February 19 - Book Gifting Day in honor of great Armenian poet

February 19 is celebrated as a book gifting day in Armenia in honor of the great poet and writer, Hovhannes Tumanyan.

One of the outstanding Armenian literary figures of the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, Tumanyan was among the rare characters who, besides his literary contribution, also played a big role in Armenia’s social life. He was born in village of Dsegh (Lori region) on February 19, 1869 to a family of a local priest. He is said to have largely drawn his inspiration of writing from his parents.

Tumanyan began his education in Lori, and then attended one of the best Armenian schools of the time, the Nersisyan School, but unfortunately had to drop out from there because of family conditions. . At age 16, two years before graduation, he ended his formal education and returned to Dsegh to care for his family. At age 19 Tumanyan married and eventually fathered ten children.

Tumanyan eventually decided to devote himself to the writing career in the mid-1890s. He was persistent in successfully educating himself through his avid reading. He revered Shakespeare’s works, as well as Byron, Pushkin, and Lermontov’s prose and poetry. He had a keen interest in world folklore, and with the sensitivity of a folklore writer, he retained the integrity of Armenian cultural history, escaping foreign influences in his writing. “I always had a faithful and reliable guide: my intuition,” Tumanyan said.

By the beginning of the 20th century, Tumanyan had rewritten and developed his earlier works and had written new poetry and prose. He emerged as an accomplished artist, who brought a fresh spirit and quality to Armenian literature.

Tumanyan is usually regarded in Armenian circles as "All-Armenian poet". He earned this title when the Catholicos of Armenia had ordered that Armenian refugees from the west not enter certain areas of his church and house, since he is considered to be "The Catholicos of all Armenians".

Especially valuable is Tumanyan’s contribution to Armenian epic poetry. His poetic talent is first of all seen in epic settings, in portrayal of sharp, dramatic situations and bold, strong characters. His numerous ballads and poems are among the best samples of the world’s epic poetry for perfect form and most especially due to the richness of the life and philosophical depth portrayed in them.

His most prominent literary works include Anoush, David of Sassoun, Akhtamar, Almsst, Parvana, The Old Fight, etc.
Toumanian also engaged in numerous public activities. In the autumn of 1912 he sponsored the Caucasian Society of Armenian Writers in Tiflis and was chairman of this society up to 1921. The society organised weekly literary readings and public lectures devoted to Armenian, Georgian and other literatures.

In 1917-1918 Toumanian sponsored a number of societies, Union of Countrymen’s Associations, Society for Help to War Victims, Society for Help to Orphans and Refugees and the Union of Eastern Peoples which aimed at uniting the small nationalities of the Middle East.

Tumanyan died on March 23, 1923 in Moscow at the age of 54.