Poloz Mukuch

Poloz Mukuch (Mkrtich Ghazarosi Melkonyan, January 7, 1881, Alexandropol, Erivan Governorate, Russian Empire - February 15, 1931, Leninakan, Armenian SSR, TSFSR, USSR) was a popular Armenian satirist and fabulist from Gyumri.[1]

Poloz Mukuch
Պոլոզ Մուկուչ
Born
Mkrtich Melkonyan

January 7, 1881
Alexandropol, Erivan Governorate)
DiedFebruary 15, 1931
Leninakan, Armenian SSR
CitizenshipRussian Empire, USSR
Occupationsatirist, fabulist

Biography

Mkrtich Melkonyan was born in the family of a blacksmith and artisan. Because of his height, Mukuch (colloquial for Mkrtich) earned the nickname "Poloz" (colloquial for disproportionally tall). Instead of learning his father's trade, Mukuch, after receiving elementary education, became a "podratchi" (a street trader) - he would park his cart at various city sites and, as he sold fruits and melons, he would tell endless witty jokes and funny stories, many of them based on real events, which made him very popular around Gyumri.[2] Contemporaries say that he had a cheerful character, but during working hours his mind was on selling goods and satisfying his customers. He was a very witty man, he made jokes with a serious face without a smile while the people in front of him fainted from laughter. He was the schoolmate of Avetik Isahakyan. Many fables and funny stories previously attributed to foreign fabulists, are associated with Poloz Mulkuch's name in Armenian circles. In this aspect Poloz Mukuch contributed to nationalization of Armenian verbal satire.

Legacy

As a charismatic person, he attracted the attention of a number of artists. His immense popularity was attested by the whole Leninakan population participating in his funeral in 1931. Avetik Isahakyan erected a monument on his tomb, writing that:

The world's nations attribute their fables, anekdotes, sayings to a single person and immortalize him. That is how Mukuch was for our people. The difference is that others are a myth, there was no real person, the place of the grave is not known, and Poloz Mukuch was a real person, and there is a grave.

— Avetik Isahakyan

Another Armenian writer wrote a quatrain about this:

Poloz Mukuch passed away,
And Boshi Tagh mourned with great pain,
And on the tomb of good old Gyumri citizen
Poet Avo has cut a stone.

— Khachik Dashtents

Painter Hakob Ananikyan created a series of portraits, for which Poloz Mukuch served as a prototype. Poloz Mukuch served as a prototype for Khachik Dashtents' protagnosit in poem "Phaeton Alek". Poloz Mukuch' statue, made by Narek Samvelyan[3] was opened in Gyumri Holy Savior Church yard in 2012. Poloz Mukuch Beerhouse, occupying an old mansion built in the 1860s, was opened in the 1960s in Soviet Armenia in the historic district of Kumayri, named after Poloz Mukuch. The property was privatized in late 1990s, continuing to function as a beerhouse; and the bust of Poloz Mukuch was placed at the entrance.[4] Nowadays, the beerhouse is one of the Gyumri's prominent landmarks.[5]

Armenian Centre of PR development is planning to reanimate Gyumri's Poloz Mukuch, along with Karabakh's Py'ly' Poughi, in a new multi-language animated film series, taking the example of films about Nasreddin.[6]

Poloz Mukuch in life and art
  • Poloz Mukuch (in the centre with dhol) and Tsitro Alek (second in bottom on the left՝) with their musical band
  • Poloz Mukuch' funeral in 1931
  • Memorial monument in Poloz Mukuch' tomb.
  • Poloz Mukuch statue in Gyumri
  • Poloz Mukuch photo on the facade of Poloz Mukuch Beerhouse

See also

Sources
  • Հրաչյա Իկիլիկյան, «Գյումրին, Պոլոզ Մուկուչը և երգիծական մանրապատումներ», Երևան, «Հայաստան» հրատ., 1989

References
  1. Jallatyan, Karen (2010-12-28). "Flashing Gyumri before my eyes - a look into my birthplace". Armenian Youth Federation. Archived from the original on 2021-01-30. Retrieved 2021-01-30. Because of his height, Mukuch (already a colloquial form of Mkrtich) was given the name ‘Poloz’ (colloquial for elongated, asymmetrical, out of proportion).
  2. Jallatyan, Karen (2010-12-28). "Flashing Gyumri before my eyes - a look into my birthplace". Armenian Youth Federation. Archived from the original on 2021-01-30. Retrieved 2021-01-30. Because of his height, Mukuch (already a colloquial form of Mkrtich) was given the name ‘Poloz’ (colloquial for elongated, asymmetrical, out of proportion).
  3. ArtStation. "Poloz Mukuch". Retrieved 2021-01-30.
  4. The history Poloz Mukuch Beerhouse
  5. Poloz Mukuch Beerhouse
  6. "Արցախցի Պլը Պուղին և գյումրեցի Պոլոզ Մուկուչը կվերակենդանան նոր անիմացիոն ֆիլմաշարում". 168.am (in Armenian). 2017-04-05. Archived from the original on 2021-01-30. Retrieved 2021-01-30.
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