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Rafael IshhanyanArmenian bibliographer and politician, who also dealt with issues of philology and history.
Date of Birth: 09.03.1922
Country:  Armenia |
Content:
- Armenian Bibliographer, Philologist, and Historian
- Military Service and Post-War Career
- Librarian and Researcher
- Academic Career
- Historical Controversies
- Armenian National Movement
- Late Life and Legacy
Armenian Bibliographer, Philologist, and Historian
Early Life and EducationRafael Ishkhanyan was born in 1922 in Armenia. He completed his secondary education in 1939 and enrolled in the Faculty of Armenian Language and Literature at Yerevan State University.
Military Service and Post-War Career
In 1940, Ishkhanyan was conscripted into the Soviet Army and served in World War II. After demobilization in 1945, he resumed his studies and graduated in 1949.
Librarian and Researcher
From 1947 to 1962, Ishkhanyan worked at the Public Library of Armenia. He earned a degree in librarianship from the Moscow Library Institute in 1954.
Academic Career
In 1962, Ishkhanyan defended his dissertation on the repressed Armenian writer Axel Bakunts. He joined the Faculty of Armenian Language at Yerevan State University. In 1973, he defended his doctoral dissertation on the history of the language of modern Armenian literature. He became a professor in 1978.
Historical Controversies
In the late 1970s, Ishkhanyan published works on Armenian history, arguing for the indigenous origins of Armenians in the Armenian Plateau and the exceptional antiquity of the Armenian people. These views drew criticism for their weak evidentiary basis and political motivations.
Armenian National Movement
Ishkhanyan actively participated in the Armenian national movement, particularly in the struggle for Nagorno-Karabakh. He served as a deputy in the Supreme Council of Armenia from 1990 to 1995.
Late Life and Legacy
In 1991, Ishkhanyan became Honorary Director of the National Library of Armenia. He published over 773 works on a wide range of topics, including printing, Armenian language, and the history of Armenia. Despite his authority in certain fields, his works on Armenian history have been criticized for their controversial and unsubstantiated claims.
