This interview presents a unique portrait of the Kantaharians and is based on Sanan Kantaharian, the granddaughter of well-known cultural figure, intellectual Kevork Kantaharian and the daughter of Editor-in-Chief of Lebanon’s Aztag Armenian Daily Shahan Kantaharian.

It introduces a family, the “door” of which is opened by 22-year old Sanan, who has been living in Armenia for the past four years now and studies in the Dance Department of the Faculty of Culture at the Armenian State Pedagogical University after Khachatur Abovyan.

And so, the first face in the “portrait” is Sanan Kantaharian.

“Hayern Aysor”: Why were you named Sanan?

Sanan Kantaharian: My father named me and my brother Sanan and Alik. The name Sanan (Sana) is the name of the bride in Kostan Zaryan’s book “Bride of Tatragom” and is taken from the story of Ruben (Ter-Minasyan) entitled “Memories of the Armenian Revolutionary”. In the story of Tatragom, there is a bride named Sana, whose husband became a freedom fighter, while Sanan escaped with a Kurd…

You should probably ask my father why he named me “Sanan” (smiling-ed).

“Hayern Aysor”: Sanan, you had to live alone at the age of 18. Was it easy to adapt?

S. K.: The most difficult thing was separating from my family. I had been living with my parents, sister and my grandmother for 18 years. It’s hard to be lonely, but everyone in Armenia is Armenian, and that is an advantage for me. If I traveled to a foreign country, I would have faced more difficulties. Here I didn’t feel strange, and that’s the most important thing.

“Hayern Aysor”: Had you visited Armenia before moving to the country?

S. K.: My first visit to Armenia was with my parents in 1997. I was very young, but I remember everything very well. I remember there was no electricity, but despite the problems, I became very connected to Armenia. First of all, in school I had always been told about the Homeland, Armenia and patriotism…I felt all that when I first set foot on Armenian land.

I would like to tell you a story. My parents took me to a playpen, but I don’t remember how we found it. The only thing I remember is that all the toys were old and torn apart. There were toy trains. One wagon would work, but the other wouldn’t. Everything was black and white. But I remember that I was very impressed and spent hours playing there. I didn’t want to go home. I always remembered that playground.

When we came to Armenia in 2005, I was older and was with my sister. We started sightseeing and I got to know Armenia better.

In 2006, I joined my father and participated in the opening of the cultural hall dedicated to my grandfather Kevork Kantaharian at the school in Nor Ayntap village. I got very emotional and had a good time.

In 2010, I moved to Armenia.

“Hayern Aysor”: Sanan, when did you choose dance as a profession?

S. K.: I have been dancing since I was 6 years old. At first, I started dancing classical dances, after which I started dancing for the Hamazkayin’s “Gayane and Knar” Dance Group.

Years ago, the “Amberd” Dance Group of Armenia visited Lebanon and performed with my dance group. I got acquainted with the members. When I asked one of the female dancers what she was involved in, she told me she studies dance. Until then, I didn’t know one could receive a higher education in the field. I got very excited, but I was thinking of how I was going to tell my parents. When I told them what I had decided to do, they were a little reserved. The reason wasn’t because I was going to be travelling to Armenia or because I was going to study dance, but because they were wondering how an 18-year old girl would live alone. They were a little surprised, but I convinced them and came.

Now, I don’t regret making that decision at all. Throughout these past years, I learned a lot about Armenian dances and customs that were unfamiliar to me. Many Armenian youth of the Diaspora are also unfamiliar with those dances. I would like all Diaspora Armenians to know more about the possibilities in Armenia, as well as keep in touch with the homeland and communicate with their fellow Armenians. For example, the “Ari Tun” Program is a great program. The youth come to Armenia, go sightseeing and establish contacts with their peers. This helps them strengthen their bonds with Armenia.

“Hayern Aysor”: Sanan, it’s interesting to know what Armenian youth of the Diaspora lack. What do they need that they can only find in Armenia?

S. K.: First of all, Armenians in the Diaspora can feel that they are far from the homeland. I think every Diaspora Armenian must come and understand what it means to be in Armenia. If Diaspora Armenians feel it, they will get connected and will realize that they have to come and stay in Armenia. I don’t think we should be living abroad any longer. We have a homeland and we have to live in that homeland. Just like the French live in France and the Lebanese live in Lebanon, Armenians should live in Armenia. For that, there have to be opportunities and connections so that people come to Armenia, start their businesses, study and start families. They won’t feel the longing and will understand what the homeland means. In school we always learned about patriotism. Diaspora Armenians have to come and see for themselves so that they’ll understand what patriotism means and not just talk about it.

“Hayern Aysor”: Sanan, the homeland is the homeland, but one always has problems and faces difficulties in a new environment. What difficulties have you faced in Armenia?

