On March 3, the History Museum of Armenia hosted the launching of the two books of the 42nd volume of the Haigazian Armenological Review in its Honors’ Hall, in the presence of the Director of the Museum, Dr. David Boghossian, Haigazian University President Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian, representatives of various Armenian Studies centers in Yerevan, over 50 scholars of Armenian Studies, old and new contributors of the Review, friends and a number of book loving individuals.
Dr. Nejdeh Yeranian, deputy director of the Museum welcomed the public and noted that this was the first time the Museum was hosting such an event. Dr. Yeranian expressed his delight that a new sort of cooperation has started between Haigazian University and the Museum, and noted that the first steps of cooperation has been very productive and efficient as both parties has easily found common objectives. Dr. Yeranian expected this cooperation will develop and serve the field of Armenian Studies.
Mr. Hrazdan Tokmadjian, the renowned cultural figure and researcher in Armenian crafts and needle work spoke enthusiastically about his experience at Haigazian University, assessed the role the university played, underlined its place within Lebanon and the Diaspora and stressed that notwithstanding the difficult conditions of Lebanon the university is doing its utmost to serve the community and spread its academic, cultural and pedagogical harvest both to local Armenian and non-Armenian circles. Based on his observations at Haigazian, Tokmadjian noted that the university wisely and in full skills acted within the narrow Lebanese margin of no opportunities and a slight chance of possibilities. He highlighted that this smart policy was successful and bore good results which benefited Armenians all around. Tokmadjian came with the example of the Haigazian Armenological Review and noted that this launching event at the Armenian History Museum was an evidence that the university shared its successes with its environment.
Dr. Antranik Dakessian, the editor in chief of the Haigazian Armenological Review, briefed about the contents of the two books of the 42nd volume, specified the novelties these books had and shared his thoughts with the public in the context of expanding the definition of Armenian Studies from its conventional scope of classical philology. He noted that Armenian Studies should make a strategic shift from the track it followed prior to the proclamation of the Republic of Armenia in 1991. Dr. Dakessian raised critical concerns on the current track of the field, noted that there were vital areas that needed to be extensively researched, and that more interdisciplinary and comparative studies should be conducted based on theories in the diverse fields of humanities. He underlined the need for more research in current Armenian affairs related to various fields of sociology, psychology, politics, etc.
In his words, Dr. Boghossian expressed his joy for hosting this launching event and that he was delighted that an MOU of cooperation and collaboration was to be signed between the Museum and Haigazian University. Then he invited Rev. Dr. Haidostian who highlighted the fact that this launching event was being held at this prominent museum in a most central location. The role of publications, such as the HAR, was to bring to the forefront everything Armenian that needs to become public, accessible and contribute to further knowledge. He added that publications and museums while based on the past, both point to the future of a people.
The two books of the 42nd volume of the Haigazian Armenological Review include 67 research papers, analytical articles, briefings, unpublished materials, book reviews and some 30 obituaries. The contributors of the two books come from Argentina, Armenia, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, Greece, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, and the United States. The pdf version of the books and all the previous volumes of the Review can be accessed on the websites of the National Library of Armenia, the Library of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, as well as the Haigazian University.
The event was closed by the signing of the MOU between the two sides.