Hagop Duniaian: “I am taking from Armenia the love, the infinite longing for our nation and the taste of the immortal water of my Homeland”

Throughout the history of the Armenian people, Armenians have always attached importance to writing and literature, scholastics and the arts and culture in general, and these are the strong guarantees of the existence of the Armenian nation. Even during the most difficult and catastrophic years, Armenian intellectuals have protected and preserved their books, schools and seminaries and have continued to create and publish books and newspapers. Armenian press has been an integral part of the rich spiritual heritage of the Armenian nation. Numerous newspapers, magazines and periodicals have been released by notable Armenian writers and publicists, famous public and political figures, poets and journalists and prose writers, including Gabriel Aivazovsky (founding editor of Bazmavep Journal of Armenian Studies, Philology and Literature), Harutioun Svajian (editor of Meghu satirical newspaper), Hakob Paronyan (founding editor of Khikar satirical newspaper and later editor of Meghu)…

Nowadays, the Armenians still have a great love for, are devoted to and interested in the press. No matter how much technology become advanced and reaches out to more areas, print press is irreplaceable and is a lasting value. Evidence of this is the Dzaghig Armenian Weekly Magazine (literary-national) published in Beirut, the founding editor of which, Hagop Duniaian, gave an interview to Hayern Aysor. Hayern Aysor presents the interview with Hagop Duniaian:

Karine Avagyan: Mr. Duniaian, the name of your splendid and substantial Dzaghig Armenian Weekly Magazine reminded me of the best times of Armenian press and printing and remarkable Armenian editors-in-chief. How did you manage to publish the weekly? What is the secret of your success?

Hagop Duniaian: First of all, I am grateful for the fact that I have an opportunity to give an interview to the electronic newspaper of the Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia. I established Dzaghig Armenian Weekly Magazine in early April of 2004 and issued the first edition on June 8 (50th death anniversary of Arshak Chobanian). We had intentionally selected that day and the name “Dzaghig”, taking into consideration the fact that Arshak Chobanian had established a homonymous periodical in Constantinople in 1894-95. Our weekly was released every 15 days. It was in black and white, and the quality was not very high. Later, in 2010, we started color printing, and the newspaper became a weekly.

Karine Avagyan: How do you publish such a splendid weekly newspaper? Do you have sponsors?

Hagop Duniaian: People often ask me that question. My sponsor is my people and our readers. There are people who also make contributions. There is no political party, no religious structure or organization that sponsors us. We have approximately 800 subscribers, including 600 in Beirut and 200 in other countries.

Karine Avagyan: Mr. Duniaian, how many employees do you have?

Harutiun Duniaian: I mainly do the work. I compile the materials that I receive, edit and proofread them, write analytical articles devoted to the major events and publish literary, cultural and international news, as well as translations. I work 17-18 hours a day. We have correspondents in different countries, including Armenia. Every time, we cover the anniversary of a great Armenian, design the cover of our weekly magazine with the photo of the particular great Armenian and publish an article devoted to the life and career of the particular person. For instance, the magazine has featured articles dedicated to the 200th birth anniversary of Armenian marine artist Hovhannes Aivazovsky, the 120th birth anniversary of the genius poet Yeghishe Charents, and last year, the magazine featured articles devoted to two great satirists, including Hakob Paronyan and Yervand Otyan. Our weekly magazine mainly features interesting news related to Armenia. On September 21, on the occasion of Armenia’s Independence Day, I am planning on issuing a nearly 70-page magazine. The political articles are more related to the issues of national concern.

Karine Avagyan: Mr. Duniaian, are you a philologist or journalist by profession?

Hagop Duniaian: No, I graduated from Yerevan State Polytechnic Institute, but have been involved in the field of literature my whole life.

Karine Avagyan: Do you by any chance write poems or prose?

Hagop Duniaian: I write poems and have also written short stories. I have published two volumes of poems, but I have more originals. Before establishing Dzaghig Armenian Weekly Magazine, in the 1990s, I worked in the cultural and literary department of Zartonk Armenian Daily, which features our literary section. I might sum them up in a volume one day.

Karine Avagyan: Your weekly magazine is only in Western Armenian. Wouldn’t you like to publish a part of the magazine in a foreign language in order to increase the number of readers and subscribers, namely foreign readers?

Hagop Duniaian: In the beginning, our license was granted only for Armenian and Arabic. If we printed in Arabic, we had to add a certain amount of funding. I wanted to continue in Armenian because there are so many Arab-language newspapers. Many newspapers are published in English or French in order to have more subscribers. If our weekly’s readers want to read in a foreign language, they can contact the staffs of foreign-language newspapers because we reprint from those newspapers.

Karine Avagyan: Mr. Duniaian, we Armenians have had wonderful editors in the past. Who sets the best example of an editor for you?

Hagop Duniaian: I love the newspapers of all editors, starting from the newspapers edited by Yervand Otyan, Hakob Paronyan, Vahan Tekeyan and others. I really loved the Ani Magazine edited by my teacher and the teacher of generations Vahe Vahian. I am also a fan of Tekeyan. The newspapers and magazines edited by our remarkable editors have always been instructive for me, but I have been more influenced by Vahe Vahian.

Karine Avagyan: What kind of role do  you think the Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia plays in the lives of Diaspora Armenians?

Hagop Duniaian: I met the Minister of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia in Beirut and received the honorary “Ambassador of the Mother Language” Medal from her. Two years ago, I received the Gold Medal of the Ministry of Culture. If there is one thing the Armenians of the Diaspora can be proud of, it is Armenia. The Ministry of Diaspora is a lighthouse that connects Armenians of the world to the Homeland. This is my first visit to the editorial staff of Hayern Aysor, but I always follow the news that you provide to shed light on the pro-national activities of remarkable Diaspora Armenians and to connect Diaspora Armenians to the Homeland in general.

Karine Avagyan: The last question is a question I have always been asking several Diaspora Armenians over the years. What does the Homeland mean to you?

Hagop Duniaian: By saying “Homeland”, I understand my people, the Church and history. This inseparable triumvirate is the Homeland for me. The Homeland is a lasting value.

Karine Avagyan: What will remain in your heart and soul when you leave Armenia?

Hagop Duniaian: Love, the sweet and immortal water of Armenia and the infinite longing for our nation. I believe in the bright future of our Homeland.

My interview with the founding editor, poet and publicist of Beirut’s Dzaghig Armenian Weekly Magazine Hagop Duniaian ends with this inspiring vision for the bright future of Armenia. Dzaghig Armenian Weekly Magazine features articles with quite interesting sections (“Literary Bells”, “Literary Pearls”, “International Literary Pearls” and “Throbs from Western Armenian Literature”), pearls of Armenian and world literature, thoughts of great thinkers, news about major events in Armenia, international news, translations, articles dedicated to the anniversaries of notable Armenians and the prose works and poems of classic Armenian writers). I wish the weekly and its hard-working and professional editor success in the years to come.

 

Karine Avagyan

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