Gegam Bagdasarovich Sarian

(also G. B. Sarian). Born Dec. 12 (25), 1902, in Tabriz, Iran; died Nov. 14, 1976, in Yerevan. Soviet Armenian poet. Honored Cultural Worker of the Armenian SSR (1967) and Ukrainian SSR (1972).

After graduating from an Armenian seminary in Tabriz, Sar’-ian taught in Iran from 1920 to 1922, when he emigrated to Soviet Armenia.

Sar’ian published his first work in 1919. His early lyrics were characterized by themes of despair and protest against an oppressive social order. In Soviet Armenia, Sar’ian wrote the narrative poem Shirak’s Wedding (1925), dealing with the construction of the Shirak Canal. His poetry after emigration was civic-minded and patriotic. Sar’ian wrote about Armenia’s past and present, about work and the struggle for peace, and about the poet’s craft and civic duty. His verse collections included THESoviet Land (1930), Midday (1935), Ballads (1944), Chrysanthemum (1968; State Prize of the Armenian SSR, 1970), and Selected Works: Verses and Ballads (1974). Some of Sar’ian’s poems have been set to music, and his works have been translated into many languages.

Sar’ian was a deputy to the second, sixth, and eight convocations of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. He was awarded the Order of Lenin, three other orders, and various medals.