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SAVING THE PAST FOR THE FUTURE
Keghart.com interviews Vahe Tachjian, chief editor of Berlin-based
Houshamadyan Project
October 2013
KEGHART: What is the aim of Houshamadyan?
VAHE TACHJIAN:We don't know much about Ottoman Armenian social
life, local micro-histories, the daily rounds and socio-economic
environments that were immediately connected with the general Ottoman
social context. These are important keys to the understanding of
all the other events. In other words, there hasn't been a special
effort in the Armenian studies field-exceptions are without doubt
to be respected-to utilize existing rich sources, to reconstruct
the memory of Armenian life in the Ottoman Empire. The Houshamadyan
project has been working to fill this void through research, as well
as through visual materials, such as old photos, gravures, sketches,
animation films, etc.
KEGHART: When and where was it founded?
VT: Houshamadyan is the name of the non-profit association. It was
founded in 2010 in Berlin. The Houshamadyan website plays a pivotal
role in the association's activities.
KEGHART: How is it funded?
VT: Houshamadyan has no sources of revenue of its own. At present,
our sources of finance are individual gifts. We have our main donors,
whose names are mentioned in our website.
KEGHART: How can someone take part in providing data to you and to
donate money?
VT: The essential thing is the reconstruction of the memory of an
Armenian life that once existed in the Ottoman Empire. Therefore,
every item (old photographs, recorded testimony, songs, films, maps,
diplomas, books, etc.) that in some way expresses the legacy of that
period is of interest to us. We'd be glad if people share these items
with us. Most of these things could be sent to us in their digital
form, making the process easier for people who want to contribute to
this research.
As for donating, it's possible to do it through Paypal or directly
on our bank account. You can find all the information on donating on
our website. Simply Google "Houshamadyan".
KEGHART: How long do you think it will take you to cover all of
Western Armenia?
VT: Since this is a vast project, it's challenging to define a clear
timeline or deadline. Of course, we hope to increase productivity.
However, that's dependant on our funding.
KEGHART: What have you accomplished since Houshamadyan was established?
VT: We've made a lot of progress by and through establishing the
website, which covers many of the once-inhabited Armenian cities,
villages and regions of the Ottoman Empire. It has proven to
be, at once, popular with the general community and respected in
academic circles. In May of 2013 we successfully organized our first
exhibition in Berlin. At the end of this year we'll be publishing
our first book/album with more than 300 pages. But I think the most
important achievement is that we managed to build a network that
has its worldwide ramifications. Besides our visitors and their
daily input in our project, we have a valued network of friends and
volunteers. Houshamadyan has become a structure that's been built
collectively. It's very motivating to see the websites' visitors
gradually give more importance to our work by sending us digital
copies of memorabilia and old photos.
KEGHART: Once Houshamadyan has accumulated the data it can reasonably
gather, what's next?
VT: I think right now what's most important is to find safe and
sustainable ways to preserve our digital data. Once we've secured this,
we can plan ahead!
KEGHART: Does Houshamadyan have eventual aims to use the data for
political purposes? If not, what's the purpose of the effort?
VT: We are an academic project. Our main objective is to understand a
history, to reconstruct a scattered memory, to give a new value and
scope to Armenian primary sources, and to raise awareness of that
history among Armenians and non-Armenians.
KEGHART: Houshamadyan wants also to gather information from
non-Armenian sources (Kurds, Turks, Assyrians, Greeks, etc.). Have
you had any response from them?
VT: Since the establishment of our website, we've received many letters
from Turkey, where people express their gratitude for our efforts. It
would be desirable to have a Turkish version of our website. We think
it could be ideal if the civil society in Turkey would take part in
funding this new section of our project.
KEGHART: What are Houshamadyan's goals for 2014?
VT: It will be 'business as usual':
website/exhibition/workshop/publication. A particular attention will
be given in 2014 to the Dersim region, and on personal and unpublished
memoirs that some visitors of our website sent to us.
http://www.keghart.com/Interview-Tachjian-Houshamadyan
Keghart.com interviews Vahe Tachjian, chief editor of Berlin-based
Houshamadyan Project
October 2013
KEGHART: What is the aim of Houshamadyan?
