Smbat Shahaziz
Encyclopedia
Smbat Shahaziz was an Armenian
educator, poet and publicist.
in Moscow
. Upon his graduation in 1862 he was asked to stay and teach modern and Classical Armenian at the primary school level, all the while he was preparing for a university degree. In 1867 he was granted a degree in oriental languages by the University of St. Petersburg. He obtained a college level teaching position at Lazarian College and retained it for thirty five years, until his retirement in 1897.
He started writing in his student days and was influenced by Raphael Patkanian
and Khachatur Abovyan. He contributed to the journal Hiusisapayl (Northern Lights), which was founded and edited by Stepanos Nazarian
. His articles and essays received public interest and he remained a contributor until the papers demise. In 1860 he published his first collection of poems, Azatutyan zhamer(Hours of freedom) it consisted of thirty three poems, most of which were written in modern Armenian and few in classical. The theme of the poems varied between love, nature and national heroes. His second book was published in 1865, it was a long patriotic poem titled Levoni vishte (Levon's grief). The poem is about Levon, a serious minded, idealistic Armenian youth studying in far north. He is deeply concerned and grieved by the dire conditions of his homeland, while his compatriots carry on in prodigal life, some even deny their Armenia identities. Lonely and grieved he decides to return home and contribute to the struggle against ignorance, servility, moral and religious decline, and corrupt leadership in all domains. The poem which reflected the reformist ideology emerging in Russian Empire
at the time, was very well received.
Articles, essays and speeches about the national and social issues of the time make a considerable part of Shahaziz's literacy. He encouraged the use of modern Armenian, criticized methods of archaic
education and conservatism
of religious leaders, and denounced despotism
and hypocritical attitude of European powers with regard to Armenian question
. In 1893 he founded Abovian-Nazarian Fund for the needy writers. After his retirement in 1898 he created a committee in Moscow to organize the care and education of children orphaned because of Hamidian massacres
. He exposed the anti-Armenian stance of czarist Russia regime in Hishogutiuner Vardanants toni artiv (Recollections from the feast of Vardanank, 1901) and duplicity of Turkish diplomacy in Mi kani khosk im entertsoghnerin (A few words to my readers, 1903). He died in 1908.
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
educator, poet and publicist.
Biography
Born in a family of a priest, he was the youngest of six brothers. He was home schooled until the age 10, and then sent to Lazarian CollegeLazarev Institute of Oriental Languages
The Lazarev Institute of Oriental Languages, established in 1815, was a Moscow school specializing in Caucasian language and culture, particularly that of Armenia, and the cultural center of the Armenian diaspora in Russia. Many Russian scholars specializing in Transcaucasia received their...
in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. Upon his graduation in 1862 he was asked to stay and teach modern and Classical Armenian at the primary school level, all the while he was preparing for a university degree. In 1867 he was granted a degree in oriental languages by the University of St. Petersburg. He obtained a college level teaching position at Lazarian College and retained it for thirty five years, until his retirement in 1897.
He started writing in his student days and was influenced by Raphael Patkanian
Raphael Patkanian
Raphael Patkanian was one of the most popular Armenian poets. - Biography :...
and Khachatur Abovyan. He contributed to the journal Hiusisapayl (Northern Lights), which was founded and edited by Stepanos Nazarian
Stepanos Nazarian
Stepanos Nazarian May 1812, Tiflis - 27 April 1879, Moscow) was a prominent Armenian publisher, enlightener, historian of literature and orientalist....
. His articles and essays received public interest and he remained a contributor until the papers demise. In 1860 he published his first collection of poems, Azatutyan zhamer(Hours of freedom) it consisted of thirty three poems, most of which were written in modern Armenian and few in classical. The theme of the poems varied between love, nature and national heroes. His second book was published in 1865, it was a long patriotic poem titled Levoni vishte (Levon's grief). The poem is about Levon, a serious minded, idealistic Armenian youth studying in far north. He is deeply concerned and grieved by the dire conditions of his homeland, while his compatriots carry on in prodigal life, some even deny their Armenia identities. Lonely and grieved he decides to return home and contribute to the struggle against ignorance, servility, moral and religious decline, and corrupt leadership in all domains. The poem which reflected the reformist ideology emerging in Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
at the time, was very well received.
Articles, essays and speeches about the national and social issues of the time make a considerable part of Shahaziz's literacy. He encouraged the use of modern Armenian, criticized methods of archaic
Archaism
In language, an archaism is the use of a form of speech or writing that is no longer current. This can either be done deliberately or as part of a specific jargon or formula...
education and conservatism
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
of religious leaders, and denounced despotism
Despotism
Despotism is a form of government in which a single entity rules with absolute power. That entity may be an individual, as in an autocracy, or it may be a group, as in an oligarchy...
and hypocritical attitude of European powers with regard to Armenian question
Armenian Question
The term "Armenian Question" as used in European history, became common place among diplomatic circles and in the popular press after the Congress of Berlin; that in like Eastern Question, refers to powers of Europe's involvement to the Armenian subjects of the Ottoman Empire beginning with the...
. In 1893 he founded Abovian-Nazarian Fund for the needy writers. After his retirement in 1898 he created a committee in Moscow to organize the care and education of children orphaned because of Hamidian massacres
Hamidian massacres
The Hamidian massacres , also referred to as the Armenian Massacres of 1894–1896, refers to the massacring of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire, with estimates of the dead ranging from anywhere between 80,000 to 300,000, and at least 50,000 orphans as a result...
. He exposed the anti-Armenian stance of czarist Russia regime in Hishogutiuner Vardanants toni artiv (Recollections from the feast of Vardanank, 1901) and duplicity of Turkish diplomacy in Mi kani khosk im entertsoghnerin (A few words to my readers, 1903). He died in 1908.