S. K.: The first was the language barrier. In the beginning, I had a hard time understanding the people at the university. There were lecturers who told me that I didn’t know Armenian. I was very offended because I had been struggling to improve my Armenian for 18 years so that I could speak well. But I didn’t give up. I became fluent, and now, the locals ask me to speak in Armenian so they can understand and be happy.

I think Diaspora Armenians should study in Western Armenian at the universities, at least for the first two years until they become fluent in Eastern Armenian.

I also felt the difference between mindsets. I didn’t understand it. But I got used to this and started acting like them a little. My friends tried to understand my mindset, and now everything is fine.

The greatest difficulty is the longing. I still feel it.

“Hayern Aysor”: Do you have any plans to live and work in Armenia?

S. K.: I would love to start a family and work in Armenia. My greatest desire is to have my children grow up and receive an education in Armenia. I’ll try to do everything possible and start a family here. My plan is to come and live here, and I think everything will be great.

“Hayern Aysor”: Do your parents know about your plans?

S. K.: Of course. I’m convincing them to come and live here as well.

“Hayern Aysor”: Is it working out?

S. K.: I’m getting there (laughing-ed.)…

“Hayern Aysor”: Does your family have a tradition?

S. K.: We always gather to celebrate Armenian Christmas. A choir sings in front of our house in the evening. My tradition is to spend New Year’s Eve with my family. My friends go out, but I prefer to stay at home. This year there will be an exception since I have decided to spend New Year’s Eve with my fiancé in France. It will be the first New Year’s Eve far away from my family.

“Hayern Aysor”: So, you are engaged to a person with whom you will be spending the rest of your life. Could you tell us about that?

S. K.: We got engaged in Armenia on New Year’s Eve last year. His name is Aren. He’s French-Armenian, but moved to our school when he was in 9^th grade. The first day he came to our classroom, the teacher told him to grab a chair and sit down. He grabbed a chair and sat right next to me. We’ve been together for the past five years. We decided to get engaged on New Year’s Eve and bring our families to Armenia. It was my first New Year’s Eve in Armenia. It was very interesting. I didn’t know how Armenians spend New Year’s Eve in Armenia. Aren studies philosophy at the University of Sorbonne, and I’ll most likely be continuing my studies for a Master’s Degree in France next year.

“Hayern Aysor”: Does Aren know that you want to settle in Armenia?

S. K.: I’ll start convincing him. We’ll stay in France until we start a family. When we decide to start a family, we’ll move to Armenia.

Aren is very simple man like my father. They think alike, and this played a huge role in my decision.

“Hayern Aysor”: You said you have a sister. Tell us a little about her.

S. K.: Alik wants to follow in my parents’ footsteps, study politics and become a journalist. She’ll be graduating from school this year. I’ll convince her to come to Armenia as well, and I think she will.

 “Hayern Aysor”: Do you have different personalities?

S. K.: I’m calmer and more silent, while she’s more energetic and talkative. For instance, she would tell my parents everything that happened at school when we would come home from school.

But there is something that we have in common. We both love justice. She is my closest friend. I love her, and I’m certain that she loves me too.

I remember when Alik was born. I was four years old. I was very jealous at first because she was in the center of everyone’s attention. I wanted everyone to love me too, but that passed as I got older. I have never felt my parents love either of us more than the other. They have treated us equally and love us both the same. We’ve never felt the difference.

“Hayern Aysor”: Sanan, let’s talk about your family. The Kantaharians are known and respected not only abroad, but in Armenia as well. How would you describe the Kantaharians? What did you inherit?

S. K.: First of all, I must say that it’s very hard to stay Armenian in Beirut, and in the Diaspora, for that matter. My family has done everything possible for me to grow up in an Armenian environment and attend an Armenian school.

Whenever we would visit my grandfather (Kevork Kantaharian-ed.), we listened to stories in Armenian, songs in Armenian and were taken to Armenian theaters. My family has done everything possible to make sure that I grow up in an Armenian environment. My parents have tried to raise well-disciplined children. My sister, cousins and I have received a great education. The most important thing is the warm environment that we were in, and I remember it to this day. I not only miss Beirut, but my family as well. I remember my grandfather and grandmothers. I miss my parents, my home and our conversations a lot.

You know, I became connected to the homeland a long time ago thanks to my grandfather and my parents. I don’t mean to be immodest, but I’m very content and feel self-confident for taking the decision to move to Armenia and receive an education here. Unfortunately, my peers didn’t take that decision. I could have received a higher education in Beirut or any other country, but no place offered studies in my field. I think the years of my youth in Armenia can be considered the most important milestone for me, and for this, I am first and foremost thankful to my family.

The “pillar” of the portrait: Kevork Kantaharian…

“Hayern Aysor”: Sanan, Kevork Kantaharian is acknowledged as a respected and well-known intellectual of his time. It’s interesting to know how you remember him.

