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| Nar (in the middle) with friends in Armenia. |
At an event held at his school on November 19th to raise money for Armenia. He was, as it is customary with observant students, given the stage to say something about Armenia.
There is, unfortunately, not much room for discussions in Armenian school when it comes to the failings of Armenia, but on this day, he delivered what was his deep thoughts about the Armenia that he saw and experienced as a 17 year old. Here’s the speech:
Good evening.
I’m Nar Gulvartian, and this summer I spent five weeks working in Yerevan.
We are gathered here tonight to raise money for Armenia, and that’s a good cause. I know that Armenia needs us, and I am glad that we can reach out and help. But I also realize, from experience, how much we need a successful and inspiring Armenia for the purpose of our identity, and what we call azkabahbanoum.
Most of you know Yerevan for its scenic postcard attractions – occasional Soviet structures once delicately designed and arranged by the genius Alexander Tamanyan- Hanrabedoutian Hrabarag, the Opera, and Cascade, which is home to the statue of the charming Sev Gadou and the fat, naked Sbarabed.
But I know another Armenia. This summer, I discovered that "other" Armenia.
One day, off from work, I decided to take the subway. I had no idea where I was headed. I just thought I would hop on and hop off at the very last station, wherever that may take me.
In Yerevan getting lost is priceless. The statues of famous Armenians around the city make for graceful walks of peace and contemplation. You can literally feel the energy, the brain power, and the greatness of our people. Mikael Nalbandian’s statue happens to be my personal favorite. It has so much poise.
So, off the subway, journal notebook in hand, I ended up in a place called Garegin Nzhdeh Hrabarag. I emerged from the darkness of the subway into daylight, hoping to find more of the “pink” city.
What a shock!
There are places in Yerevan – yes, Yerevan, the city we know to be postcard perfect – that remind me of the slums of Mumbai, India- drab, dilapidated, ill-kept residential neighborhoods at the edge of city lines, not too far from the city center. People live there without hope, on the brink of society – cynicism brooding from their faces. As I walked the streets, I could occasionally hear at the tip of my ear: “Arra, inch es anoum es degh.”
I will never forget the face of the woman selling dried daisies in a dusty corner of a treeless street. The sun soaking her face, the heat wetting her hair. Her entire inventory probably added up to no more than $1 in value. That’s her living I thought… just a dollar a day. That’s her reality and sadly that is the "new" Armenia. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is another face of Armenia we must come to know and understand.
Armenia needs to change. I believe that we must change Armenia for the sake of the suffering majority: the woman selling daisies and all others like her.
I have no reservations about what I want: I want a better Armenia, one that is compassionate towards every Armenian on the face of this earth; an Armenia that invites and accommodates ideas, patriots, investors, professionals, innovators, and scholars.
I want my people to feel proud every time the name Hayasdan is mentioned.
Just think about it and remember... your “no” to corruption counts!
Well said, Son!
