Arshag Chobanian was born in the Beşiktaş district of Constantinople to an Armenian family whose origins go back to the village of Agn ( Kemaliye ) . His mother died when he was about a month old and his father was a respected goldsmith . He received his education from the local Makruhian school . He later transferred to the prestigious Getronagan Varjaran ( Central Lyceum ) in Karakoy . After graduating from the lyceum , he started to write for the '' Hayrenik '' ( Fatherland ) Armenian newspaper whose editorial board consisted of famed writers such as Levon Pashalian , Arpiar Arpiarian , and Krikor Odian . In 1893 , after gaining international appeal with his first play '' Mut Khaver '' ( Dark Stratas ) , he was invited to Paris for an honorarium . There he met famed literary figures such as Émile Zola , François Coppée , Alphonse Daudet , Jean Lorrain , and Madame Caroline Severine . In 1894 he became editor-in-chief of the Armenian newspaper '' Tsaghik '' ( Flower ) . In 1895 , after hearing about the Armenian massacres , he chose to remain in Paris and did so the rest of his life
Armenian massacres
Hamidian massacres
Arshag Chobanian