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Fragment from the documentary film "Konstantine Gamsakhurdia"

The director Shalva Chagunava. 1973.

Konstantine Gamsakhurdia was born on May 15, 1893 (according to  another version 1891)in the village of old Abasha, the son of nobleman Simon Katsia, Gamsakhurdia and Elizabeth (Natalia) Siko's daughter Topuridze.

Konstantine Gamsakhurdia's baptism is registered in the 1891 metric book in Abasha village. According to the record, godfather of Konstantine was prince Dimitri Elizmbari's son Dadiani. 

"I was born on a beautiful day in May, at daybreak, in an old noble family. As it was established earlier, i was born in 1893, not 1891,"  writes Konstantine Gamsakhurdia in his authobiographical novel "Caress with appear".

Metric book of 1891 of st. George church of Abasha village

Fragment from the documentary film "Konstantine Gamsakhurdia"
Directed by Shalva Chagunava. 1973 year.

Abasha



"My father's house was a huge palace for me. From my bedroom, a glimpse of the golden-skirted sky was visible, which sometimes bloomed with orange clouds at twilight, and the carees of fairy colors filled my childish soul with joy."


Konstantine Gamsakhurdia " Caress with appear"


Konstantin received his primary education in the village parish school, where deacon Eugene Koyava taught. "The deacon loved me very much, he used to take me to church with him at every liturgy, he would put a shiny oleander on my shoulders, he would give me a censer in his hand. It was the greatest joy for me : i sang on the krilos, shook the censer and read David on the main deacon's ambo".

After the parochial school, the future writer continued his studies first at old Senak noble school, and then at the Kutaisi high school. Here his teachers were: Ioseb Otskheli, Silovan Khundadze, Gerasime Tsagareishvili, Samson Kifiani, Iason Nikolaishvili.

while studying at the gymnasium, Konstantine Gamsakhurdia,  founded the secret political organization "nine oaks"with his friends, in Kutaisi. As the writer writes in his memoirs, they had two accomplices in Tbilisi: Khristofere Rachvelishvili and someone named Karbelashvili. 

The 300th anniversary of the rule of Romanovs is approaching, which was paid for with great pomp by our brainless aristocracy... we swore to God in the Saphichkhia church: to the last breath,  we fought for the liberation of Gerogia. On the same day, we broke down the doors of our gymnasium's assembly hall and smashed the picrures of kings and generals displayed there. And that happened. we threw the pictures in gilded frames to the ground, scratched them and tramped them with oir feet..."

 

"Nine Oaks" printed and distributed proclamations condemning the Romanov regime. Because of this, Gamsakhurdia was arrested by the gendarms. the efforts of Ioseb Otskheli and the marshal of the nobility, paid off and Konstantine was released form prison. 

 

Konstantine Gamsakhurdia's firts works were published in 1909-1910 in newspapers: "Foni" and "People's newspaper". In the 1910s, along with poems, he wrote and published short stories and novels. 







participants of Irodion Evdoshvili's literary evening 



Kutaisi, 1914 year


standing from left to right: Galaktion Tabidze, Akaki Svani, Barnaba Gelazania, Ilia Bakhtadze, Ia Ekaladze, Mikhako Janoev (Nemo), Teophile Khuskivadze, Konstantine Gamsakhurdia, Jaju Gergikia, Datiko Mebuke(Tsvarnami), Leliko Japaridze.  


sitting: Titsian Tabidze, Grigol Vashapeli (Veshapidze), Irodion Evdoshvili, Varlam Rukhadze, Akaki Tsereteli, Davit Kldiashvili, Lado Darchiashvili, Jason Nikolaishvili, Isidore Kvitsaridze.  

Participants of the literary evening. 

Kutaisi. 1914.

standing from left to right: Galaktion Tabidze, Akaki Svania, Barnaba Gelazania, Ilia Bakhtadze, Ia Ekaladze, Mikhako Janoevi (Nemo), Teophile Khuskivadze, Konstantine Gamsakhurdia, Jaju Jorjikia, Datiko Mebuke (Tsvarnami), Leliko Japaridze.

