Azdarar - The Monitor

The first printed Armenian periodical was issued in 1794-96 in Madras city of India (18 issues) under the editorship of Harutyun Shmavonian. The Monitor had a popular-scientific and social-literary value. The main language of Azdarar was Grabar (Classical Armenian), some texts i.e. news and announcements are in Ashkharhabar (Modern Armenian). The Monitor also addressed issues of enlightenment and national self-awareness of the Armenian people, as well as liberation of the motherland. In addition, Azdarar covered the political events in Transcaucasia. A number of pieces of prose and poetry were published in Azdarar, along with commercial, political and economic news, moral fables, philological studies, specimens of Armenian bibliography, as well as The History of Persia by Khachatur Jughayetsi.