YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan–Armenpress)–April 26,2001 will be the 115th anniversary of Karekin Njdeh – the 20th century distinguished Armenian general–public speaker–military analyst. Renowned intellectual leaders have organized a jubilee conference led by Nakhichevan Compatriotic Organization leader Raphael Hampartsoumian.
The conference was held on December 21st at the Armenian National Academy of Sciences center. Historian–Dr. Aram Simonian–introduced Karekin Njdeh’s life and work–specifically underlining his ideologies. Dr. Simonian revealed new information through never before uncovered documen’s.
Poet Silva Gaboudigian–also present at the conference–proposed marking 2001 as the Year of Karekin Njdeh. This decision was taken in response to Armenian intellectuals not being able to touch upon revolutionary episodes of Armenian history. Gaboudigian blamed the political circumstances of the Soviet era for the intellectuals failure to deal with such matters. She stressed the importance of making sure the new generation is aware and educated about Karekin Njdeh.
The aim of the conference was to organize commemorative events throughout Armenia and the Diaspora. A volume dedicated to Njdeh will be published in six languages. A monument will be erected at Yerevan’s "Karekin Njdeh" Square–and the roads leading to his grave site–St. Spitakavor Church and Mt. Khousdoup will be renovated. In the fall of 2001–there will be another conference dedicated to Njdeh.
A pilgrimage is being planned–which will begin on April 10–from Etchmiadzin to St. Spitakavor Church and the Datev Monastery. There will also be memorial services held on April 26 in Armenia–Artsakh–and the Diaspora.
A Karekin Njdeh Fund was established to help carry out the mentioned efforts.