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On November 23, ASPU hosted Babken Simonyan, a poet, public speaker, and translator. Babken Simonyan visited ASPU at the invitation of Professor Aelita Dolukhanyan, Head of the Chair of Ancient and Medieval Armenian Literature and its Teaching Methods.
The visit organized within the framework of the 100th anniversary of ASPU was dedicated to Armenia, Armenian people, and Armenian-Serbian relations.
"Babken Simonyan is an interesting personality. Overcoming a lot of difficulties, he has presented readers a number of books and translations from Armenian to Serbian and vice versa. He is originally from Vaspurakan, Van, and Van is a character, an essence, hence, his poetic melancholy and longing for his lost Homeland. As literary critic Karo Vardanyan used to say, “It is difficult to say where Babken Simonyan is more popular - in Armenia or in Serbia.” He considers Serbia to be his second Homeland and has become a symbol bridging Armenia and Serbia,” said Professor Dolukhanyan.
Speaking about Babken Simonyan's contribution to the development of Armenian-Serbian relations, the professor advised students to read a lot, to study the history, culture and literature of different peoples, having the wonderful example of the writer in mind.
Several times a year, Babken Simonyan delivers lectures at ASPU for students of the Faculty of Philology, introducing them to his discoveries of Armenian-Serbian literary and cultural ties.
"As a speaker of a small country, I do my utmost. That is what gives meaning to my life," Babken Simonyan said. He says the Armenian people do not have the right to retreat: Armenia is eternal.
The meeting participants were also welcomed by Dean of the Faculty of Philology Ashot Galstyan. Also, the attendees watched a documentary about Babken Simonyan’s life and activity.
