Vahan Terian
Encyclopedia
Vahan Terian was an eminent Georgian
born Armenian
poet
, lyrist and public activist. He is a famous poet known for his sorrowful, romantic poems, the most famous of which are still read and sung in their musical versions by people of all ages.
region in Russian Empire (now in Georgia
). Schooled in Tiflis, he then studied at the Lazarian College
in Moscow, where he was exposed to symbolism and joined the Russian Social Democrats. He was jailed by Czarist police for his political activity. He published his first book of poems, "Dreams at Dusk", in 1908, which made him an immediate sensation, Hovhannes Tumanian calling him the most original lyric poet of his age. He later published "Night Remembrance", "The Golden Legend", "The Return", "The Golden Link", "In the Land of Nairi" (where he substitute the word 'Nairi' for each instance where the word 'Armenia' would have suited), and "The Cat's Paradise". His poems are filled with images of rain, mist, pallid fields and shapeless shadows, symbols of sorrow, despair and eventually, peace. In 1913, Terian left Moscow University for the University of St. Petersburg, where he majored in oriental languages, intensifying his political involvement. After the revolution he became representative of Armenians in the Ministry of Nations, personally working with Lenin and Stalin. He died in Orenburg
of Tuberculosis at age 35. Each year there is a commemoration of his life in Javakhk region (Akhaltsikhe and Akhalkalak), at Gandza village, where he was born.
In 1916, Vahan Terian published a bundle of poems entitled Land of Nairi (in Armenian
: (Yerkir Nairi), in which he uses Nairi in place of Armenia. Likewise in 1923, Yeghishe Charents
wrote a satirical novella entitled Land of Nairi, using once again Nairi as a synonym for Armenia. Hayastan Yeghiazarian, interestingly, used Nairi Zarian as his pen-name, replacing his first name, Hayastan (which is what Armenians call Armenia in their own language since the Late Middle Ages) with Nairi
.
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
born Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, lyrist and public activist. He is a famous poet known for his sorrowful, romantic poems, the most famous of which are still read and sung in their musical versions by people of all ages.
Biography
Terian (also spelled "Derian") began his short life in the Gandzani village (განძანი) of JavakhetiJavakheti
Javakheti is a historical region of the nation of Georgia, in the southeastern part of the country's Samtskhe-Javakheti province. Today it comprises the Akhalkalaki and Ninotsminda municipal territories. It was historically bordered in the west with both sides of the Mtkvari river, in the north,...
region in Russian Empire (now in Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
). Schooled in Tiflis, he then studied at the Lazarian College
Lazarev Institute of Oriental Languages
The Lazarev Institute of Oriental Languages, established in 1815, was a Moscow school specializing in Caucasian language and culture, particularly that of Armenia, and the cultural center of the Armenian diaspora in Russia. Many Russian scholars specializing in Transcaucasia received their...
in Moscow, where he was exposed to symbolism and joined the Russian Social Democrats. He was jailed by Czarist police for his political activity. He published his first book of poems, "Dreams at Dusk", in 1908, which made him an immediate sensation, Hovhannes Tumanian calling him the most original lyric poet of his age. He later published "Night Remembrance", "The Golden Legend", "The Return", "The Golden Link", "In the Land of Nairi" (where he substitute the word 'Nairi' for each instance where the word 'Armenia' would have suited), and "The Cat's Paradise". His poems are filled with images of rain, mist, pallid fields and shapeless shadows, symbols of sorrow, despair and eventually, peace. In 1913, Terian left Moscow University for the University of St. Petersburg, where he majored in oriental languages, intensifying his political involvement. After the revolution he became representative of Armenians in the Ministry of Nations, personally working with Lenin and Stalin. He died in Orenburg
Orenburg
Orenburg is a city on the Ural River and the administrative center of Orenburg Oblast, Russia. It lies southeast of Moscow, very close to the border with Kazakhstan. Population: 546,987 ; 549,361 ; Highest point: 154.4 m...
of Tuberculosis at age 35. Each year there is a commemoration of his life in Javakhk region (Akhaltsikhe and Akhalkalak), at Gandza village, where he was born.
In 1916, Vahan Terian published a bundle of poems entitled Land of Nairi (in Armenian
Armenian language
The Armenian language is an Indo-European language spoken by the Armenian people. It is the official language of the Republic of Armenia as well as in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The language is also widely spoken by Armenian communities in the Armenian diaspora...
: (Yerkir Nairi), in which he uses Nairi in place of Armenia. Likewise in 1923, Yeghishe Charents
Yeghishe Charents
Yeghishe Charents was an Armenian poet, writer and public activist. Charents was an outstanding poet of the twentieth century, touching upon a multitude of topics that ranged from his experiences in the First World War, socialism, and, more prominently, on Armenia and Armenians.An early champion...
wrote a satirical novella entitled Land of Nairi, using once again Nairi as a synonym for Armenia. Hayastan Yeghiazarian, interestingly, used Nairi Zarian as his pen-name, replacing his first name, Hayastan (which is what Armenians call Armenia in their own language since the Late Middle Ages) with Nairi
Nairi (Armenian usages)
During the late nineteenth century rise of nationalism under the Ottoman Empire, the word "Nairi" or "Nayiri" came to be used as a synonym for Armenia among Armenians who came to see the Nairi , a people located in the wider area of the Armenian Highlands during the Late Bronze...
.
Works in Armenian
- 1903-12, ՄԹՆՇԱՂԻ ԱՆՈՒՐՋՆԵՐ (Dreams of The Dawn)
- 1905-1908, ՓՇԵ ՊՍԱԿ (Crown of Thorn)
- 1908-1911, ԳԻՇԵՐ ԵՎ ՀՈՒՇԵՐ (Night and Reminiscences)
- 1908-1911, ՈՍԿԻ ՀԵՔԻԱԹ (Golden Tale)
- 1911, ՎԵՐԱԴԱՐՁ (Return)
Works in Russian
- 1903-12, ГРЕЗЫ СУМЕРЕК (Dreams of The Dawn)
- 1903-12, ТЕРНОВЫЙ ВЕНЕЦ (Crown of Thorn)
- 1908-11, НОЧЬ И ВОСПОМИНАНИЯ (Night and Reminiscences)
- 1908-11, ЗОЛОТАЯ СКАЗКА (Golden Tale)
- 1911, ВОЗВРАЩЕНИЕ(Return)
- 1912-19 ЗОЛОТАЯ ЦЕПЬ (Golden Chain)
- 1917 КОШАЧИЙ РАЙ (Cat Heaven)
- 1917-19, ПЕСНИ СВОБОДЫ (Songs of Freedom)
- 1912-19, СТРАНА НАИРИ (Land of Nairi)
- 1913-19, РАЗНЫЕ СТИХОТВОРЕНИЯ (Misc. Poems)