NEW YORK (A.W.)—A reception and program to launch the Hairenik Association’s new publication Voices From the Past: Excerpts from the Writings of Armenian Revolutionaries was held in New York on April 28.
Gregorian speaking at the event
Held at the home of Virginia Davies and Willard Taylor, the event featured President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York Dr. Vartan Gregorian, who spoke about “Simon Vratsian: His Life and Legacy.”
ARF Eastern Region Central Committee chair Richard Sarajian delivered opening remarks, welcoming those in attendance and noting how the Hairenik started as a daily, eventually became a weekly publication, and now it has returned to its roots—essentially becoming a daily online alongside its print publications. He also highlighted the fact that the Weekly/Hairenik have embraced technology through their websites, Facebook and Twitter pages, iPhone, iPad and Android apps, and eBooks.
Sarajian then introduced Dr. Gregorian noting his many contributions to the Armenian nation through the years. He mentioned Dr. Gregorian’s involvement in a Hairenik Committee in the 80′s to acquire equipment to help modernize the paper.
Gregorian spoke of his experience as a writer for the Alik newspaper, his arrival in Beirut, his initial encounters with Levon Shant, and how he met Simon Vratsian. He then explained in detail how their relationship evolved, and how with Vratsian’s diminishing health Vartan became his eyes and ears.
Gregorian spoke of the quality of the education he received while at the Jemaran in Beirut, and his experiences going back to his home in Iran with Simon Vratsian.
After a light Q & A, Virginia presented a handsome book on Karabagh as a gift to Dr. Gregorian. As it turned out, the book was written by an Italian photojournalist, who included a poem by Antonia Arslan in the preface. As Antonia just happened to be present, she took the opportunity to recite her own poem, which Herand Markarian then read in Armenian translation.
A scene from the reception
Around 50 community members attended the event.
The Hairenik Association will be doing holding events in other communities throughout the year as it celebrates the anniversaries of the Hairenik and Armenian weeklies.
Voices from the Past, edited and translated by Vahe Habeshian, is the second publication by the Hairenik Association this year. Earlier this year, the Hairenik republished Arshavir Shiragian’s The Legacy: Memoirs of an Armenian Patriot as an e-Book.
To purchase Voices from the Past on Amazon, click here. To purchase The Legacy, click here.
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