ORHAN PAMUK’S NOVEL IN ARMENIA

Hurriyet
May 15 2009
Turkey

ISTANBUL – Nobel laureate Turkish author Orhan Pamuk is introduced to
his readers in Armenia. Pamuk’s first novel ‘Kar’ (Snow) has become
the first novel to be translated into Armenian in the history of
Armenian Republic.

The first and only Nobel laureate author of Turkish literature, Orhan
Pamuk, has been introduced to the people of Armenia via his novel
"Kar" (Snow), which was translated into Armenian by the Hamazgayin
(National) Education and Culture Association in Yerevan. It is the
first time in Armenian history that Turkish literature has been
translated into Armenian.

Daily Agos editor-in-chief Hrant Dink, who was fatally shot Jan. 19,
2007, came up with the idea of translating Pamuk’s novels, notably
"Kar," into Armenian a short time before his death.

"We are very pleased to bring together Armenian readers and the work
of a Nobel laureate author," said Hamazgayin Education and Culture
Association Chairwoman Lilit Kalstyan. She said intercommunal dialog
would develop with cultural exchange.

"Pamuk honestly for the first time gave a voice to the pains
experienced by Armenian society," she said and invited Pamuk to Armenia
through the Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review. "We will get in
touch with the publishing house within a short time. It will be our
pleasure to host such a great Turkish author in Armenia." Interpreter
Hagop Sogomanyan, whose book has been translated into Armenian from
Russian, said: "Nobody has depicted Turkey in such a nice and epic
language. The novel points out the dark sides of a snow white country."

First in the history of Armenian literature According to data provided
by the Yerevan State University’s Turkish Studies Department, the last
time literature was translated from Turkish to Armenian was during the
Soviet Union. The works of masters of Turkish literature YaÅ~_ar Kemal,
Aziz Nesin and Sabahattin Ali were translated into Armenian during
that time. Pamuk is the first author whose work has been translated
into Armenian since Armenia’s independence. The special interest in
Pamuk comes from his statement, "One million Armenians and 30,000
Kurds have been killed in Turkey," before receiving the Nobel Prize.

Yerevan State University Turkish Studies Department Chairman Professor
Alexander Safaryan said mutual translations in Turkish and Armenian
literature carried great importance for establishing dialog between
the publics. Safaryan said three years ago academic Murat Belge
and Osman Kavala, the founding partner of one of Turkey’s leading
publishing houses, Ä°letiÅ~_im Publishing House, decided to establish
a joint commission. "The commission was expected to translate works
in Turkish and Armenian literature but the idea could not be realized
because of financial problems."

Yerevan State University Philology expert Dr. Rupen Hovhannesi
Melkonyan, who is working on his first doctoral thesis about
Turkish literature, said: "The story of the novel takes place in
the southeastern city of Kars. Its theme is around Armenia and its
culture. That is why the book appeals to us. Also, it will be a
pleasure for us to read a Nobel laureate author in Armenian."

Ara Galoyan, a journalist at weekly Armenian 168 Jam (168 Hours)
newspaper, said he was very excited about the translation of
the book. "Pamuk bravely tells about the bitter experiences of
Armenians. It is very important to share our pain," he said.

About the novel

"Kar" (Snow) was published in Turkish in 2002 and in English in
2004. The story encapsulates many of modern Turkey’s political and
cultural tensions and successfully combines humor, social commentary,
mysticism and a deep sympathy with its characters. In the novel,
a poet named Ka returns to Turkey after a 12-year political exile in
Germany. A friend in Istanbul who works for a newspaper suggests that
he to go to Kars for an interview. Under heavy snowfall, Ka tries to
get to know Kars.