“When the Homeland is cheap, but the daily bread is expensive” – Meruzhan Ter-Gulanyan on intellectuals who “stay away from politics”

Yesterday, cultural figures met with the leader of the Strong Armenia party, philanthropist and businessman Samvel Karapetyan.

Writer and publicist Meruzhan Ter-Gulanyan, who attended the meeting, said he was deeply impressed.

“They invited a group of intellectuals. I am one of this nation’s intellectuals. I was interested – I had never met him face to face in my life, had never shaken his hand. I saw him for the first time.

Robert Kocharyan had previously invited me as well, and I took part in that meeting too. I am concerned about the fate of my country. If tomorrow Gagik Tsarukyan invites me, I will certainly go. These are people who have the opportunity to cross the threshold and secure significant representation in parliament. I am interested in what they think. I had questions I wanted to ask, so I went with pleasure. It was very interesting,” he said in an interview with Aysor.am.

When asked whether he agreed with the view that intellectuals should not engage in politics, Ter-Gulanyan expressed surprise:

“What does that mean? Is an intellectual not a citizen? Then forgive me, but those are not intellectuals – they are fearful people clinging to their own daily bread, hiding under their own roof, concerned only with feeding themselves, while remaining indifferent to what is happening outside. We are facing a serious national challenge. What does it mean to say, ‘I am an intellectual, I am not interested in politics’?

You are first and foremost a citizen. You are not obliged to be an intellectual, but you are obliged to be a citizen. I could have never become a writer, but I was still obligated to be a citizen. And I am not an indifferent citizen. I do not respect indifference or those who justify it.

Was Teryan indifferent? Was Tumanyan indifferent? Was Charents indifferent? Was Sevak indifferent? Was Sero Khanzadyan indifferent? Was Viktor Hambardzumyan indifferent? Could he have said, ‘I am an astronomer, politics is none of my concern’?

I absolutely reject that mentality. This is a coward’s escape from responsibility, hiding under the comfort of personal security. Such people have found a warm corner for themselves and are concerned only with their own bread. I do not respect that, and let them forgive me for saying so. Over time, my relations with many people have deteriorated – people I no longer wish to greet, despite once sitting together, eating and drinking at the same table.

Of course, I am not speaking about everyone. There are people whose physical condition I understand. But that cannot be used as an excuse to claim that intellectuals should not care about politics.

I am 77 years old. Am I seeking to become a minister? I want nothing for myself. I care about my country. An intellectual is also a public figure. If you do not feel yourself to be a part of society, then everything else is false. They live by this principle: ‘When the homeland is cheap, but daily bread is expensive.’”

The publicist also stressed that Armenia is living through decisive days and urged all citizens to take part in the vote. “Every vote matters. I am not telling anyone whom to vote for.”