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 Varouzhan Daniel (Chpugqyaryan Daniel, Armenian: Դանիել Վարուժան) was born on April 20, 1884 in the village of Prknig (Sebastia Province). An Armenian poet, public figure. He studied at Mourad-Rafaelian school of Venice (1902-05), at Ghent University (Belgium) in 1905-1909. Coming back to homeland he worked as a teacher, organized events, theatrical performances and delivered lectures.

    Varouzhan published “Navasard” yearbook (with H. Siruni), participated in the edition of “Mehyan” journal. His collection of poems “Shivers” was published in 1906 and brought new ideas and style in the Armenian Literature. The source of his inspiration was the real life, the human destiny instead of love and vague dream motifs.  The poet ponders over the complicated and controversial relations of people and individual, of art and reality, of poet and the world (“To Muse”, “Dream and Meditation”).

   The collection “The heart of the Nation” (1909) marked the new development level of the Western Armenian poetic thought, expressed the national and universal pain, revenge and song of struggle ("Od", "Nemesis"). Under the political and social pressure morally suffers not only Armenian but an individual in general (“The Spirit of Homeland, “Tomorrow’s buds”, “Galley slaves”, “Laundress”, “Pogrom”). Not only the small nation but also the humanity planning its future becomes a hero in the atmosphere of revenge and struggle (“Reincarnation”, “Procession of Fight”, “Vahagn”).

   The romantic traditions of the Armenian Literature with new content are represented in the collection of poems “The Heart of the Nation”. It was the scream of the tragedy of the Armenian people and oppressed humanity. The collection of poems “Pagan Songs” (1912) was a new phenomenon in the Armenian Literature. It was the most complete expression of the “pagan” movement that started in the Armenian literature in the early 20th century. The essence of this movement was the worship of freedom, power and beauty in contrast to social and moral decay. In the two parts of the book ("Pagan Songs" and "Calvary flowers") Varouzhan depicts two different and contrasting worlds. The praise of the Age of Chivalry didn’t mean the idealization of the past or attempts to return ancient times of history; it was an artistic conventionality in which the poet expressed the ideals of strong, perfect individual and of harmonious and beautiful world (“Vanatur”, “Pagan”, “Oh, Talita”, “Concubine”). 

  D. Varouzhan died on August 26, 1915, he was the victim of the Armenian Genocide.

 Schools and streets in Yerevan and in other cities of RA are named after Daniel Varouzhan. A memorial plaque is placed in the University of Gent. 

Source - "Who is Who. The Armenians" Encyclopedia, Volume I, chief-editor Hovh. Ayvazyan, Yerevan, 2007.