Nigol Tuman
Nigoghos Der Hovhanissian
1867-1914
Born in the "Ghshlash" village of Gharapagh. The son of a priest, graduates from district school of Shoushi. Warrior and knowledgable militant. Teaches in Tavriz and Salmasd, simultaneously acting as party activist. The Kurds baptize him Tuman, which means storm, during the Boghaz Kesan fights. Trains fighting groups and guides them into Vasbouragan, commands many fights. One of the planners of the invasion of Khanasor. During the Armenian- Tatarian wars he is appointed the General Commander of Araratian field.
During the Persian independence movement, as the commander of a hundred militants, he successfully manages to defend Tavriz.
He participates in the International Socialist Party Assembly in Copenhagen.
During the Osmanian Constitution days, 1912, with the order of the ARF Central Bureau starts the census of the Western Armenians. Nigol Tuman was very beneficial in the execution of the order. For long hours he studies the population maps of Turkey, official yearbooks and other census materials.
He kills himself at the age of 47, during the days of the creation of Voluntary Fighting Groups in Caucasus, when he learns that he can not join his fighting friends anymore because of his sickness.
