On Saturday 30, August 2014, at 7 pm. the Literary Art Committee of the Regional Executive Board of Hamazkayin Australia organized an event dedicated to the105th birth anniversary of William Saroyan, one of the greatest writers in the world literature of the 20th century. It took place in the hall of St. Agnes Anglican Church at Right.
The Community charitable leader His Grace Bishop Haigazun Najarian sponsored the event. Among the attendees of the event were the representatives of community associations as well as a definite number of booklovers.
Pianist AlexSahagian opened the evening performing the anthems of Australia and Armenia.
Zaruhi Manoogian delivered the opening speech on behalf of the Committee welcoming the audience and introducing Saroyan’s main virtues as a writer.
The keyspeaker of the day was the intellectual well-known in the community Mary Nalbandianwho stated, " Despite the fact that William Saroyan wrote in English, as he was born and lived in the US Fresno City, he is one of the greatest writers of the Armenian literature. Saroyan approved the above said himself saying. - "Though I write in English, and I'm an American born writer, I consider myself an Armenian writer. The language I write is English, the environment I describe is American, but the spirit that drives me to write is Armenian. Consequently, I am an Armenian writer, and I belong to the family of Armenian writers". Being deeply convinced of it Saroyan never broke away the Armenian environment and always remained close to his blood call".
Mrs. Nalbandian continued her speech referring to the literary features of the writer where goodness, righteousness, compassion and love are on the first place. Through Saroyan’s works, the speaker concluded that the Armenian peoplespreading light and goodness everywhere should continue to survive and producea thoughtful, intelligent, patriotic and courageous young generation.
It was quite inspiring to see the participants of the program, the representatives of the younggeneration. Saro Garatanian and Michel Tarpinian sequentially presented articles by William Saroyan. Tamar Angeshian performed "Oh, Vatan Vatan". Violinist Garen Boymushakian played "Dle Yaman" accompanied by the pianist Varduhi Lepejian. Tamara Kotoyanrecited Vahan Derian’spoem "Do not Mix us with YourWild Tribes".
Lilik Kotoyan, on behalf of the Committee, spoke about the Armenian roots and the Armenian national spirit evidently expressed in the works of the writer. After her speech, the young artistscontinued the performance. Manoog Kotoyan with his clear diction presented Saroyan's story "The Beautiful Summer of the White Horse". Pianist Alex Sahagian played the wonderful pieces "Prelude" and "Vagharshapat Dance", while Saro Garatanian and Natalie Bastajian read Saroyan’s famous and popular speech about the Armenian nation, its endurance and longevity.
During the event two DVD’s were presented. One was telling about Saroyan’s life and the other titled "More Armenian than the Armenian" was dedicated to Armenians.
The evening reached its end, and Chairperson of the Regional Executive Board of Hamazkayin Asatur Shougaian made a short speech about the significance of the great Armenian writer in the world literature. Then he addressed his appreciation to the organizers of the event, to Jacob Angeshian for the light and soundarrangement,Tamar Angeshian and Tamar Nazarian for making the films and special thanks to all the participants of the program for their dedication.
This unique literary evening ended with the "Lord's Prayer" and the Holy Father's "Father's Message".
At the end, the attendees were served with coffee, tea, desserts, and after the enjoyable discussions, they left the hall spiritually satisfied.