to sustain
our first state,” Harutyunian noted.
Harutyunian believes that even though these people are not recognized
internationally they were very important for Armenia and their
example can help to bring up the coming generations with the spirit
of patriotism to make them citizens that would be ready to struggle
for our small piece of land.
Commenting on the books, Harutyunian noted that the authors
had succeeded in presenting the material in an easily readable
manner. Historian Norayr Pahlavuni noted that several books telling
about the heroes of the First Republic have been published since
independence.
“However, publication of these books would not have importance if they
were to stay on our bookshelves and our generations were not exposed
to them,” Pahlavuni noted. He suggested that these books should be
included into the university curricula and be distributed not only
in Yerevan but also in the regions.
Hrach Abrahamian, a descendant of one of our national heroes
participated in the whole process of publication of the books. In
his speech he stressed the importance of appreciation of the lives
and activities of these heroes who are not known to our people but
have proved with their lives the dedication to their nation and
the motherland.
“I have chosen prominent leaders: Avetik Sahakian (Father Abraham)
who was the speaker of the Parliament of the First Republic, Karo
Sasuni who was a member of ARF’s Armenia Board and the organizer of
the February uprising, and Zoravar Sepuh whose life had one guideline –
do not rely on foreigners, but rely only on your own hopes.
Guided by this principle they built the First Republic and we can still
learn lessons from this experience,” Ashot Nersissian said noting
that the history of activities of national leaders was covered with
the dust during the Soviet period. The books published today will
help to remove this dust from the pages of our history.
The author of the book thanked all those who had supported the
publication especially the descendants of his heroes who had assisted
wit the publication of the book. Karo Sasuni’s son Babken Sasuni,
Father Abraham’s grandson Armen Sahakian, Levon Palian and Avetik
Sahakian’s granddaughter Madlen Minassian assisted the author with
the publication. Ashot Nersissian informed those present at the
event that he will continue the series of publications titled ”
The Living Heroes”.