InternationalIn Gyumri, 20 years after the earthquake, people find, “a very important thing has broken”
Published: Saturday December 06, 2008 in Earthquake 20 Years On
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Gyumri, Armenia - Sculptor Vardan Tiraturian is from a branch of the Tokmajian dynasty of smelters from Karin. Unlike his renowned ancestors whose last foundry was destroyed by the Soviets in the 1930s in Gyumri, Vardan chose the hammer and cutter. He also teaches at the Entanik (Family) Youth Creative Center. The symbolic family tree of the benefactors which stands in the hallway of the center is also proof of his mastery and the talent in his hands. Vardan has engraved the central figure of the sculpture from a block of felsites, which is considered a very capricious stone.
The axis of our conversation is the 1988 earthquake.
"20 years have passed. Can we say that Gyumri's backbone has been restored?" I ask.
"No. Maybe the buildings and communications have been restored but the human factor no longer exists; those people who we knew no longer exist. The balance of people's inner kindness, brightness, calm and peace has been broken. They have become lazy and irresponsible, waiting for help. A very important thing has broken. Apart from that, a particular strata of people have left," Vardan says.
"Can similar centers bring a qualitative chance to the atmosphere?" I press on.
"This center was established with just such an aim; to continue traditions. Many children who have studied and matured here, now have work and positions; they are established in life. The center played a major role in this, as those children did not remain on the streets, but started learning science and crafts," he says with a tinge of hope in his voice.
"In other words, the center changes the future path of people's lives. Is it possible for them to change the future path of the city?"
"It is possible if they stay here. All the good and talented children go to Yerevan to learn and most of them settle there. We have three Diasporas: Yerevan, Russia and abroad. If microstructures are established here, many of them will stay. We must hinder emigration. For this we need a large number of jobs. We love working. Now the entire city has turned into shops.The values and value system must be restored; little by little, with great difficulty. Cultural establishments must be created and we must reach a level where honesty rules over all human relations, both in business and official," he says emphatically.
"It seems as if time has stopped here"
Our readers are acquainted with Avetik Yesayan's name from a report about the IT center in Gyumri a few months ago; he is the founder and president of Shirak Technologies Company. Avetik Yesayan's initiatives were not limited only to the IT sector. "It is not the first time that we are implementing projects in the educational sector in Gyumri. From 2005, together with the ARF Incubator Foundation, we founded the IT center in Gyumri, which is a postgraduate center," Mr. Yesayan said. He explained that they were aware that this was not enough to develop the IT sector in Gyumri. They decided to implement other educational projects at the school including Bachelor and Ph.D. level. They hope to instill interest towards the IT and electronic sectors through Entanik. "It is understandable that children might be unable to comprehend many of the nuances at that stage, but the important thing is awakening their interest towards this serious sector and giving then an initial idea," he says.
One of the repurcussions of the earthquake was that the city's industrial sector was wiped out. IT sector is one of those areas which can be restored with very little investment. "This is a good way of stimulating that industrial potential. We can use our powers best in that sector in this city by developing the potential and jobs," Mr. Yesayan explains. "We know that it is not difficult to achieve such development in Gyumri; this is conditioned by the government approach."
The specialists says that compared to the other regions of the republic it seems as if time has stopped here. "Introducing changes in not only important but vital for Gyumri. I believe that bringing changes here is not easy. Being a city with ambition and traditions, Gyumri has always been the first in many sectors, but it is currently the last in line. Probably a special approach is necessary for Gyumri. I see that special approach in the state supporting this geographic zone," he says
"In the future it is going to be more interesting"
Shavarsh Gyonjian is a programmer and he is only 24 years old. As is particular to youth he is an optimist. It is important that a young man from Gyumri be an optimist.
"Unlike in Yerevan there are very few interests here for the youth. Job sectors are limited. It simply needs people, investors to open jobs in new sectors. There are very few places for strolling and general entertainment for the youth and students; this why the youth go to Yerevan and then on to other places," Shavarsh says.
He does believe that change is becoming more and more visible and that the youth is also changing. "They used to think about trade a lot more than they do now. Now they have started thinking about business. There is a group that wants to become involved in science. Two of my friends even want to write a book. As far as the future is concerned, then I am hopeful that the future will be more interesting. That is why I am here," he says.
