KHACHATUR ABOVYAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

A book that is significant in terms of Armenian historiography and globally significant in academia in general has been released — a unique and exceptional phenomenon; the book is dedicated to the 65th birth anniversary of our teacher, beloved lecturer, PhD and Professor Aram Kosyan. In this sense, the presence of the great historian in our environment and such reflections are an honor for us. Aram Kosyan is among the pillars of the Faculty since dozens of generations have listened to Kosyan as he has given his objective and historiographical interpretations of the issues related to ancient history. Years later, we will take pride in the fact that we have been the contemporaries and colleagues of such a scholar,” Dean of the Faculty of History and Social Sciences at the Armenian State Pedagogical University (ASPU) Edgar Hovhannisyan remarked during the presentation of the book dedicated to the scholar’s birth anniversary — something that is exceptional in our reality.

The book was printed by one of Belgium’s ancient and globally reputable publishing houses and is the result of three years of hard work, and the editor of the book is Professor Kosyan’s PhD student, former lecturer of the ASPU and PhD in Historical Sciences Yervand Grekyan.

The Dean emphasized that the pedagogue and colleague whom everyone loves, is a globally significant specialist, whose opinions are considered and whose works are referenced, adding that his academic legacy is among the key legacies in Armenian historiography and will remain unsurpassed.

Edgar Hovhannisyan noted that Kosyan’s entire life is linked to the Armenian State Pedagogical University. He was born to a family of pedagogues in the building of a hostel where future historians are currently pursuing their studies, and later, for decades and until now, he has been lecturing here without almost any interruptions.

ASPU Vice-Rector for Education Mariam Ispiryan considered the release of the book a great honor and a major achievement for the University. The ASPU values the career of Aram Kosyan, who has been empowering the University’s potential with his scientificity for years.

The Vice-Rector for Education noted that the works of the scholar printed in prestigious scientometric repositories and the newly released book, which contains the works of 28 world-famous scholars, proves once again the merit and global fame of Aram Kosyan.

The book presentation, which was attended by the professors and students of the Faculty, featured stories about and words of appreciation of Aram Kosyan the man, the individual, the scholar, as well as his works.
“The release of the book is an honor for not only Professor Kosyan, but also all of us,” said Head of the Chair of World History and its Teaching Methods Khachatur Stepanyan, adding that the entire academic community of Armenia immodestly aspires for this.

The Professor voiced hope that the example of Aram Kosyan will become an example for other scholars as well, bringing honor to Armenian scientific thought.

“Aram Kosyan is very well known in our academic community. I was lucky to have known the Kosyans since my years as a student at the university. His father, Vagharshak Kosyan was one of the outstanding linguists of Armenia and left a rich academic legacy. We are expressing our congratulatory remarks to scholar born to the family of a remarkable pedagogue and now a more remarkable scholar, who received a brilliant education and didn’t stop being involved in science even for a second,” Head of the Chair of Armenian History Edik Grigoryan remarked and shared the opinions of a number of great scholars of the world about Aram Kosyan.

He noted that the fact that the best historians of the time have taught history of the Ancient Orient is a standard and that, in this sense, the Armenian State Pedagogical University has something to be proud of.

Associate Professor of the Chair of World History and its Teaching Methods Mikayel Martirosyan said he has been lucky to work with Aram Kosyan at the Chair for 20 years now and considers it a great honor, emphasizing the fact that this book serves as brilliant evidence of the scope of academic interests of the Professor and his prolific career as a writer. He doesn’t recall a case in Armenian historiographical thought when an all-European publishing house or internationally great scholars print a supplement in the form of a book and dedicate it to an Armenian historian. “Your achievements in the field of science will leave an indelible trace in the histories of our people and the countries of the Near East,” Associate Professor Martirosyan remarked as he valued Aram Kosyan’s human traits and his traits as a teacher.

Mikayel Martirosyan also highly appreciated the large-scale efforts that Yervand Grekyan made for the creation of this book, noting that he is one of his master’s best students who is loyal and dedicated to the teacher and his work.

Director of the Scientific-Research Centre Kamo Vardanyan described Aram Kosyan as a person who bears academic and high values, while Associate Professor Aram Martirosyan considered him a pillar of the Chair with the best human values.

“I was truly born in this building and lived here until I was 2 years old. This is my home in essence, and this meeting had to be held right here,” Professor of the Chair of World History and its Teaching Methods Aram Kosyan said in his speech and expressed gratitude to the Faculty, colleagues and students for organizing the event and the opinions that were shared.

Professor Kosyan stated that he and Yervand Grekyan, who has been his younger colleague for 18 years now, have been publishing the “Aramazd” Armenian Journal, which is a journal of studies of the Ancient Orient in European languages and is also issued in the UK.

The Professor stated that they have tried to present Armenian studies abroad through scarce resources and without any government sponsorship. Thanks to this, foreign specialists have started getting to know and appreciating Armenian specialists, and this book serves as one of the directions in this field. “We are trying to internationalize the sphere of science that is related to studies of the Ancient Orient, and we have succeeded. This is the field in which the government can’t do anything; this is the job for individuals and devoted people,” he said.

Aram Kosyan noted that Armenians have a bad habit of honoring people after they pass away and asked why. He expressed his appreciation for appreciating and valuing him in his living years, adding that this is the same as erecting a monument to a person in his or her living years. On the occasion of the publication of the valuable book dedicated to him, the scholar proudly said he is one of the few chosen ones who is honored in such a way.