WESTERN PRELACY HOSTS BOOK PRESENTATION OF PROFESSOR HARUT BARSAMIAN’S ‘RESURRECTION WITH CANE AND SHOE’
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May 8th, 2009
LA CRESCENTA-Under the auspices of Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, on the afternoon of Sunday, May 3, the presentation
of Prof. Harut Barsamian’s memoirs "Resurrection with Cane and Shoe"
took place at the Prelacy "Dikran and Zarouhie Der Ghazarian" Hall. The
event was organized by the Western Prelacy Outreach Committee.
The program began with opening remarks by Chairman of the Outreach
Committee Herair Jermakian, who gave a brief explanation on
the objective of the Outreach Committee and the types of events
it organizes throughout the year to foster the mission of the
Prelacy. Jermakian then invited Executive Council Chairman and Master
of Ceremonies Dr. Garo Agopian to the podium.
Dr. Agopian gave an overview of the momentous phases in
Prof. Barsamian’s life, the details of which are recorded in the book,
then invited the first speaker, renowned engineer and Professor Mihran
Agbabian to present the book in Armenian.
In presenting the book, Professor Agbabian spoke of Prof. Barsamian’s
life from his birth in Aleppo, to his move to Beirut, to the family’s
repatriation to Soviet Armenia where the author and his family
experienced overwhelming challenges under the oppressive regime, and
his eventual settlement in America where he underwent a "resurrection",
becoming a sought after academician and professor of Engineering and
Computer Science. Professor Agbabian noted that despite his struggles
and disillusionment while living in Soviet Armenia, Prof. Barsamian
remained and remains to this day a true patriot and continues to
offer his assistance and contributes to the progress and prosperity
of Armenia. He concluded by thanking the author for allowing readers
a glimpse into his extraordinary life and experiences.
Dr. Agopian invited the next speaker, prominent aerospace engineer
Dickran Barsam, to offer his remarks in English. Barsam outlined
the hardship and misfortune the family experienced as repatriates in
Soviet Armenia, including the author’s father’s exile and later the
author’s exile to Siberia, noting the author’s optimism and jovial
disposition amid that adversity and his eventual triumph and rebirth.
The program also featured musical presentations by sisters Armine
Nerkararyan (violin) and Kenarik Nerkararyan (vocals), accompanied
on the piano by Anna Vorovich.
Mary Terzian and Sarkis Mahserejian were subsequently invited to the
podium to offer their comments on the book.
The program closed with the Prelate’s remarks and benediction. The
Prelate acclaimed the author for his unwavering faith, optimism,
and perseverance in rising above his physical disability and the
unbelievable challenges he faced throughout his life to achieve his
dreams and reach great heights. The Prelate further noted that through
it all, the family retained their love of their homeland and Armenian
heritage. In addition, the Prelate highly commended Prof. Barsamian
for his devotion to the welfare of future generations of Armenian
students as evidenced by his establishing the "Harut Barsamian Disabled
Armenian Students Scholarship Fund."
The program concluded with the Prelate’s benediction, after which
the author met with the guests and autographed copies of his book.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress