InternationalThe only remaining village from Armenian Goghtn
It is worth visiting Karchevan at least once to see the River Araks and eat sun-ripened fruits
Published: Saturday February 28, 2009
A house in Karchevan that belonged to Gurgen Aghayan, member of parliament of the first Republic of Armenia, 1918–20. General Garegin Nzhdeh (Karekin Nejdeh) stayed in this house when he visited Karchevan. Tatul Hakobyan / Armenian Reporter
Karchevan, Syunik Province, Armenia - Of all the villages in Armenia, Karchevan is the second-farthest from the capital city, more than 400 kilometers. The name Karchevan is very familiar to all those who have crossed the Araks River by land, traveling to Iran or entering Christian Armenia from the Islamic Republic. The name Karchevan is stamped in their passports. The village bearing the same name, which was called Kirchavan in the past, which means a town in the gorge, is situated five kilometers north of the Araks river.
Karchevan is on the border of Armenia with Iran and also with Nakhichevan, which was handed to Azerbaijan in 1921 as an autonomous republic. It is known not only for its sweet, sun-ripened fruit, but also for being the only village of the historic Armenian province of Goghtn - today called Ordubad - still remaining within Armenia.
Nakhichevan today has almost no autonomy. The totalitarian clan of Vasif Talibov reigns there, with the the support of the local Aliyev dynasty, which rules in Baku. It comprises three historical Armenian regions: Goghtn, Nakhichevan, and Sharur. In 1921, when only 10 percent of the population was Armenian, Nakhichevan was given to Azerbaijan; only Armenian-populated Karchevan remained in Armenia. By 1988, the Armenian residents of the remaining Armenian villages in Goghtn, Nakhichevan, and Sharur had moved out or had been forced to leave the autonomous republic.
Armen Avetisian has been the head of the Karchevan village since 1994. "The village has a history of more than 2,000 years," he said. "Today it has almost 100 homes and 400 residents. The residents of Karchevan are indigenous. In the Meghri region they are famous for being hard workers and for their peculiar dialect, which is a little incomprehensible at first."
One of the few residents of Karchevan who is not from the village is Svetlana Papyan. She moved here from the city of Kajaran. She met her husband here. She is an English-language teacher by profession; this year she was appointed director of the village school.
The Karchevan school, which goes from the first through the ninth grades, has a 132-year history and 47 students. The school is in the churchyard. Or perhaps the church is in the schoolyard. The streets are very steep and narrow. The village hall, the kindergarten, the house of culture, the library, and people's homes are very close to one another. This situation has also had an effect on the character of the local residents; it seems as if they all live together in a big house.
The village does not have room to expand. If it were to expand, it would be at the cost of the orchards. Everything is very compact in the village. It is surrounded by three gorges and is very small. That is part of what gives Karchevan its special character.
"Forty-seven students study at the school," Ms. Papyan said. "We do not have a problem with specialists; all of our teachers have graduated from higher education establishments and are highly qualified specialists. Religious instruction is usually conducted in the church. Our village is very developed and the children study very hard. Our students graduate from the secondary school in the city of Agarak."
The school is named after the famous linguist Edward Aghaian, who hailed from the village. Other famous Armenians from Karchevan include chess player Rafael Vahanian and academician Artashes Matevosian.
But the pride of the residents of Karchevan is, of course, Garegin Nzhdeh (Karekin Nejdeh); even though he was born in the village of Kznut in Nakhichevan, he frequently visited and stayed in Karchevan when he headed Mountainous Armenia's struggle against Soviet occupiers. Whereas Armenia became Soviet in December 1920, Zangezur became Soviet half a year later in July 1921.
The village head showed me a house that belonged to Gurgen Aghayan, member of parliament of the first Republic of Armenia. Nzhdeh stayed in that house when he visited Karchevan. The most beautiful spot in Karchevan, a small waterfall, is located a small distance from that house.
Karchevan is one of the few Armenian villages, from which there has been almost no emigration. Just as in the Soviet years, now too most of the villagers work at the copper-molybdenum factory in the city of Agarak. Agarak, which has about 5,000 residents, was constructed half a century ago as a workers' town. The city of Agarak is also located within the territory of Karchevan; only two years ago the government stated that the territory belongs to the city.
In the second half of March, the copper-molybdenum factory in Agarak will stop working because of the international financial crisis. The factory, which provided 1,450 jobs, will work only partially and about 1,100 workers will be laid off.
"There has been almost no immigration from Karchevan, since there is employment. Even if they leave, they go to Agarak, which is four kilometers away, in order to get an apartment. Most of the youngsters of the village worked in the factory. Agriculture had moved to the background. Now that the factory is not working, people will start working in agriculture," said Mr. Avetisian.
To work in agriculture, however, land is required. There are mostly cliffs on the banks of Araks. The hard-working residents of Karchevan have found the solution: they bring soil from other places, lay it on the rocks, and plant trees. The same is being done in other rocky villages in the Meghri region. Sun-ripened fruit typical to the region of Meghri - pomegranate, fig, persimmon, as well as peach and grapes - grow in Karchevan. The fruits ripened in the Araks gorge are the most delicious in Armenia, as no other region receives as much sun and warmth.
