“With preaching you can’t make them the owner of the country. Slaves never defend a country”
Interview with Ruben Babayan, the creative director of Yerevan’s puppet theater after H. Tumanyan
-Mr. Babayan, the puppet theater has a lot of invites to participate in various festivals. However, due to the lack of funds you cannot participate. Have you applied to the ministry of culture for support?
-Yes we have and still do. And I think it’s wrong to link all the hopes with the state. When we look at this matter a little more globally we see that we have serious issues of Armenia, such as the formation of a civilized society. And in order to solve this issue everybody should participate – culture representatives and wealthy ones. These are separated groups, who hate each other. They have hostile attitudes to each other. This matter also existed in Europe but they tried to convert this hostile attitude to partnership. There are countries, where the best sponsors of the year are granted awards and prizes. The influence of the culture on business makes the latter more civilized because whatever we are doing we need to display and depict. In these terms, nobody undertakes any steps in Armenia. If they do certain things certain culture will be created and when two businessmen will start talking to each other they won’t be bragging what restaurant they had dinner at, or how much money they squandered in casinos but to what extent they helped the development of culture. Of course, this is a tough process but we need to move forward because I think our country won’t have sufficient finances to support the culture to a full extent.
-Do you believe culture and business will start to collaborate?
-In order to solve an issue we need a big wish. If there is the wish we try to seek ways. Where should this wish come from? I think if in Armenia business develops and overcomes the boundaries of hooliganism it will realize that for real progress it needs civilized and cultural society. Even the criminal world requires civilized society because if all around you everything is criminal, it becomes very tough to commit a crime. We should start this process from childhood. For example, now they have forbidden handing out tickets in schools. In that case, the child won’t have the chance to go to theaters, to operas and art galleries. This vacancy will be filled by television, Internet and the street. We should deeply think about this because we are sufficing the demand that exists in the society.
-Do we notice the seeds of civilization in Armenia?
-To a certain extent yes. I have been teaching in the state institute of theater and cinema for the past 18 years. And I socialize with the youth. I like them a lot. When we the adults often get complaints about the young men and women we forget that this generation didn’t come from the moon. If there are flaws we also have our share of guilt. I feel that people want to live in a more civilized and meaningful way. This is very important. Today we are always brining the example of Georgia but I’d like to tell you something. This year I was coming from China to Yerevan through Tbilisi. I have noticed that we are more prepared to live a civilized life than the Georgians. When we go deep into the image of the Armenian we sort of advert to the Muslim image. When they tell me let’s get back to our roots I am saying ok but let’s go back to the actual Christian roots. Let’s smile at each other in the morning and greet each other when we go out on the street. With a disgruntled facial expression life cannot get better.
-As a concerned citizen, what expectations do you have from the upcoming elections?
-To be honest I really hope not too much from the elections. I think that my staff and I do no less important job for this country. I am a person who’s lived most of his live in the Soviet era. There were elections there too but nobody was serious about them. It turns out that the society doesn’t consider the elections as a tool to form a government. It’s hard to blame the society of that. Prominent humorist Andrey Sakharov used to say that the people don’t have the right to trust the government more than the latter trusts the people. I don’t know whether I will be participating in the elections or not. I don’t understand when politicians refuse a political struggle. It’s the same thing if I refuse staging a performance. I am not a politician. I am a citizen and think that in this regard I have the right to follow my personal approaches. I don’t give any importance to elections anymore. I think it’s more important to see what will happen after the elections than during the elections. Leo Tolstoy has a very good thought, which reads, “All the novels end with weddings but should start from marriage.” In our case, the life doesn’t stop neither for winners nor losers. What’s next you are going to do after you win? Will we be able to lead this country in the right direction in conditions of numerous challenges? How will we be able resolve the NKR conflict? Will we be able to get rid of the soviet legacy? Let the abundance of parties doesn’t cheat anybody. Unlike all our politicians I am sure that the pyramid is not built from above.
-Won’t you participate in elections because you think you cannot change anything?
-I have not decided for sure. I want to be proven that our country is able to conduct normal elections. We often say that the only free and fair elections were in 1990-1991. The Soviet Union allowed us to conduct normal elections but we cannot do this in the independent Armenia. Elections are a great thing. I was also elected in the theater from among four candidates. All four now work with the theater. During elections nobody broke anybody’s neck (smiles – G.A.). But there are more interesting things than elections. I am at the age when I am trying to accumulate positive emotions for my health. I suggest you do the same.
-But is there any party or candidate than can build the pyramid correctly when elected for government?
-I believe the actions more than words. I am a filmmaker. Words don’t mean to much too me. In the theater performance is more important. I am at the age when don’t believe in vain words and tend to see the action rather than the promises. For me the important thing is to keep a balance. It is impossible to govern the country from the center and be out of control. I think every country is strong with its citizens and the citizen is strong when he is the owner of the country. You don’t become an owner with mere preaching. The slave never defends a country. When we give away bribes to voters and make them slaves we don’t realize that we are destroying the country. If it’s possible to sell the ballot, then anything else can be sold. If I decide to participate in elections I will never speak publicly about that. Unlike the politicians I think we the intelligentsia have a very important task to carry out. We have the need to unite the people. Political struggles polarize the societies. We often recite the words of Yeghishe Charents, who said, “Armenian nation, your salvation is in your unity.”
-Do we feel that we are the owners of this country?
-Indeed not. I can only say one thing. Yerevan was my city only in 1988-1993. Back then I didn’t hold any positions. I was working at the theater as a scriptwriter. But Yerevan was my city and I really felt that I am the owner of it. Then many things changed and I stopped feeling myself as the owner of the city. Now I feel myself as an owner of this small venue – the theater. Perhaps I can lose the ownership here as well.
-What is the reason of that?
-There is something unfamiliar here. Something is lost. The period of 1988-1993 include very difficult years – no bread, no water, light, gas but I knew that the city was living with me when I needed joy or when I was down. Then new buildings have started to be constructed. The city was ruined and turned into an oriental market.
-When will the city become yours?
-This city will become mine when it becomes yours. When the youth starts to be the owner of it. In this regard, I signify the civil movements, which have been formed during the past 2-3 years. These movements also tend to unite. People with different political views may unite because they care what will happen in this or the other forest. More people like that we have the better chance for a good future. I hope I can call it in my city again before I bid farewell to this life.
By Gohar Aramyan
