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Raphael Patkanian

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Raphael Patkanian
Born(1830-11-20)20 November 1830
Nakhichevan-on-Don, Russian Empire
Died7 September 1892(1892-09-07) (aged 61)
Nakhichevan-on-Don, Russian Empire
Pen nameGamar Katipa
Occupationwriter
Patkanian's (left) and Mikayel Nalbandian's graves in Nor Nakhijevan

Raphael Patkanian (Armenian: Ռափայէլ Պատկանեան,[a] 20 November [O.S. 8 November] 1830 – 7 September [O.S. 26 August] 1892), also known by the penname Gamar Katipa (Գամառ Քաթիպա),[b] was a nineteenth-century Russian Armenian writer and educator. He was born into a noted family of Armenian intellectuals in Nakhichevan-on-Don and began writing in his student years. He gained popularity for his poetry, much of which is written on patriotic themes.

Biography

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Patkanian was born on 20 November [O.S. 8 November] 1830 in Nakhichevan-on-Don (now within Rostov-on-Don), Russia,[4] into a noted family of intellectuals. His grandfather, Serovbe Patkanian [hy], was a poet and educator, and his father, Gabriel [hy], was a clergyman, author and social activist.[1] He was the first cousin of scholar Kerovbe Patkanian.[5] He began his education in the private school founded by his father, then attended the Lazarev Institute in Moscow from 1843 to 1849. Before graduating, he moved to Tiflis with his father, who had been appointed principal of the Nersisian School. He continued his education at the universities of Dorpat (1851–52), Moscow (1852–1854), and Saint Petersburg (1855–60), finally graduating from the latter, having specialized in Oriental studies.[1]

Patkanian published his first poems in the weekly Ararat, which was founded and edited by his father. While he was in Moscow, he formed a literary club with two fellow students, Gevorg Kananian and Minas (or Mnatsakan) Timurian, which they named Gamar Katipa, an acronym formed from the first letters of their given names and the first syllables of their surnames.[6] Patkanian later adopted Gamar Katipa as a penname.[7] The group published its first pamphlet in 1855. Their literary philosophy was expressed in the motto "Write as you speak; speak as you write." By 1857, the group had published four more pamphlets, most of them authored by Patkanian. He published works in several periodicals starting in 1860. In 1863, he founded his own journal, Hyusis, which ceased publication after one year.[6] He published his first collection of poems (Gamar’-K’at’ipayi banasteghtsut’yunk’ë, Poems of Gamar Katipa)[7] in 1864 to widespread acclaim. This was followed by a pause in his literary career, but by then he was already a well-known author.[8] He moved back to Nakhichevan-on-Don in 1866 and dedicated himself to writing and pedagogy, working as a teacher at the local parish school. In 1879, he helped found a vocational school for impoverished children. He served as its director until his death in 1892.[6]

Work

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Patkanian wrote poetry, as well as novels, short stories, memoirs, textbooks, and children's songs and poems. His poems are mostly written in the vernacular language.[9] Like Khachatur Abovian before him, he promoted the use of vernacular Armenian (as opposed to Classical Armenian) as a literary language.[10] Some of his works are written in his native Nakhichevan-on-Don dialect.[11] His first poems are about merrymaking and youth, but he soon shifted to the topic of the struggles of the Armenian people. He sought to use his poetry to promote patriotic ideals and to advance the cause of the enlightenment and liberation of his nation.[1] Like many other Armenian writers of his time, he believed in the social utility of literature and emphasized this over artistic form.[12] Two of his poems which have enjoyed lasting popularity are "Arak’si artasuk’ë" (The tears of the Araxes) and "Vardan Mamikoneani mahë" (The death of Vardan Mamikonian), both written on patriotic themes. The first poem is a dialogue between the poet and the river, personified as the mother of the Armenian people who is lamenting the suffering of her children. In Kevork Bardakjian's view, the poem achieves an "intimate dynamism" and combines feelings of grief and loss with an unsaid optimism.[8] The second work is an epic poem has the fifth-century Battle of Avarayr between the Armenians and the Persians as its subject.[13] The section of the poem "Vardan's Song," which calls on Armenians to rise up against their oppressors, is particularly popular.[8]

His second collection of poems, Azat yerger (Free songs, 1878), was written in reaction to Ottoman atrocities during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878.[13] He was one of the first Armenian authors to highlight the suffering of the Ottoman Armenians in Muş and Van as conditions for Armenians in the Ottoman Empire worsened. Like his predecessors Khachatur Abovian and Mikayel Nalbandian and his successor Raffi, he called on Armenians to engage in self-defense. His poems written after the Russo-Turkish War reflect the disappointment that dominated among Armenians, as the goal of achieving reforms in Ottoman Armenia now seemed impossible. In his poem "Boghok’ ar’ Yevropa," (Protest to Europe), he strongly condemned the indifference of the European powers to the plight of the Armenians.[8] In some of his other patriotic poems, Patkanian criticized Armenian clergymen for promoting inaction and those who were apathetic to national issues.[8] Patkanian also wrote short stories and satirical works in his native dialect on social issues within the Armenian community.[14] In these works, he depicted social and political abuses, immoral merchants and priests, and a decadent youth.[11] His collected works were published in Yerevan in eight volumes from 1963 to 1974.[9]

