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The Hamazkayin Armenian Cultural Association honored Armenian intellectual, prose writer, translator, playwright, and cultural and social activist Ruben Hovsepyan on the occasion of his 70th birthday, on December 1, 2009, at 8:30 PM, at the K. and H. Armenian hall of the Levon Shant Cultural Center of Hamazkayin. Representatives of community institutions, artists, members of Hamazkayin and a large audience attended the event.
Tsoler Manisajian welcomed the audience on behalf of the Central Committee of Hamazkayin. She said the event honors Ruben Hovsepyan’s prosperous and productive 70-year-long journey. Mrs. Manisajian said that besides his literary activities, Mr. Hovsepyan has contributed to Armenia’s cultural, political, and social life. Presenting Mr. Hovsepyan’s brief biography, Mrs. Manisajian highlighted that in 2009 Ruben Hovsepyan was awarded with the Movses Khorenatsi Medal.
The first keynote speaker was Keghani Etiemezian, which presented the topic “Ruben Hovsepyan: the man and the writer.” Miss Etiemezian said that the “Literature of Ruben Hovsepyan begins at the sandy dunes of Turkmenistan, where he worked as a geologist, and then it is his ’street,’ his ’little Armenia,’ where the remnants of family trees live the agony of being enrooted and of surviving, having lost their belongings and their dear ones.” Mr. Etimezian said one of the main qualities of Mr. Hovsepyan’s literature is that he engages people in his hunt, which is self-contained and at the same time does not limit the reader’s freedom. Mr. Etiemezian said the author personifies words, natural elements, and human beings, who he characterizes as living creatures from unknown eras searching for their dignity in the world. The lecturer also said Mr. Hovsepyan is far from being a passive person and laments are not heard from his heart.
Afterward, Nareh Aghasarkissian took the stage and played the “Bar” by Aram Khachatouryan on the piano. Irma Dedeian read excerpts from Mr. Hovsepyan’s novel, “Under the apricot trees.”.
The second lecturer, Shahan Kandaharian, the editor-in-chief of “Aztag Daily,” presented the topic “Ruben Hovsepyan, member of Armenian Revolutionary Federation.” He said Mr. Hovsepyan had signed under the very first declaration revealing the organizational institution of ARF in Armenia, at a time when the youth were interested in finding out who were the first members of ARF who had formed the Armenian institution of Tashnagtsoutioun far from any spotlights. Mr. Kandaharian said Mr. Hovsepyan played a very important role in overcoming the challenges Tashnagtsoutioun faced in the motherland and led the party in the time of the greatest hostility against Tashnagtsoutioun.
Mr. Kandaharian concluded his words by stressing that in the days of today’s crisis, societies are looking for those who show the right path, who are reliable and credible, attached to their tasks, principles, and values, and are righteous. Mr. Kandaharian said that today people are looking for this sort to direct the various spheres of the Armenian life.
In the second part of the program, Nayree Ghazarian performed Bach’s “The Suit” on the cello. After the performance, Mr. Hovsepyan was decorated with the honor of Hamazkayin.
On this occasion, Mgrdich Mgrdichian, the chairperson of the Central Committee of Hamazkayin honored Mr. Hovsepyan with the medal of Hamazkayin. Mr. Mgrdichian said that the bestowing this medal is simply a symbolic gesture, the metallic expression of appreciating Mr. Hovsepyan’s great contributions to Armenian culture.
Mr. Hovsepyan thanked the organizers for the event. He said the step taken by each and every Armenian should not be an end in itself, but rather should have a positive impact on the whole nation, since today Armenians are living through hard times.
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