Melinee Manouchian’s Life and Activity: discourse at YSU

Journalist and researcher Arpine Haroyan is studying the fates and paths of prominent Armenian women such as Luiza Aslanian, Shushanik Kurghinian, Mari Beyleryan, Mariam and Yeranuhi Aslamazyan, and Melinee Manouchian. She actively uncovers, researches, highlights, and reveals the fates of these women who stand out in history with their personalities and characters. 

This time, Melinee Manouchian, a representative of the French resistance movement, was at the core of the researcher's attention. She was the wife of French-Armenian writer Missak Manouchian, who was also a representative of the French resistance movement. 

At the meeting-conversation discussions revolved around Melinee Manouchian’s life, revealing some details and bringing up memories about her life, the French resistance movement and Missak Manouchian.  

Mikayel Hovhannisyan, Vice-Rector for Development and Innovations at YSU, highlights the significance of the selected topic and the activation of YSU Museum's activity, noting: "I am very glad that the YSU History Museum is a venue for events, and I highly appreciate the choice of today’s topic; the study of Melinee Manouchian’s life is as important as of Missak Manouchian since exploring the life and work of characters with such strong personalities can serve as a mean for an accurate and thorough understanding of the given period."

Speaking about the chance to discourse at YSU, Arpine Haroyan mentioned that in the era of free and equal conditions, talking about women's characters does not always go smoothly. 

"I am delighted that YSU, represented by Vice-Rector Mikayel Hovhannisyan, and the museum, represented by Director Tatevik Saroyan, attach importance to talking about women like Melinee Manouchian. Discovering the characters of prominent Armenian women and their fates is always interesting and crucial. I have already managed to research the archives of about 11 women and their paths. A part of my research is summarized in the 'From the Forgotten Pages of History' series," emphasized Arpine Haroyan, adding that similar events once again prove that there is always a demand for reimagining the past in new perspectives since the wealth of stories inherited from past not only enriches our understanding of ourselves but also outlines ways to solve some problems and overcome challenges.

"In our museum, it has become a mission and goal to talk about university students scattered all over the world, who have played a pivotal role in Armenian studies, preservation of Armenian identity and, in general, in the history of YSU. The discourse on Melinee Manouchian can be seen as a continuation of the meeting held about Zapel and Tigran Yesayan," Tatevik Saroyan, Director of the YSU History Museum, detailed, informing that there will be discussions on interesting topics in the near future. 

Speaking about further plans, she mentioned that in mid-May, a meeting-conversation is planned with Zhanna Manukyan, Director of Yeghishe Charents House-Museum, who will discourse on the role of house-museums as educational institutions. 

Melinee Manouchian was born in 1913 in Constantinople. During the Armenian Genocide, her father was killed by the Turks. To save the girls, the mother had to take Melinee and her sister Armenuhi to the American orphanage in Adabazar. The sisters spent their entire childhood in orphanages. Melinee lived in Marseille until 1926. In 1934, she met her future husband, Missak Manouchian. Melinee was a member of the Armenian Relief Committee in France and an active representative of the French-Armenian community.  

During the Second World War, from the first days of the occupation of Paris, Meline was an active representative of the French resistance movement. Following the shooting of Missak Manouchian and his group, the German Gestapo announced a search warrant for Melinee and ordered the death penalty. With great difficulties, Melinee managed to hide and after the end of the war, in 1945, return home to Armenia (ASSR).  

While living in Yerevan, she taught the subjects "French Literature" and "History of the Diaspora Armenian Press" at Yerevan State University.

In 1974, Melinee Manouchian published the book "Manouchian" dedicated to her husband, based on which a movie was made in 1985. 

This year, on February 21, the reburial of the remains of French resistance fighter, anti-fascist and French national hero Missak Manouchian and his wife Melinee Manouchian took place in the Paris Pantheon.