Reception

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Patkanian's poetry made him one of the leading Armenian poets for several decades.[12] His poems were often set to music and were particularly popular among the Armenian youth of his time.[10] His younger contemporary Alexander Shirvanzade described him as "the sole popularized Armenian lyrical poet of his time," noting that his "Arak’si artasuk’ë" and "Boghok’ ar’ Yevropa" were sung and recited "on stages, in homes and everywhere that there was a handful of Armenians." Some even dubbed him "the poet of all Armenians,"[c] an epithet that was later more famously attributed to Hovhannes Tumanyan. The Russian poet Valery Bryusov also valued Patkanian's poetry, seeing its main strength in its "intense patriotism, unfailing dedication to [his] native people, which is expressed not only through odes, but also through bitter satire."[15] In Bardakjian's view, "[a]lthough too many of [Patkanian's] poems read like rhymed speeches, his sincere and emotional patriotic appeal resonated with the prevailing mood."[12] Meri Saghian calls him "one of the founders of Armenian civic poetry" (poetry that deals with social and political issues).[14]

List of works

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This is a list of Patkanian's published works, including works and collections published posthumously. Individual poems and stories are only included where published as separate editions.

Collections of poetry

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  • (1864) Gamaṛ-Kʻatʻipayi banasteghtsutʻiwnkʻě Գամառ-Քաթիպայի բանաստեղծութիւնքը [Gamar-Katipa's poems]. Moscow: Tparan Lazareantsʻ chemarani. Published under the pseudonym Gamar-Katipa. (Read online.)
  • (1878) Azat erger Ազատ երգեր [Free songs]. Tiflis: Tparan Hambardzumay Ēnfiacheantsʻ ew ěnk. "Pʻordz" azgayin handisi hrat. Published under the pseudonym Gamar-Katipa. (Read online.)
  • (1879) Nor Nakhijewani kʻnar Նոր Նախիջեւանի քնար [Lyre of Nakhichevan-on-Don]. Rostov-on-Don: Tparan Yovhannu Tēr-Abrahamean. Published under the pseudonym Siwliwk. (Read online.)
  • (1880) Mankakan erger Մանկական երգեր [Children's songs]. Tiflis: Tparan Y. Martiroseantsʻi. Published under the pseudonym Gamar-Katipa. (Read online.)
  • (1941) Mankakan banasteghtsutʻyunner Մանկական բանաստեղծություններ [Children's poems]. Erevan: Haypethrat. (Read online.)
  • (1941) Banasteghtsutʻyunner Բանաստեղծություններ [Poems]. Erevan: Haypethrat. (Read online.)
  • (1941) "Garun" and "Tsitsernak," individual poems published in separate booklets.
  • (1944) Mankakan erger Մանկական երգեր [Children's songs]. Erevan: Haypethrat.
  • (1981) Astghikner Աստղիկներ [Starlets]. Erevan: Haypethrat. (Children's poems.)

Stories and novellas

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  • (1875) "R. Akhtamerkeani patmatsnerě Nor-Nakhijewani ochov" Ռ. Ախտամերկեանի պատմածները Նոր-Նախիջեւանի ոճով [R. Akhtamerkean's stories in the Nakhichevan-on-Don dialect]. Materialy dlia izucheniia armianskikh narechiĭ Матеріалы для изученія армянскихъ нарѣчій [Materials for the study of Armenian dialects]. Vol. 1. Published by K. Patkanov. Saint Petersburg: Tipografiia Imperatorskoĭ Akademii nauk.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) Published under the pseudonym R. Akhtamerkean. (Collection of stories.)
  • (1878) Girgor [sic] Kaiapʻa: Hinutʻ patmutʻin Գիրգոր Կաիափա․ Հինութ պատմութին [Girgor Caiapha: an old story]. Rostov-on-Don: Tparan Yovhannu Tēr-Abrahamean. Published under the pseudonym Khěchi-Agha (Story. Read online.)
  • (1884) Tikin ew nazhisht Տիկին եւ նաժիշտ [Lady and servant girl]. Tiflis: Tparan Y. Martiroseantsʻi. (Novella. Read online.)
  • (1905) Shaterēn mekě Շատերէն մեկը [One out of many]. Nakhichevan-on-Don: Tparan Serovbē Awageantsʻi. (Story. Read online.)
  • (1909) Chʻakhu Չախու [Knife]. Tiflis: Hasker amsagri hrat. (Story, orig. date 1875; translated from the Nakhichevan dialect by Stepan Lisitsian. Read online)
  • (1972) Pʻaṛaser Փառասեր [Vainglorious]. Erevan: Haypetusmankhrat. (Collection of stories, including "Pʻaṛaser," "Es nshanats ēi" [I was engaged], "Chʻakhu," and the novella Tikin ev nazhisht.)

