Nar-Dos

Who was Nar-Dos?

Michael Hovhannisyan, known by the pen name Nar-Dos, was an Armenian writer.

Nar-Dos was born in a wool seller's family in Tbilisi, Georgia in 1867. He started his education in a parochial school of Saint Karapet church, then he continued in Nicolaev municipal school and entered Khon seminary in Kutaisi state which he did not finish because of scarcity of living and returned to Tbilisi. He started locksmith profession at Michaelian craft school where he met Armenian poet Alexander Tsaturian.

After one year Nar-Dos left Michaelyan craft school and started practicing journalism. In 1890–1906 he was the responsible secretary of Nor dar periodical. He worked as a secretary and proofreader in Aghbyur-Taraz periodical in 1903, and in Surhandak newspaper in 1913–1918.

Nar-Dos began writing in the 1880s starting with poems some of which were published in Araks and “Sokhak Hayastani” collection. He also wrote stories, feuilletons and plays. Under the influence of Gabriel Sundukyan Nar-Dos created the plays “Mayini gangaty”, “Honey and flies”, “Brother”.