An Armenian television project focused on choosing the nation’s “all-time eminent” has generated a great interest among viewers both in and outside Armenia, say its authors after analyzing the viewer response.

The TV project “We Are Armenians” broadcast through Hay TV locally and the satellite to be available for viewing across Armenian Diaspora communities is a format of discussion during which experts in the studio speak about 12 eminent Armenian figures of all time (chosen by the public). The project has been on for 12 weeks, and during each week one such prominent Armenian was discussed. The viewers then were encouraged to vote through the project’s website for the all-time best of their choice and the results will be formally summed up during the project’s Friday night show.

But it is already known that the “winner” of the project, which passed in an atmosphere of interesting debate with many revelations made along its way, is Garegin Njdeh (1886-1955), an Armenian statesman, military leader, political thinker and the founder of the ideology adhered to by today’s ruling party of Armenia. Njdeh received more than 29,000 votes, some 4,000 votes more than his next rival, fifth-century military commander Vardan Mamikonyan.

The vote results show that the two leave far behind the other ten figures, including first-century BC King Tigran the Great (about 8,000 votes), alphabet creator Mesrop Mashtots, poet Yeghishe Charents, canonized saint, poet and philosopher Grigor of Narek (Narekatsi), great Armenian composer, singer and musicologist Komitas, Soviet-Armenian astrophysicist Victor Hambartsumyan, fourth-century King of Armenia Pap Arshakuni, the tenth lord of Armenian Cilicia and the first king of Armenian Cilicia Levon II Roubinyan (Magnificent) (1150 – May, 1219), 20th-century Catholicos of All-Armenians Vazgen I, Soviet-Armenian composer Aram Khachaturyan.

Against the background of controversial votes in several TV projects of late (such as the national final for Eurovision-2010, HaySuperStar, etc ), the “We Are Armenians” project is perhaps the only one around where there could be less debate (given the fact that the challengers are all historical figures and none of them is living).

As part of the project launched in October last year, a list of 128 Armenians noted for their great activities for the nation and who are no longer living was created on the project’s three-language website (www.menqhayenq.am), available in Armenian, English and Russian. Then, again through a voting, a shortlist of 12 finalists was created.

One program a week was devoted to each of the 12 figures. A designated speaker on one figure or another would state his or her case and say why his or her chosen figure deserves to be called all-time eminent and a documentary was shown about the “hero of the night”. Then the other experts would have a debate, mainly appealing to the main speaker’s opinion, but also discussing it among themselves.

The project’s author and moderator Artur Bakhtamyan says that as an expensive program requiring a lot of money “We Are Armenians” has introduced something new in this sphere of television shows.

“The project has surely proved a success; moreover, it has caused certain ‘television dependence’ among some viewers recently as they began to wait anxiously for the new program. We’ve been inundated with letters from viewers asking us to continue the project,” Bakhtamyan tells ArmeniaNow.

Speaking about Njdeh, the person recognized as the most eminent Armenian of all times within the framework of this project, Bakhtamyan says that he does not link the choice of the public with the fact that Njdeh, a prominent Dashnak, is the symbol of the Republican Party, the ruling party in Armenia today.

“Surely Njdeh has a completely different image than that identified with the authorities. He has his very specific role,” says Bakhtamyan.

“It is very good to have a space that involves the history of 2,000 years, and this has made the project even more interesting. When you descend from Tigran the Great to Aram Khachaturyan you see what a tremendous quality shift took place in the course of history. One ruled the world with his weapon and the other ruled the world with his music,” he adds.