Shahamir Shahamirian

Shahamir Shahamirian, also known as Agah Shameer Soolthanoomean, was an 18th century wealthy Armenian merchant, writer and philosopher and notable figure in the Armenian liberation movement. Shahamirian was born in New Julfa, the notable Armenian community established at the beginning of the seventeenth century as a suburb of Isfahan, the Persian capital. He migrated to Madras and made a fortune in commercial activities. Influenced by the progressive ideas of a group of fellow Armenians, called the Madras Group, who were engaged in a drive to liberate their homeland from foreign yoke, Shahamirian established the first Armenian printing house of Madras in 1771 on behalf of his young son Hakob (1745-1774).

Shahamirian made his fortune as a pearl merchant and has also carried on a lucrative trade in Persian rose-water and dried fruits imported from his native town. Most of his merchandise was sold to the Nawab of the Carnatic and to his luxurious household, which brought Shahamirian considerable riches. Shahamirian also lend large sums to the Nawab, and had on one occasion tore the Nawab's promissory note for which the grateful debtor ordered his Private Secretary to write out a firman which he signed and sealed, to grant the village of Noomblee, with all the lands attached thereto, to his valued and esteemed friend Shahamir Shahamirian, as a personal gift.

In 1771 he founded the firat Armenian printing press in Madras, which grtly facilitated the propagation of the Madras Group’s ideas. The most important book produced by the press was Vorogayt parats (Snare of Glory), written by Shahamirian. The book was published in 1773, though some scholars place it in 1788-89. The book consists of a 521 article constitution for a democratic government intended for the future Armenian state to be created after liberation from foreign rule.