Yervant Odian
Encyclopedia
Yervant Odian (Born in Constantinople, Turkey in 19 September 1869 - Died in Egypt 1926) is considered to be one of the most influential Armenian
satirists, along with the roughly contemporary Hagop Baronian
. Odian's writings, which include novels and short stories, often humorously point out humanity's vices. He had the unique ability to conceive of and write stories at any given instant.
In 1915, during the Armenian Genocide
Yervant Odian was deported from Istanbul
to the Syrian desert. He was able to avoid falling victim by becoming a translator for German
officials in Deir ez-Zor since he knew French
and Turkish
. In 1918, after World War I
, he took up the responsibility of collecting orphans left over from deportations in the deserts of Syria
and placing them in orphanages. His only real source of income was through his writing. He left Constantinople in 1922 and lived in Bucharest and different parts of the Near East.
Odian spent the last days of his life in Cairo
, Egypt
where he was buried.
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....
satirists, along with the roughly contemporary Hagop Baronian
Hagop Baronian
Hakop Baronian was an influential Ottoman Armenian writer, satirist, educator, and social figure in the 19th century...
. Odian's writings, which include novels and short stories, often humorously point out humanity's vices. He had the unique ability to conceive of and write stories at any given instant.
In 1915, during the Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
Yervant Odian was deported from Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
to the Syrian desert. He was able to avoid falling victim by becoming a translator for German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
officials in Deir ez-Zor since he knew French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
. In 1918, after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he took up the responsibility of collecting orphans left over from deportations in the deserts of Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
and placing them in orphanages. His only real source of income was through his writing. He left Constantinople in 1922 and lived in Bucharest and different parts of the Near East.
Odian spent the last days of his life in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
where he was buried.
Works
- Accursed Years. My Exile and Return from Der Zor, 1914-1919, Garod Books, London 2009
- Comrade Clueless (Ընկեր Փանջունի), Constantinople, from 1914 on (several books)
- Twelve Years Out of Istanbul. 1896-1908 (Տասներկու Տարի Պոլսէն Դուրս. 1896-1908), Constantinople 1922 (Reminiscences)