Shahamir Shahamirian

Shahamir Shahamirian was an 18th-century Armenian writer, philosopher, and wealthy merchant in Madras. Born in New Julfa, Iran, he moved to India where he became an affluent merchant and an active member of the Armenian community of Madras. In 1771, Shahamirian and his collaborators founded the first Armenian printing press in Madras. In 1787/88, Shahamirian published Vorogayt Parats, which contained a proposed constitution for a future independent Armenian republic. He is thus regarded as the author of the first Armenian constitution.