Plays

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  • (1879) Pampulios: Kʻōmetia irekʻ gortsoghutʻinov Պամպուլիոս: Քօմետիա իրեք գործողութինով [Pampulios: a comedy in three acts]. Rostov-on-Don: Tparan Yovhannu Tēr-Abrahamean. Published under the pseudonym Siwliwk. (Read online.)

Other collections

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  • (1855–1857) Gamaṛ-Kʻatʻipayi ardzak ew chʻapaberakan ashkhatutʻiwnnerě Գամառ-Քաթիպայի բանաստեղծութիւնքը [Gamar-Katipa's prose and versified works]. Saint Petersburg. 5 pamphlets (1, 2, 3, 4, 5).
  • (1893) Ṛ. Patkaneani ěntir erkasirutʻiwnnerě Ռ․ Պատկանեանի ընտիր երկասիրութիւնները [Selected works of R. Patkanian]. Selected works, 2 vols. (Vol. 1, vol. 2.)
  • (1904) Erkasirutʻiwnner Երկասիրութիւններ [Works]. Rostov-on-Don: Donskaya Rech. (Continuation of the 1893 collection. Read online.)
  • (1944) Erkeri zhoghovatsu։ Ardzak Երկերի ժողովածու․ Արձակ [Collected works: prose]. Erevan: Haypethrat. (Collection of prose works.)
  • (1955) Erker։ Chapʻatso ev ardzak Երկեր․ Չափածո և արձակ [Works: verse and prose]. Erevan: Haypethrat. (Selected works.)
  • (1963–1974) Erkeri zhoghovatsu Երկերի ժողովածու. Erevan: Haykakan SSṚ GA hratarakchʻutʻyun. (Collected works, 8 vols. Vol. 1, vol. 2)
  • (1980) Erker Երկեր [Works]. Edited by S. Topchian. Erevan: Sovetakan grogh.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) (Selected works. Read online)
  • (1984) Erker Երկեր [Works]. Edited by O. Papoyan. Erevan: Luys.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) (Selected works.)

Non-fiction

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  • (1856) Nor aybbenaran haykakan Նոր այբբենարան հայկական [New Armenian abecedary]. Saint Petersburg: Tparan Eōnsōni. (Textbook. Read online.)
  • (1863) Patmutʻiwn Metsi Petrosi Kayser amenayn Ṛusatsʻ Պատմութիւն Մեծին Պետրոսի Կայսեր ամենայն Ռուսաց [History of Peter the Great, emperor of all the Russias]. Saint Petersburg. (Read online.)
  • (1870) Zhoghovatsoykʻ otarazgi baṛeri Nor Nakhijewantsʻotsʻ lezui mēj mtats Ժողովածոյք օտարազգի բառերի Նոր Նախիջեւանցոց լեզուի մէջ մտած [Collections of foreign words that have entered the Nakhichevan-on-Don dialect]. Saint Petersburg: Tparan Ō. V. Landsbergi. (Dictionary. Read online.)
  • (1875) Srbuhi Eghiayean Khlětcheani kensagrutʻiwně Սրբուհի Եղիայեան Խլըտճեանի կենսագրութիւնը [Srbuhi Yeghiayan Khletchian's biography]. Tparan Yovhannu Tēr-Abrahamean. (Biography. Read online.)
  • (1879) Nor-Nakhijewani himnarkutʻean patmutʻiwně Նոր-Նախիջեւանի հիմնարկութեան պատմութիւնը [History of the establishment of Nakhichevan-on-Don]. Tiflis: Tparan H. Ēnfiacheantsʻi ew ěnk. Published under the pseudonym Siwliwk. (Read online.)
  • (1881) Mayreni barbaṛ Մայրենի բարբառ [Mother language]. Rostov-on-Don: Tpagratun A. V. Kholevayi. (Textbook. Read online.)
  • (1884) Aybbenaran hnchʻakan ochov Այբբենարան հնչական ոճով [Abecedary in sounding style]. Vienna. (Textbook. Read online.)
  • (1885) Tarrakan gitutʻiwnkʻ Տարրական գիտութիւնք [Elementary knowledge]. Tiflis: Tparan Y. Martiroseantsʻi. (Textbook. Read online.)
  • (1891) Vardapetaran Hayastani azatutʻean Վարդապետարան Հայաստանի ազատութեան [The teaching of Armenia's freedom]. M. Portugalian. (Article.)

