My grandfather’s interview with Arstakh TV about Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) and the union of its people amidst the regions struggles. I have and always will take inspiration for my writing and who I am from my grandfather. From the start of his education and his career, Maxim Hovhannisyan has been a patriot and a historian for all Armenians. He has been the voice of his people for decades as a writer, a journalist, and respected scholar. This February, my grandfather celebrated his 84th birthday, and with every passing year, I am reminded of his dedication to his work and passion for preserving the Armenian culture and identity. Enduring life in the Soviet Union and the following Nagorno-Karabakh enclave with Azerbaijan post collapse of the USSR, Maxim Hovhannisyan has lived an extraordinary life and continues to inspire younger generations, including his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, through his wisdom.

If you do happen to understand Armenian, this is an incredible interview!

This is also a wonderful recent article on Maxim Hovhannisyan and his lifetime accomplishments. More articles here and here and here. One day, I will help translate his books and articles from Armenian to English and share with you all! He helped me publish my most recent bi-lingual collection of poetry and prose. Feel free to reach out to me for a copy!