26 August] 1892), also known by the penname Gamar Katipa (Գամառ Քաթիպա),[b] was a nineteenth-century Russian Armenian writer and educator.

He continued his education at the universities of Dorpat (1851–52), Moscow (1852–1854), and Saint Petersburg (1855–60), finally graduating from the latter, having specialized in Oriental studies.

He notes Patkanian's prickly personality—he had a propensity to bitterly satirize anyone he did not like—and his quarrels with other Armenian writers, such as Grigor Artsruni and Raffi.

[12] Patkanian wrote poetry, as well as novels, short stories, memoirs, textbooks, and children's songs and poems.

The first poem is a dialogue between the poet and the river, personified as the mother of the Armenian people who is lamenting the suffering of her children.

In Kevork Bardakjian's view, the poem achieves an "intimate dynamism" and combines feelings of grief and loss with an unsaid optimism.

[11] His second collection of poems, Azat yerger (Free songs, 1878), was written in reaction to Ottoman atrocities during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878.

His poems written after the Russo-Turkish War reflect the disappointment that dominated among Armenians, as the goal of achieving reforms in Ottoman Armenia now seemed impossible.

In his poem "Boghok’ ar’ Yevropa," (Protest to Europe), he strongly condemned the indifference of the European powers to the plight of the Armenians.

[11] Patkanian also wrote short stories and satirical works in his native dialect on social issues within the Armenian community.

The Russian poet Valery Bryusov also valued Patkanian's poetry, seeing its main strength in its "intense patriotism, unfailing dedication to [his] native people, which is expressed not only through odes, but also through bitter satire.

"[19] In Bardakjian's view, "[a]lthough too many of [Patkanian's] poems read like rhymed speeches, his sincere and emotional patriotic appeal resonated with the prevailing mood.