Hye Sharzhoom Armenian Action
Photo: ASP Archive
Staff Report
The Tekeyan Cultural Association Metro Los Angeles Chapter marked the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Tekeyan Cultural Association with a book launch and cultural event on Friday, March 11. The Tekeyan Cultural Association was officially established on March 10, 1947, in Beirut, Lebanon.
Master of Ceremonies Mihran Toumajan introduced the special guests in attendance including Glendale Councilmember Ardashes Kassakhian, who made congratulatory remarks on the anniversary; Edmond Y. Azadian, president of the Tekeyan Cultural Association (TCA) of the United States and Canada; and Aram Arkun, Executive Director of the Tekeyan Cultural Association of the United States and Canada and managing editor of the Armenian Mirror-Spectator.
Among the guests were relatives of the TCA founders: Haygashen Ouzounian’s daughter Ani Ouzounian; founder Zaven Gostanian’s son Bared Gostanian; and founder Sarkis Menak’s nephews Dr. Zaven Arslanian and Haig Arslanian.
Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Berberian Director of the Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State gave an overview of the life and achievement of Vahan Tekeyan.
“Tekeyan was a significant figure in Armenian literature having experienced the significant events in the life of his people,” said Prof. Der Mugrdechian. “He was uniquely positioned to be an eyewitness and participant in the major events of his time, as he lived in Constantinople, traveled to Armenia, lived in Europe, and finally settled in Cairo.”
Der Mugrdechian then presented the book Vahan Tekeyan: Selected Poems, which was published as part of the Armenian Series of The Press at California State University, Fresno. Translated by John Papasian and Gerald Papasian and co-edited by Edmond Y. Azadian and Gerald Papasian, Vahan Tekeyan: Selected Poems is comprised of twenty-three of Tekeyan’s poems, in Armenian and English. The poems in the book are organized by themes such as “Love,” “Songs of Armenia,” and “Universal.”
Nora Ipekian Azadian, the late wife of Edmond Azadian, and whose grandfather Mihran Damadian was a close friend of Tekeyan, added to the richness of this volume with her piece “Vahan Tekeyan as I Remember Him.” Alexis Halejian, grandniece of the late Armenian Mirror Spectator columnist Armine Dikijian, read excerpts from Ipekian Azadian’s piece.
Edmond Azadian, speaking in Armenian, gave an overview of his involvement in the publication of Vahan Tekeyan: Selected Poems. Azadian’s comments focused on the significant contribution that Tekeyan made to Armenian poetry and world poetry.
The cultural part of the program included a recitation of the poem “Poshee Azkuh” from Vahan Tekeyan: Selected Poems by Alique Artinian, a 12th grade student from the Armenian Mesrobian School student; a recitation of Tekeyan’s “Yegeghetzeen Haygagan” (The Armenian Church) by Khachig Nahabedian; and a recitation of the poem “Papak” from Vahan Tekeyan: Selected Poems by Alique Bardakian, a 6th grade student at the Hovsepian Armenian School.
Very Rev. Fr. Dajad Yardemian, representing the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church, gave concluding remarks and a benediction. All of the special guests were invited to bless the publication of Vahan Tekeyan: Selected Poems, by pouring wine on the volume.