Translations

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  • (1857) Ṛōbinzōn Kṛiwzōi patmutʻiwně Ռօբինզօն Կռիւզօի պատմութիւնը. Saint Petersburg: Tparan Yakob Eōnsōni. (From Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe. Read online.)
  • (1857) Hatěntir ew patkerazard aṛakkʻ Ezoposi ew aṛatskʻ pēspēs azgatsʻ Հատընտիր եւ պատկերազարդ առակք Եզոպոսի եւ առածք պէսպէս ազգաց [Selected and illustrated fables of Aesop and sayings of various nations]. Tiflis: Gratun Aladatʻeani.
  • (1882) Ukhtaworkʻ Ուխտաւորք [Pilgrims]. Tparan Movs. Vardaneantsʻ. (Translations of tales by Wilhelm Hauff. Read online.)
  • (1884) Oski dznik Ոսկի ձկնիկ [Golden fish]. Tiflis: Tparan Movsisi Vardanean. (From Alexander Pushkin's "The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish." Read online.)

Translations into English

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  • (1901) Arnot, Robert. Armenian Literature. New York: Colonial Press. pp. 48, 49–54. (Anthology. Read online.)
  • (1913) Boyajian, Z. "Leretz amberi". Armenia. 10: 294.
  • (1916) Blackwell, A. "Let the Wind Blow". The New Armenia (11): 173.
  • (1917) Blackwell, A. S. Armenian Poems. Boston: Robert Chambers. pp. 66–94, 250. (Anthology. Read online.)
  • (1929) Arnot, Robert. "Sweet Lady, Whence the Sadness in your Face?". The New Armenia (1): 11–12.
  • (1961) "The Tears of Araxes". Shoghagat. 67. (Read online.)

Notes

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  1. ^ Reformed orthography: Ռափայել Պատկանյան. Also spelled Rafayel,[1] Rapayel,[2] Rafael.[3]
  2. ^ Also spelled Kamar Katiba after the Western Armenian pronunciation
  3. ^ The epithet (amenayn hayots’ banasteghts) is a play on the title of the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Catholicos of All Armenians.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Hacikyan, Agop Jack; Basmajian, Gabriel; Franchuk, Edward S.; Ouzounian, Nourhan (2005). The Heritage of Armenian Literature, Volume III: From the Eighteenth Century to Modern Times. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. p. 316. ISBN 0-8143-3221-8.
  2. ^ Hairapetian, Srbouhi (1995). A History of Armenian Literature: From Ancient Times to the Nineteenth Century. Caravan Books. p. 357. ISBN 978-0-88206-059-0.
  3. ^ Oshagan, Vahé (1997). "Modern Armenian Literature and Intellectual History from 1700 to 1915". In Hovannisian, Richard G. (ed.). The Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times. Vol. 2. Basingstoke: Macmillan. p. 162. ISBN 0-333-61974-9.
  4. ^ Muradyan, Samvel (2021). Hay nor grakanutʻyan patmutʻyun: Usumnakan dzeṛnark Հայ նոր գրականության պատմություն․ Ուսումնական ձեռնարկ [History of modern Armenian literature: Educational guide] (PDF) (in Armenian). Vol. 1. Yerevan State University Publishing House. p. 304. ISBN 978-5-8084-2500-2.
  5. ^ Tigranov, Gr. (1902). "Patkanov, Keropė Petrovich". In Polovtsov, A. A. (ed.). Russkīi bīograficheskīi slovarʹ Русскій бiографическій словарь [Russian Biographical Dictionary] (in Russian). Vol. 13. Saint Petersburg: Tip. I. N. Skorokhodova. pp. 369–371.
  6. ^ a b c Hacikyan et al. 2005, pp. 316–317.
  7. ^ a b Bardakjian, Kevork B. (2000). A Reference Guide to Modern Armenian Literature 1500-1920. Detroit: Wayne State University Press. p. 460. ISBN 0-8143-2747-8.
  8. ^ a b c d e Bardakjian 2000, p. 140.
  9. ^ a b Hacikyan et al. 2005, p. 318.
  10. ^ a b Oshagan 1997, p. 163.
  11. ^ a b Bardakjian 2000, p. 140–141.
  12. ^ a b c Bardakjian 2000, p. 139.
  13. ^ a b Hacikyan et al. 2005, p. 317.
  14. ^ a b Saghian, M. (1983). "Patkanyan Rapʻayel Gabrieli". In Arzumanian, Makich (ed.). Haykakan sovetakan hanragitaran Հայկական սովետական հանրագիտարան [Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia] (in Armenian). Vol. 9. Erevan: Haykakan hanragitarani glkhavor khmbagrutʻyun. pp. 151-152.
  15. ^ Muradyan 2021, pp. 303–304.
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