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Vahan Terian (, real name Vahan Ter-Grigoryan; 9 February 1885 – 7 January 1920; Orenburg, Soviet Russia), was a prominent Armenian poet, lyricist, public and political figure.
Born in Gandza, Terian attended the Lazarev Seminary in Moscow, Moscow State University, and Saint-Petersburg University, where he worked in various journals that shaped his literary work. Terian’s first poetry collection, Mtnshaghi Anourjner (“Twilight Dreams”) received positive feedback in literary circles. Other notable works include the collections "Night Remembrance," "The Golden Legend," "The Return," "The Golden Link," "In the Land of Nairi," and "The Cat's Paradise."
Besides poetry, Terian’s contribution to literature includes translations of European, Russian, Indian, and Georgian literary works to Russian and Armenian. Terian translated Sappho, Baudelaire, Oscar Wilde, Valery Bryusov, Shota Rustaveli, and many others.
In October 1917, Terian actively participated in the Bolshevik Revolution and the civil wars that followed. He participated in the signing of the Brest peace treaty with Vladimir Lenin signed mandate.
Terian died of tuberculosis in 1920 in Orenburg.
Terian’s brother, Aram, was one of the leaders of the student club Tsiatsan (Ծիածան, "Rainbow"), which was active from 1898 to 1902 and gathered up to 500 members from Tbilisi secondary schools. The club focused on Armenian language, literature, and history, with lectures given by prominent intellectuals, including Stepan Shaumian, Hovhannes Tumanyan, Stepan Malkhasyants, Nikol Aghbalian, and Derenik Demirchyan. Discussions often centered around the Armenian Question and revolutionary movements. Terian attended Tsiatsan meetings and read its student magazine. It was during this time that Terian’s brother Aram first noticed Vahan Terian’s early literary experiments.
In 1907, he published his first book, Mtnshaghi Anourjner ("Twilight Dreams"), and received positive criticism towards his work. He later published "Night Remembrance," "The Golden Legend," "The Return," "The Golden Link," and "In the Land of Nairi" (where he substituted the word Nairi for each instance where the word Armenia would have suited), and "The Cat's Paradise."
After graduating from the seminary in 1906, he continued his studies at the Faculty of History and Philology of Moscow State University from years 1913 to 1917. He also studied at the Faculty of Oriental Studies of Saint-Petersburg University. Terian has worked for various newspapers, which shaped his literary works. Afterwards he returned to the village to actively engage in the community by meeting with Armenian writers, which made Terian start to consider himself a writer of love.
Terian contributed not only to poetry but to translations as well. Terian's translations from European, Russian, Indian, and Georgian literature are many and varied. Sappho, Heinrich Heine, Veolena, Verhaeren, Schnitzler, Baudelaire, Oscar Wilde, Valery Bryusov, Fyodor Sologub, Ivanov, Tagore, Shota Rustaveli, Irakli Tsereteli, he translated all of their works to Russian and to Armenian. While in Gandza, Terian began translating the first volume of Leo Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace." He also translated Oscar Wilde "Salome" from the original French language. He also translated Gabriel Sundukyan's "Pepo," the first volume of Raffi's "Sparks," and Shirvanzadeh's "The Evil Spirit" from Armenian to Russian.
"I am being offered a position in the Ministry of National Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I haven't made up my mind yet. In order to collaborate with the Armenian counterpart, I might accept a position in the Ministry of National Affairs. It will be fascinating. I am unable to decline since intellectual forces are needed, and party ethics forbid me from going to work for the government of the workers and peasants at a time when evil forces are engaging in repulsive sabotage. Thus, I would like to accept one of the suggested positions in theory."
The Commissariat for Armenian Affairs was established at the end of the year under the People's Commissariat for Nationalities Affairs, with Vahan Terian serving as its Deputy and V. Avanesov as its People's Commissar.
Terian prepared a report on "Turkish Armenia," outlining the problem's history, and a draft that was reviewed and approved on December 29. Terian spoke with Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin at that time, and Stalin, before even reading the report, stated that he believed the forces should be ordered to leave Armenia right away and that "the Armenians should be given the opportunity to self-determination."
