Yeghishe Charents (Soghomonian) (1897-1937)

Born in Kars, on March 13, 1897, Charents received his primary and secondary education in his hometown. At the age of 18 (in 1915,) he joined the Armenian Voluntary Troops. Afterward, he moved to Moscow to continue his education. In 1919, he moved to Yerevan, where he lived for the rest of his life. Charents is a poet gifted with an incredible talent, dynamism, and individuality. He is one of the greatest names, not only in Armenian, but also in Soviet poetry. His major works are: “Danteyagan arasbel” (“A legend of Dante,”) “Yergir Nayiri” (“Nayiri country,”) “Epicahgan lousapats” (“An epic dawn,”) and “Kirk Janabarhi” (“A road book.”) Following the publication of the last title, he was accused as a nationalist and member of the ARF. He was arrested in 1936. Charents died in 1937, at the prison hospital in Yerevan.