Hovhannes Toumanian (1869-1923)

Hovhannes Toumanian (1869-1923)

Hovhannes Toumanian was born in 1869, in the village of Tsegh (which is now called Toumanian) in the region of Lori. He attended, but did not graduate from the Nersisian School in Tbilisi. As a teenager he started writing poetry. He tried several jobs, but could not persist in any one field. In 1988 he was married and had a big family. After that he completely devoted his capacities to writing poetry. In addition to his writing, he was a publisher. He made great contributions to children’s literature, and is in fact one of the great masters of the genre. Among his works are: “Sassountsi Tavit,” “Anoush,” “Tmpgaperti aroume,” “Tebi anhoune,” “Shounn ou gadoun,” “Gatil m meghr,” “Parvana.” Toumanian is the most loved poet among Eastern-Armenians. The main themes of his literature include the motherland’s nature, its people, its lifestyle, and its traditions. With his creations and with his emotions, Toumanian is a genuine Armenian poet: the people’s poet. Toumanian died in 1923.