With a certificate signed by Lenin, Terian departed for Brest-Litovsk in 1918 as an advisor to the Soviet delegation, where the second round of negotiations had started. Terian spent a lot of time there gathering and presenting information about the Armenian Question. For that reason, on January 25 he departed for Moscow to bring the required materials to Brest.
Each year there is a commemoration of his life in Gandza, where he was born.
Their love affair continued on distance, with letter sharing, until Vahan Terian met Susanna Pakhalova. Their meeting occurred in Stavropol, and they soon got engaged. Partizouni writes that Terian was exceptionally warm toward his wife Susanna. This warmth was expressed both in the few letters that have survived and in poems dedicated to her, such as “A telegram suddenly comes to me”, “When the fire of the rose clouds trembles," and “My burning sun darkens.” Soon, Susanna got infected with tuberculosis. Vahan, wishing to stay with his wife, traveled to Stavropol where he fell ill as well. In May 1996 Susanna gave birth to a child who soon died. Terian and her got separated for political and personal reasons and Terian met his last lover, Anahit Shahinjanyan.
Anahit and Terian met at the People's Commissariat for Nationalities. When she got pregnant, her parents had almost rejected her and Anahit followed Terian until his death. Terian's health condition worsened during his last trip and they stopped at Orenburg. Anahit located the paramedic aboard the military-sanitary train (which they had taken from Samara) after Terian requested a camphor injection. While giving him the injection, Terian recognized the military man and inquired, "Is it possible to inject endlessly in order to prolong life for another week?" Anahit had been told by Terian to "sit quietly by his side and not cry or run around." "After that, he slowly... quietly dies."
His poetry has been adapted into music by various artists, including Project LA (Two Ghosts, an Autumn Melody, In the Night of Peace, Home, Desire) and Harout Pambukjian. (Years Years)
Notable songs based on his poems include “Come Back Again” by Levon Katrjian, "Sorrowful Souls" by Vardevar Antosyan, and “Let's Go Away” and “Forget” by Atis Harmantyan. Other adaptations include “Peaceful Nights" by Haro Buryan, "Carousel” by Artashes Avetyan, and "Autumn Melody” by Raisa Mkrtchyan. Hasmik Papyan has contributed with multiple interpretations, such as In the Fields, My Mothers Have, and You Come to Me in the Dark Evening. The evocative Nocturne (Lullaby) was performed by Flora Khorenyan, while You Will Come was brought to life by Levon Hakhverdyan and Tatev Beglaryan. Marietta Antonyan wrote the musical adaptations of Sadness and Ghost, and I Saw a Dream and a Light, which was performed by Lida Zakaryan. Additionally, Whisper and Shrshyun by Tatevik Babloyan and Mother by Vahag Rash and Anahit Simonyan.
Terian's village, Gandza, celebrates Terian days, which coincides with Vardavar. The celebration is followed by visiting his house, the flea market, singing, and reciting his poems. On this occasion, the villagers visit the Saint Hovhannes Church in Gandza as in 1904, another prominent Armenian poet, Avetik Isahakyan, was in Akhalkalaki, visiting the Ter-Grigoryan family, and on the holiday of Vardavar, they went with him to the then chapel of St. Hovhannes.
A street in Yerevan is named after Vahan Terian located in the center of the city. On the same street in the Circular Park, a monument dedicated to Terian is installed. It was installed in 1999 and officially unveiled on February 9, 2000, to mark the poet's 115th anniversary. The monument was created by Hamlet Khachatryan, Yerevan's chief architect from 1998 to 2000, and Norayr Karganyan, an Honoured Artist of the Republic of Armenia.
The statue, made of gray basalt, stands on a platform of smooth basalt. It depicts the poet seated with his head inclined toward his left shoulder, his left hand resting on the stone, and holding a book in his right hand. The details of his attire are prominently emphasized in the sculpture. The statue is 3 meters tall.
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