Haiganoush Satchian-Grkacharian

HAIGANOUSH SATCHIAN-GRKACHARIAN

 Haiganoush was born in 1936, in Chasse-sur-Rhône (France). In 1948, she immigrated to Soviet Armenia with her parents. After graduating from a secondary school with a gold medal in 1954, Haiganoush was admitted to the Department of Physics and Mathematics of the Yerevan State University. She attended advanced training at the Faculty of Physics of the Moscow State University after M. V. Lomonosov during her studies. After graduating from the University, she lectured for 17 years at Optics Chair of the YSU Faculty of Physics and Mathematics and carried out scientific activities. In 1961, she married Aharon Grkacharian, the son of a Hadjin native. In 1975, the family moved from Armenia to Paris, France. Haiganoush taught for another 20 years at the Higher Institute of Electronics of Paris. Haiganoush Satchian-Grkacharian is the author of the memoir in French ‘Hadjin, if We Forget You…’ From the viewpoint of coverage of the heroic self-defense of Hadjin of 1920, this book, relying on her parents’ memoirs, is of inestimable importance both for historians and for the descendants of Hadjin. Today, the book is presented in four languages. The book was published in Paris, in 2012. In 2014, at the initiative of Gagik Matevosyan, the Mayor of Nor Hachn, it was translated into Armenian. In 2015, Nor Hachn hosted the book presentation in Armenian, which was attended by the author and many descendants of Hadjin from the Diaspora. The book was translated into Spanish in Buenos Aires with Marie Krbekian’s efforts. In 2017, it was translated into English in Los Angeles through the charitable efforts of Armen Arslanian. By writing her book in French, Haiganoush initially aimed to inform the world about the tragedy of Hadjin to prevent the recurrence of similar disasters. Also, Haiganoush Grkacharian has authored numerous articles and lectures on coverage of the Armenian massacres in Cilicia and, particularly, the episodes of the 8-month heroic battle of Hadjin and has taken an active part in organizing and holding events commemorating the Armenian Genocide of 1915 and the courageous struggle of Hadjin in 1920. With their high professional qualities, Haiganoush and Aharon Grkacharian were successful and sought-after specialists. Also, Aharon and Haiganoush Satchian-Grkacharian range among the active members of the Armenian community in Paris and are the best friends of Nor Hachn town. Haiganoush and Aharon Grkacharian have two daughters: Hasmik and Goharik. Hasmik is a Doctor of Pharmaceutical Sciences and owns a pharmacy. Hasmik and Gevorg Chaparian (manager of a French company’s commercial branch) have three children. Diana is a Doctor of Pharmaceutical Sciences and is married to computer engineer Raffi Papazian; their children are Sasha and Lisa. Mikayel is a surgeon-traumatologist married to Palik Karaoghlanian (accountant); their children are Nur-Ani and Shushan. Raphael is a student at the Paris Institute of Advanced Economics. Goharik is a Professor of Biophysics at a higher education institution in Paris. She is married to Gevorg Melkonian (manager of a French company’s commercial branch); their children are Elena and Caren. After graduating with excellent grades from the Department of Law of the University of Paris, Elena now works in the USA. Having graduated from the Paris High School of Commerce, Caren now works for a renowned company.