VAHE TACHJIAN:We don't know much about Ottoman Armenian social
life, local micro-histories, the daily rounds and socio-economic
environments that were immediately connected with the general Ottoman
social context. These are important keys to the understanding of
all the other events. In other words, there hasn't been a special
effort in the Armenian studies field-exceptions are without doubt
to be respected-to utilize existing rich sources, to reconstruct
the memory of Armenian life in the Ottoman Empire. The Houshamadyan
project has been working to fill this void through research, as well
as through visual materials, such as old photos, gravures, sketches,
animation films, etc.
KEGHART: When and where was it founded?
VT: Houshamadyan is the name of the non-profit association. It was
founded in 2010 in Berlin. The Houshamadyan website plays a pivotal
role in the association's activities.
KEGHART: How is it funded?
VT: Houshamadyan has no sources of revenue of its own. At present,
our sources of finance are individual gifts. We have our main donors,
whose names are mentioned in our website.
KEGHART: How can someone take part in providing data to you and to
donate money?
VT: The essential thing is the reconstruction of the memory of an
Armenian life that once existed in the Ottoman Empire. Therefore,
every item (old photographs, recorded testimony, songs, films, maps,
diplomas, books, etc.) that in some way expresses the legacy of that
period is of interest to us. We'd be glad if people share these items
with us. Most of these things could be sent to us in their digital
form, making the process easier for people who want to contribute to
this research.
As for donating, it's possible to do it through Paypal or directly
on our bank account. You can find all the information on donating on
our website. Simply Google "Houshamadyan".
KEGHART: How long do you think it will take you to cover all of
Western Armenia?
VT: Since this is a vast project, it's challenging to define a clear
timeline or deadline. Of course, we hope to increase productivity.
However, that's dependant on our funding.
KEGHART: What have you accomplished since Houshamadyan was established?
VT: We've made a lot of progress by and through establishing the
website, which covers many of the once-inhabited Armenian cities,
villages and regions of the Ottoman Empire. It has proven to
be, at once, popular with the general community and respected in
academic circles. In May of 2013 we successfully organized our first
exhibition in Berlin. At the end of this year we'll be publishing
our first book/album with more than 300 pages. But I think the most
important achievement is that we managed to build a network that
has its worldwide ramifications. Besides our visitors and their
daily input in our project, we have a valued network of friends and
volunteers. Houshamadyan has become a structure that's been built
collectively. It's very motivating to see the websites' visitors
gradually give more importance to our work by sending us digital
copies of memorabilia and old photos.
KEGHART: Once Houshamadyan has accumulated the data it can reasonably
gather, what's next?
VT: I think right now what's most important is to find safe and
sustainable ways to preserve our digital data. Once we've secured this,
we can plan ahead!
KEGHART: Does Houshamadyan have eventual aims to use the data for
political purposes? If not, what's the purpose of the effort?
VT: We are an academic project. Our main objective is to understand a
history, to reconstruct a scattered memory, to give a new value and
scope to Armenian primary sources, and to raise awareness of that
history among Armenians and non-Armenians.
KEGHART: Houshamadyan wants also to gather information from
non-Armenian sources (Kurds, Turks, Assyrians, Greeks, etc.). Have
you had any response from them?
VT: Since the establishment of our website, we've received many letters
from Turkey, where people express their gratitude for our efforts. It
would be desirable to have a Turkish version of our website. We think
it could be ideal if the civil society in Turkey would take part in
funding this new section of our project.
KEGHART: What are Houshamadyan's goals for 2014?
VT: It will be 'business as usual':
website/exhibition/workshop/publication. A particular attention will
be given in 2014 to the Dersim region, and on personal and unpublished
memoirs that some visitors of our website sent to us.
http://www.keghart.com/Interview-Tachjian-Houshamadyan