Avetis Aharonyan

Who was Avetis Aharonyan?

Avetis Aharonian was an Armenian politician, writer, public figure and revolutionary, also part of the Armenian national movement.

Aharonyan was born in 1866 in Surmalu, Erivan Governorate, Russian Empire. Growing up, he was influenced by the natural features of his birthplace, such as the Aras River and Mount Ararat, both of which were located near Surmalu.

His mother, Zardar, was a literate person, who was able to educate her child by teaching him how to read and write. After completing elementary education at the village's school, he was sent to Echmiadzin's Kevorkian school, and graduated from there. He became a teacher for a few years, after which he went to Switzerland's University of Lausanne to study history and philosophy. During this period of time, he met Kristapor Mikaelian, who was then the chief editor of the Troshag newspaper. He then began to write for the paper. In 1901, upon graduation, he went to study literature at the Sorbonne.

In 1902, he returned to the Caucasus and became the headmaster of the Nersissian school and the chief editor of the Mourj newspaper. Thus, in 1909, he was captured by the Tsar's government and imprisoned in Metekhi's prison, where he fell ill. Two years later, after a generous donation of 20,000 rubles, he fled to Europe.