BIRTH OF GARNIK KALASHIAN

Garnik Kalashian had a short, but intense life both as a poet and a public person.

He was born on May 16, 1885. He graduated from the Nersisian School of Tiflis in 1906. He participated in the activities of the local Armenian Literary of Society and the literary circle led by Hovhannes Tumanian, called “Vernatun” (Cenacle). In 1907, he became an auditor in the Commercial Institute of Moscow. He was proficient in half a dozen languages.

Kalashian established close ties with the revolutionary students at the Lazarian College of Moscow and participated in demonstrations, while he also distributed pamphlets. In 1909, he was arrested and confined to the prison of Taganka for political prisoners.

His poetry was published in two books, Inspirations (1908) and Poems (1916). His poetry about love, nostalgia, patriotism, and autumn melodies was mingled with the clash of struggle. He contributed to the press and also published literary essays and translations.

In 1918, he became a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and was a member of the Parliament of the first Republic of Armenia in 1919-1920.

Victim of tuberculosis, Garnik Kalashian passed away on November 21, 1921, in Yerevan. He was buried in Vagharshapat. Many of his unpublished poems appeared over the years in the Hairenik monthly of Boston.