Derenik Demirchyan

Derenik Demirchyan is one of the prominent masters of the Armenian literature.

Derenik Demirchyan (birth surname Demirchoghlyan) was born in Akhlqalaq in January 17, 1877. He has received his secondary education at the local school. Soon their family moved to Ardahan where he continued his education at one of the local priest’s schools using Ter Todik’s methods (known for their strictness). Shortly after that a good school was opened there and Demirchyan begun to study there. During those years he showed his abilities in painting, music and literature.

1892: Demirchyan graduates from the Ardahan’s school and entered the Gevorgian Theological Seminary of Ejmiatsin in Armenia. He studied here only for 4 years.

1893: Demirchyan’s poetry was published in “Taraz” (means-Armenian national wearing) and then in “Murch” (means-hammer in Armenian).

1894-1895: During this academic year some changes were made in the working methods of the Seminary that brought to the quarrels among the students. Demirchyan, who has participated in those quarrels, autocratically left the Seminary, went to Tbilisi and entered the Nersisyan School.

1897: Demirchyan graduated from the Nersisyan School.

1899: the first poetry collection was published.

Upon leaving the Nersisyan’s School the problem of surviving arose and he had to do different jobs not proper to his literal views such as at meteorological station, post office.

However, Demirchyan was continuing to dream about higher education. For him a door was opened very surprisingly. His friend, Isahakyan, invites him to Alexandrapol and Demirchyan accepted the invitation.

1900: Demirchyan moved to Tbilisi. The literal company “Vernatun” founded by Tumanyan in Tbilisi had a great impact on his literal views and taste.

Each member of Vernatun also bear a name of a Russian or foreign writer. For example, Tumanyan “was named” Shekspear and Pushkin at the same time, Isahakyan-Hayne and Lermontov, Demirchyan-Lermontov and Bayron (also Gyote according to Shant’s memories), Shant-Hayne, Aghbalyan-Khilon Khilonices, Aghayan-Qyoroghli.

At the age of 25 Demirchyan became interested in music.

1903: He took lessons of violin from Sarajov in Moscow. From the beginning everything was right but then the intense classes exhausted him and his health. Following the advises of doctors he left Moscow and the violin lessons but the violin stayed the follower of his life, the friend of happy and unhappy moments.

At the end of 1903 Demirchyan went to Baku to find job.

1905: In August 1 arrives to Sweden and entered the faculty of Natural Science. Soon Demirchyan was transferred to Pedagogical faculty that he finished in 1909. At the same time he took part in lectures about literature and philosophy and improved his musical skills.

1910: Demirchyan returned to Tbilisi and became a teacher of Armenian language and literature at Mariamyan-Hovnanyan maiden-school. He again started his profession of writer.

1922: one of the Demirchyan’s best dramaturgies of the pre-soviet era, “Datastann” (means-The Reprisal), was performed at the Yerevan State Theatre. Soon Demirchyan wrote his famous theatrical work “Qaj Nazar” (means-Brave Nazar) comedy. From 1923 the work was successfully performed and continues to be performed now in different cities.

1925: Demirchyan moved to Yerevan and started to work as Scientific Secretary at the Institute of Science and Art. That Institute had gathered the prominent representatives of Armenian literature, art and science such us Toros Toromanyan, Alexander Spendiaryan, Romanos Meliqyan, S. Meliqyan, M. Abeghyan, H.Manandyan, Hrachya Acharyan and others.

In 1920-s when his works such us “Jutak ev Sring” (means-Violin and Reed) (1909), “Sepakanutyun” (means-Property) (1910), “Avelordn” (means-The Superfluous) (1916), “Tertern” (means-The Priest) (1917), “Stamoksn” (means-The Stomach) (1920), “Astso Tunn” (means-The House of God) (1921), “Zhpitn” (means-The Smile) (1921), “Khuzhani Shunn” (means-The Dog of The Riff-Raff) (1926) stories, “Hayrn” (means-The Father) (1920) essay, “Puypuy Mukikn” (means-The Puypuy Mouse) fairytale (1928) were released to the public Demirchyan was accepted by the literal society as on of the outstanding persons in Armenian literature.