The Humanitarian Literature reading-room of ASPU Scientific Library was overcrowded on June 18. It hosted numerous students who admire magnificent Ararat Mountain and
dream of ascending its summit. Also, the University hosted mountaineer Arthur Karapetyan, a graduate of the Faculty of Art Education, ASPU, who has climbed up to the summit of Mt Ararat.
Director of the Scientific Library Tigran Petrosyants introduced to the students the guest and the path he has taken, saying the University is proud of the professional and patriotic achievements of its graduates. Mr Petrosyants also spoke about Karapetyan’s social and political activities in the Armenian communities of Russia, stressing that it clearly demonstrates the patriotism of a person who lives far from his homeland.
“Armenia is a lifestyle, daily bread and energy for every Armenian, and we are all responsible for our homeland with our words and actions,” said Arthur Karapetyan who, despite his frequent visits to Armenia, misses his homeland.
During the meeting, the mountaineer told about his prior experiences and recalled his ascent of Everest (Chomolungma), Kostyushko, McKinley, Aconcagua, Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, Vinson. But most of all, the patriot was impressed by Mount Ararat.
“When the day of the great ascent came, the Turkish side forced me to go empty-handed, which was not the case with the other members of the group. Also, they sent a control group of military mountaineers to accompany us. My father had given me lavash, traditional Armenian unleavened bread, and ordered to take it to the summit, put on stones and then bring it back to him. I promised to fulfill his wish. I have hoisted the Armenian Tricolour, the national flag, on all summits that I have ever stepped. But this time I had to take with me the three-colour towels I had bought secretly in Bayazet…,” the exited mountaineer told adding that upon reaching the summit, the foreign delegates of the group drank a toast with aged cognac to the women who gave birth to sons who fought for the liberation of Armenian territories.
Referring to the difficulties encountered during the ascents the mountaineer said when ‘you reach the top of a mountain your consciousness vanishes giving way to emotions; persistence helps while confidence hinders.’
A video diary showing an ascent to Mount Ararat and numerous photos were put on display in the course of the meeting. Let us mention that Arthur Karapetyan is also a painter who has opened exhibitions in famous galleries of about 70 countries.
Ashot Ajamoghlyan, Head of the Chair of Socio-economic Geography and Methods of Teaching Geography and the initiator of the meeting, said the event was a good opportunity to convey to the audience Karapetyan’s impressions about Mt Ararat and his patriotism.
The head of the Chair expressed willingness and desire to give the Faculty the videos and other materials telling about the numerous undertakings of the mountaineer, which, he said, might be applied during the teaching process.
