Ghazaros Aghayan (1840–1911) was a prominent Armenian writer, educator, publicist, and public figure who played a pivotal role in the 19th-century Eastern Armenian cultural and educational revival. Born in the Armenian village of Bolnis-Khachen in Georgia, he was primarily self-educated and dedicated his life to the democratization of Armenian schools and the development of education. Aghayan authored the popular Armenian textbook “Mayreni Lezu” (Mother Tongue), founded the children’s magazine “Aghbyur” (The Fountain), and wrote the first autobiographical novel in Armenian literature, “Harutyun and Manvel.” He is also globally recognized for his fairy tales and poems, among which “Anahit” is considered one of the immortal classics of Armenian children’s literature.
