“Nor Nakhijevan” Humanitarian Fund Donates 38 Unpublished Manuscripts of the Great Writer to the Hovhannes Tumanyan Museum
Continuing its mission of preserving and augmenting the Armenian cultural heritage within the framework of its “Museum” Program, the “Nor Nakhijevan” Humanitarian Fund donated 38 unpublished manuscript documents of exceptional significance to the Hovhannes Tumanyan Museum.
The Fund’s “Museum” Program is a new initiative, launched in 2025, with the aim of supporting Armenia’s museum sector, augmenting collections, and preserving values of national importance. While the Yeghegnadzor Museum of Local Lore was selected as the first participant in the program, the beneficiary of the second phase became one of the sanctuaries of literary thought, the Hovhannes Tumanyan Museum. This cooperation carries a profound meaning, as it relates to one of the greatest spiritual treasures of the Armenian people—the “Sasuntsi Davit” epic, one of the literary reinterpretations of which was authored by the Poet of All Armenians himself.
The management of the Hovhannes Tumanyan Museum had submitted a written request to the Fund, asking for assistance in acquiring the manuscripts containing unpublished notes and observations made by Hovhannes Tumanyan on a dictionary used during the writing of the poem “Sasuntsi Davit.” These manuscripts, 38 in total, had been in a private collection for years, and their acquisition was of primary importance for the museum, both for exhibition and, especially, for research purposes. The “Nor Nakhijevan” Humanitarian Fund, considering the exceptional value of these documents, approved the request and, as a result of the relevant processes, acquired and donated them to the museum gratuitously.
The solemn ceremony of the official handover of the manuscripts took place in Yerevan on November 23. The event was attended not only by representatives of the museum but also by the award-winning teachers from the Fund’s “Teacher” program. This made the significance of the undertaking more symbolic. The event was opened by Mher Hovhannisyan, Director of the “Nor Nakhijevan” Fund. In his opening remarks, he emphasized the cultural mission of the program, stressing that “the foundations of our national identity are our culture and literature, and Tumanyan is its axis.” Mr. Hovhannisyan detailed the process of acquiring the manuscripts and underscored that the Fund is ready to continue its investments aimed at preserving national memory and cultural treasures. Following the opening speech, the official handover of the manuscripts took place to Lusine Gharakhanyan, Director of the Hovhannes Tumanyan Museum.
In her thank-you speech, Museum Director Lusine Gharakhanyan highly appreciated the invaluable contribution made by the Fund. She emphasized that the availability of the manuscripts will allow Tumanyan scholars to re-examine and analyze the entire process of the poem’s creation, as well as Tumanyan’s philological methods. As a sign of gratitude, Lusine Gharakhanyan presented Mher Hovhannisyan with the museum’s letter of appreciation addressed to Harutyun Surmayan, Chairman of the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
The event concluded with joint discussions during which representatives of the museum and the Fund discussed the prospects of the “Museum” program.
A historical overview is needed to form a deeper understanding of the significance of these manuscripts. H. Tumanyan’s poem “Sasuntsi Davit” was first published in various issues of the “Murch” (Hammer) magazine in 1903. The great writer, demonstrating scientific accuracy, notes that he used the following versions when compiling the poem: “1. Sasuntsi Davit or Mheri Dur, by Srbvandztyants. Constantinople, 1874, 2. Davit and Mher. By M. Abeghyan. Shushi, 1889, 3. Sasna Tsrer. By Gharegin Sarkavag. Tiflis, 1892, 4. Sasna Pahlavanner or Tlor Davit and Mher. By B. Khalatyan, Vagharshapat, 1899.” After the first publication, the poem saw seven more printings during the author’s lifetime, undergoing certain structural and stylistic changes. It was during this intensive work that Tumanyan made notes and observations from the epic’s dictionary, which were previously unknown to the general public and professional circles.
The acquisition of these manuscripts not only augments the museum’s collections but also holds important research significance for Tumanyan studies. They will allow philologists and literary critics to study in greater depth how Hovhannes Tumanyan refined and distilled the popular variants to create his artistically perfect version of the epic.
Thus, we once again affirm that the humanitarian mission is not limited solely to social issues but also encompasses the preservation of national identity and cultural heritage, which is the foundation of the vitality of the Armenian people.
