“The childhood is the most capable period of a person's life …”
Hovhannes Toumanian, who was an Armenian poet, novelist, literary, national and public figure, was born in a clergyman's family, on February 19, 1869, in Lori province, village Dsegh.
On February 27 (February 15 by old calendar) he was baptized and got his grandfather's name – Hovhannes (this name was also his maternal grandfather's name). Besides Hovhannes, Ter Tadevos and Sona had seven more children: four boys and three girls: Rostom (1871-1915), Osan (1874-1926), Iskuhi (1878-1943), Vahan (1881-1937), Astghik (1885-1953), Arshavir (1888-1921), Artashes (1892-1916).
Although his paternal and maternal grandfathers belonged to different social classes, but during Toumanian's childhood, that difference was only a memory.
Toumanians' family was a large family until he was six years old. Hovhannes Agha's sons – Aslan (Ter-Tadevos), Grishka and Mam, lived with their wives and children in the same house, with patriarchal customs and traditions.
Toumanian's two siblings – Rostom and Osan – were his childhood playmates.
The poet spent his childhood in his birthplace, which he considered the brightest period of his life. He gave importance to the environment where his childhood impressions and memories were formed.
Toumanian's childhood memories began with his toddling period. According to him, he started to walk earlier than usual.
The big and small members of Toumanian patriarchal multi-branch family indelibly imprinted in the future poet's memory with their characteristic features.
The family, village environment and rich mountain nature were his “school”, and his parents, grandmothers, village storytellers were his first “teachers”.
Toumanian’s paternal grandmother stood out among his “teachers”. She was a beautiful and educated woman; she followed her grandson's education, his dressing and movement, demanding everything to be clean.
Toumanian’s first spiritual nourishment was the national folklore. The historical traditions, conversations, myths, fairy tales, fables, songs, proverbs and sayings flavored with folk phrases and styles are forever imprinted in his memories.
Among the storytellers of Toumanian's childhood, stands out the youngest one – his playmate Neso. He was endowed with a vivid creative imagination and the gift of writing.
Hovhannes’s uncles, especially Uncle Isa, shared with him different fables, on the basis of which he wrote "The Dog and the Cat", "The Unfortunate Merchants", "The Eagle and the Oak" legends and ballads. From uncle Mam, he heard Lori's horovels (the song sung during the tilling of soil) and village songs.
Toumanian's father's song and conversation evenings left deep impression on the poet.
Although little Hovhannes was thin, he was a very healthy, playful and joyful child. He was obsessed with the beauty of his motherland's nature and preferred wanderings and walks with his friends.
Thanks to his wanderings Toumanian well acquainted with his village and surrounding places, the monuments of the mountains. He knew the flora, medical properties and names of wild plants and flowers, different types of vegetables.
Although Toumanian lived in the bosom of beautiful and lush nature, he was not always happy. He collected in his memories sad stories and images of villagers' lives, which got meaning and embodied latter.
Toumanian's creativity was revealed and his artistic thinking developed, influenced by his family, the environment, nature, folklore, paternal chongur (musical instrument), shepherd's sring (Armenian brass instrument).