KHACHATUR ABOVYAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

A reminiscence matinée dedicated to the 90th anniversary of Professor Karlen Mirzakhanyan, Honored Worker of Culture of the Armenian SSR, Candidate of Historical Sciences,

 Founding Dean of the Faculty of Culture of Armenian State Pedagogical University (ASPU), a prominent cultural figure, was held at the Faculty of Culture on October 18. 

 

“A Knight of Culture” – the professor’s colleagues and graduates of different years characterized Mr Mirzakhanyan with these words, once again evaluating the activity of the cultural figure at the educational center founded by him. 

 

“Hearing this name a warm smile full of joy and sorrow will appear on the faces of his acquaintances. Many have led a life full of noisy and boisterous events, but few have remained in the hearts and memories of people after their death,” Armen Amiryan, Executive Director of Public Radio of Armenia, an ASPU graduate, said in his opening speech. 

 

“Courteous and sociable…” Another characterization given by Vladimir Barkhudaryan, a friend of Karlen Mirzakhanyan, an academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia.  Mr Barkhudaryan still wonders how a historian could feel and understand the role of culture in a university the mission of which is to prepare pedagogues. 

 

Souren Hasmikyan, Professor at the Chair of Direction, and Lavrenti Barseghyan, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Head of the Chair of Museology and Protection of Monuments, also shared their memories about Karlen Mirzakhanyan.  

 

They were unanimous that the Professor was able to gather around him those cultural figures who managed to raise an ‘unprecedented wave of creativity’ among students with the flame of their hearts and enthusiasm. 

 

“He was extremely disciplined and demanding and always demonstrated his paternal care,” said the graduates of the Faculty recalling Mr Mirzakhanyan’s words that ‘an artist is not a status but an earned title which is gained through assiduous work and estimated by the results.’ 

 

“I do not know what turn my life would take if Karlen Mirzakhanyan did not invite me to work at the University after graduating the Faculty of Culture.  I ascribe all my success in life to Mr Mirzakhanyan whose name is already written in golden letters in the history of the Faculty,” said Karen Gevorgyan, Head of the Chair of Choreography Pedagogy, Honoured Worker of Culture of the Republic of Armenia. 

 

The name of the great Professor is equally important for Ara Gevorgyan, Head of the Chair of Music, RA Honoured Art Worker. When sharing with the audience his memories about

 Karlen Mirzakhanyan, Mr Gevorgyan described him as a strict educator and, at the same time, a caring and cheerful person.

 

“The Faculty of Culture was like a family for Karlen Mirzakhanyan, and the students and lecturers were his family members,” said Professor Gevorg Tadevosyan, Dean of the Faculty of Culture, RA Honoured Art Worker. He promised to maintain and hand down to next generations all traditions started by Mr Mrzakhanyan. 

 

During the commemorative event dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the great cultural figure, the presentees watched a film devoted to the life and activities of Karlen Mirzakhanyan.

 

The matinée was also attended by Karlen Mirzakhanyan’s son Rouben Mirzakhanyan, Rector of Armenian State Pedagogical University, his family members, relatives, friends and University graduates.