S. K.: I spent my whole childhood with him. I spent a lot of time with him. He would go crazy for me and vice versa, especially since I’m his first grandchild. I remember how he and my grandmother would wait for me from the balcony as soon as I approached their house. They would see me and call out ��?Sanan, Sanan!’ I was two years old, but I remember everything.

I remember how he would spin us around. Every Sunday morning, he would wake us up by singing church songs, and we would complain and ask him to let us sleep. But after a couple of minutes, we would get up and he would take us to church. Then, we would tour the city, and he would buy us gifts from the stores on the way. He never said “no” to anything. He understood children and adults alike.

Later, I realized that he had explained very serious things to us and had transmitted values to us in a very simple way.

I would really like for him to be with us now so that I could have more serious conversations with him and ask him for his opinion. I was 14 when he passed away. If he was alive, I’m certain that he would be happy to know that I’m in Armenia. I’m certain that he would be the first to support my decision to come here.

I remember that he would tell us to “read many books” and that books were his only wealth. If you visit his house, you’ll see about four bookshelves in every room. He said books were his wealth. Now, if you open any of those books, you’ll see either highlighted words or notes. Whenever we went to see him, he would always be reading. I can still hear him telling us to read books, be smart and developed.

I try to read a lot. True, I haven’t been able to read a lot throughout these past four years due to lack of time, but I’ll try to do what he told me to do.

And finally, Shahan Kantaharian…

“Hayern Aysor”: Sanan, you talked about your grandfather with great love. Now, let’s talk about your father, Shahan Kantaharian.

S. K.: My father is like my second grandfather. They have the same mindset and same personality. My father has played a huge role in my life. I’ve always wanted to hear his words of advice and I always ask for his opinion. My parents guide me. I always try to be like them and think like them. I always want to hear their opinions on what is right and what is wrong.

My father used to spend a lot of time with us when we were younger. We used to travel a lot. As I got older, he started working more and I missed him a lot. I would always write to my father and ask him to come home soon. But no matter how busy he was, he would always spend time with us in the afternoons. He would come home and dine with us.

I have learned a lot from my father. First, I have learned to be calm and patient, view an issue from all angles, be patriotic and a good person.

I owe it to my mother for my discipline. My father wasn’t around 24 hours a day, and my mother raised us. My mother teaches Armenian history and geography at Hamazkayin Melankton and Haig Arslanian Lyceum. She is the ideal woman for me.

“Hayern Aysor”: Have you ever taken advantage of your father’ s name and last name?

S. K.: No, because I’m not one to take advantage for myself. A person who takes advantage always wants to show himself to others. In reality, I only look at my father as my father. I wouldn’t like to take advantage of his name and say ��?Yes, I am Shahan’s daughter’. There are people who know me as his daughter before I even get to know them well.

“Hayern Aysor”: So, you haven’t passed exams by mentioning your father’s name and last name (sinister joke)

S. K.: No, I studied for the exams (laughing-ed.).

“Hayern Aysor”: Many people, especially those who don’t know your father, know him for his articles, acts and ideas. It would be interesting to know him through Sanan Kantaharian’s eyes. How would you describe your father?

S. K.: For me, he is the kindest person in the world. He’s very smart. You’ll learn a lot from him. He cares a lot about other people. He wants to help others and takes things easy in life (my grandfather was like that as well). He always tells me to take things easy and go for greatness so that life won’t be complicated. He always tell us to stay healthy and be happy and thank the Lord for having your family by your side. The most important thing for him is that my mother’s healthy, we’re healthy and we’re by his side. He’s a very simple person.

“Hayern Aysor”: What makes him angry? What makes him sad?

S. K.: He hasn’t gotten angry at me to this day, and I’ll be turning 22 soon. He tells me not to do it, but doesn’t get mad. When I’m a little sad, I feel that he’s sad as well. I often try to hide the fact that I’m sad.

“Hayern Aysor”: Sanan, your last name also makes you feel responsible…

S. K.: Yes, I have to be a little careful. I’m glad to be the daughter of Shahan Kantaharian and Gohar and the granddaughter of Kevork Kantaharian. Whenever I hear my grandfather’s name, I get emotional and feel happy for the fact that these people are part of my family.

Instead of a conclusion:

Sanan Kantaharian: In closing, I would like to say that every Armenian must visit Armenia and see the country for himself. It would be nice, if all Armenians settled in Armenia, but not everyone has the opportunity to live and study here.

Secondly, each person has to be a good person. The family helps raise a child to become a good person. Family members must always be kind to each other, understand each other and know what’s fair, right and wrong. Relations between family members are very important. It’s very important to have relatives. You don’t have to have a good education to be a good person. The environment in the family is enough for you to be a good person and have a positive mindset. For me, the most important thing is to be a good human being…

Interview by Lusine Abrahamyan