On September 11, two books were presented at the hall of the Tekeyan Centre Foundation in Yerevan. Ashkhen Harutyunyan’s story “Kshatoghb” is about Shushi and is written in the Artsakh dialect. Lilit Mkrtchyan’s collection of stories “Karhangist” is about Gyumri and is written in the Gyumri dialect.

The publication of the two books was made possible with the sponsorship of London-based benefactor and Tekeyan Centre Foundation trustee Bagrat Nazaryan and the Tekeyan Centre Foundation. The presentation was attended by Ruben Mirzakhanyan, President of the Tekeyan Cultural Association, the authors of the books, writers, literary critics, cultural figures, people from Artsakh and Gyumri, and other guests.

Armen Tsulikyan, Director of the Tekeyan Centre Foundation, welcomed those present. He said that the books about the two Armenian cities describe our geography, our history, our traditions, and their inhabitants. In addition to their content, he emphasized the importance of the fact that they are written in dialects. He said: “We will set an example so that others will also contribute to the creation of more literary works in our dialects and in Western Armenian.”

Literary critic and artist Levon Lachikyan, a native of Gyumri, highlighted in his speech the fact that the two Armenian cities, Gyumri and Shushi, are very similar in terms of cultural development. Both cities have long had theatres, newspapers have been published there, cultural figures have been born there, music has been composed, and crafts have developed. And today, the books being presented are about these same cities, with one author from Shushi and the other from Gyumri.

“These two cities are also similar in terms of tragedy. On the night of March 19–20, 1920, the massacre of the Armenian population of Shushi took place. Sixteen years later came the Leninakan earthquake—the tremor…” L. Lachikyan added.

Speaking about the book “Karhangist,” he noted that its characters are the people of Gyumri, with their distinctive humor and local character. “The way of life of a person from Gyumri is simple: they know how to laugh through pain, joke alongside loss, and preserve their dignity even in the most difficult moments,” he noted.

Lusine Gharakhanyan, former Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Artsakh and currently Director of the Hovhannes Tumanyan Museum in Yerevan, speaking about A. Harutyunyan’s book “Kshatoghb” and its main character, Amosik, noted that Amosik is a true native of Artsakh. “The Artsakh dialect has made the content and authenticity of the book very moving and very familiar,” L. Gharakhanyan said.

“Today, attempts are being made to bury everything we had in the land of Artsakh—our memories—beneath a wave of oblivion. Under this wave of oblivion, our tragedy seems somehow outdated, especially to foreigners. And the birth of Armine Harutyunyan’s book ‘Kshatoghb’ is a restoration of memory, a resistance to that wave of oblivion,” poet, prose writer, and Director of the Artsakh Office of the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society Hermine Avagyan said in her remarks.

Bagrat Nazaryan, who sponsored the publication of the books, also emphasized the importance of the fact that they were written in dialects, which further inspired him.

A. Harutyunyan said that she also has other works, mainly about the war, written in literary Armenian. “I was very happy when Mr. Nazaryan suggested publishing this book because it is written in the Artsakh dialect and has a specific target audience. I know that many people may not understand what is written in the dialect, and this means that something is still not right among us and something needs to change. I hope the time will come when we will understand all of our dialects,” the author continued.

After the presentation, the authors gave signed copies of their books to those present, including Gurgen Melikyan, Executive Director of the “Gurgen Melikyan Foundation for Large Families of Kashatagh” (GMFLFK), who has provided extensive support to the people of Artsakh over the years and continues to do so today. It should be noted that Bagrat Nazaryan is also a member of the Board of Trustees of GMFLFK.

Alongside the book presentation, an exhibition-sale of handicrafts and paintings by students and staff of the Hadrut Children and Youth Creative Centre was opened in the exhibition hall of the Tekeyan Centre. Ira Tamrazyan, Director of the Centre, presented the exhibited works and spoke about their activities. A reception was also held at the end.