CHAPLIN AND ARMENIANS
By Armine K. Koundakjian
In 1965, the world-famous Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian was invited to Switzerland to participate as a member of the jury in an international music competition. Taking advantage of the opportunity presented, 76-year-old Charlie Chaplin sent an invitation to Aram Khachaturian to visit his mansion located outside Geneva.
During a conversation lasting several hours, the actor took Khachaturian to his private room, opened a drawer, and showed him a record of violin recordings presenting the music of the great Komitas. Chaplin said that it was among his favorite pieces of music, which he listened to whenever he felt the need for inner peace. “In life we think more and feel less, whereas Armenian music is simply a boundless ocean of pure emotions…” added the great actor.
Chaplin was the greatest actor of the 20th century with high human moral values. During the years of the Armenian Genocide, Chaplin founded a foundation to help Armenian children, and in the 1920s, while traveling through Europe, he collected $1 million ($18 million today) and donated the entire amount to that foundation. He personally visited orphaned children and helped in the construction of orphanages and special rehabilitation centers for Armenian orphans in Europe and the United States.
Being fully aware of the tragedies committed against the Armenians, during those same years Chaplin filmed the famous movie The Kid, whose poor little boy protagonist’s fate can be paralleled with the fate of Armenian orphans.
