YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. Vahan Teryan by his activity raised the Armenian literature to a new level, Director of "Vahan Teryan" cultural center Arushan Hakobyan mentioned in the interview with reporters on February 8 adding that poet’s 131th birthday anniversary will be celebrated on February 9.

“Teryan entered literature at a time when the literary world was rich with great writers. It seemed he had no place during this period but at the age of 22 he brought his language, type, poetry and opened his place in the sphere of literature,” Hakobyan said, “Armenpress” reports.

According to the Director of "Vahan Teryan" cultural center Arushan Hakobyan, Teryan was a legend.

“Teryan was a legend with his activity and poetry. The birthday anniversary of such a great man may constantly be celebrated,” Hakobyan emphasized.

The director of Vahan Teryan Basic School No.60 Anichka Iskandaryan recalled that last year the pot’s 130th birthday anniversary was celebrated.

“The entire staff of the school is responsible for the fact that the institution holds the poet's name. We teach Teryan’s poetry from the first grade. This year class events dedicated to Teryan will be held, and then school teachers and pupils will lay flowers at the memorial to Teryan in the Pantheon, Iskandaryan said.

Vahan Teryan was born in the Gandza village of Javakhk region. Schooled in Tiflis, he then studied at the Lazarian College in Moscow, where he was exposed to symbolism and joined the Russian Social Democrats. He was jailed by Czarist police for his political activity. He is mostly known for his poems dedicated to autumn and love. That's why Teryan is known as "Singer of Autumn" in Literature. He published his first book of poems, "Dreams at Dusk", in 1908, which made him an immediate sensation, Hovhannes Tumanian calling him the most original lyric poet of his age. He later published "Night Remembrance", "The Golden Legend", "The Return", "The Golden Link", "In the Land of Nairi" (where he substitute the word 'Nairi' for each instance where the word 'Armenia' would have suited), and "The Cat's Paradise". His poems are filled with images of rain, mist, pallid fields and shapeless shadows, symbols of sorrow, despair and eventually, peace. 

In 1913, Teryan left Moscow University for the University of St. Petersburg, where he majored in oriental languages, intensifying his political involvement. After the revolution he became representative of Armenians in the Ministry of Nations, personally working with Lenin and Stalin. He died in Orenburg of tuberculosis shortly before his 35th birthday. Each year there is a commemoration of his life in Javakhk region (Akhaltsikhe and Akhalkalak), at Gandza village, where he was born.

Vahan Teryan is buried at Komitas Pantheon which is located in the city center of Yerevan.