Sitting: Titsian Tabidze, Grigol Veshapeli (Veshapidze), Irodion Evdoshvili, Varlam Rukhadze, Akaki Tsereteli, David Kldiashvili, Lado Darchiashvili, Iason Nikolaishvili, Isidore kvitsaridze. 

Konstantine Gamsakhurdia's letter to Samson Pirtskhalava

Konstantine Gamsakhurdia cooperated and was friends with journalist Samson Firtskhalava, a member of the National Council of the Democratic Republic of Georgia. Since 1916, he has been publishing letters in the newspaper "people's appears", which was an organ of the Social-Federalist party. In the letters sent to Samson Firtskhalava, their friendly realtionship and cooperation can be read well. 

"I honestly believe that the era of "rises and shines" is beginning for Georgians. I also believe that we will witness and great national exaltation and enlightenment of the mind in this short period of time, and it is furing such a time that our relaxed wrists will need intensive cultural work", Konstantine wrote to Samson, informing him that he had decided to go "some big university city". 

[1917-1918]

Fragment from the documentary film "Konstantine Gamsakhurdia"
Director Shalva Chagunava. 1973 year.

After finishing gymnasium, Konstantin went to study at st.Petersburg University, but soon left Russia to Keninsberg, Germany. He studied at the universities of Leipzig, Munich, Berlin. 

His stay in Germany coincided with the start of the First World War. Konstantine, as a citizen of the Russian Empire, was imprisoned. Thomas Mann's acquaintance saved him from prison. A German writer petitioned him to the king of Bavaria. 

In 1919, the Georgian writer obtained the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Berlin. 

Konstantine Gamsakhurdia was a representative of the Democratic Republic of Georgia in Berlin. He made a great contribution to the search for Georgian prisoners of war in Europe and their return to their homeland.

On August 23,1919, he wrote to Grigol rtskhiladze, the head of the Georgian delegation in Instambul, abour the details of sending Georgian prisoners to Georgia: "The ship " Christian Nebe" has permission to take 2000 Georgian prisoners of was and 500 tons of goods." It is knows that the same Gamsakhurdia brought "Wireless telegraph" and medicines to Georgia by ship. br>


















Another document preserved in the National Archives of Georgia concerns the topic of the return of former prisoners of war: The letter of the deputy Minister of Defense, General Ioseb Gedevanishvili to the Government of the Republic of Georgia. It is mentioned that K.A group of Georgian prisoners returned to Georgia under the leadership of Gamsakhurdia iin 1919. They handed over their German stamps to the representative of Georgia in Hamburg. The General asks the government to give Georgian bonds to the returned prisoners in exchange for this amount.

In 1921, after the conquest of Georgia by the Red Army, Konstantin wrote a letter of protest to Lenin, "An Open Letter to Ulyanov-Lenin". On May 25 of the same year, his "Words to the Georgian Nation on May 26" were published in the "Social Federalist" newspaper:

 

"Tomorrow, May 26, Georgians must remember one great truth:

He is worthy of life and liberty. 

Who can get it by fighting every day. 

At beginning of the priestly service, the Egiptian Magi woulf say to the people: "Let us purify our hearts for God".

 

On this greatest day of Georgia's new history, we should call to the Georgian people: "Let us purify our hearts for freedom."



Konstantine Gamsakhurdia founded the literary magazine "Prometheus" in 1918, and in the 1920s he edited periodicals: "Georgian bell-tower", "Ilioni", "Lomisi", and "Georgian word".

In 1921, the Academic Union of Writers was founded with his participation.

The writer finally returned to his homeland from emigration in 1923. In 1924, he was pardoned for participating in the uprising against the Bolshevik regime, but was soon released.


Once again, this time for several month, in 1926 he was imprisoned for criticizing the Soviet regime.

In the photo: Vakhtang Kotetishvili, Konstantine Gamsakhurdia, Pavle Ingorokva, Aleksanre Abasheli (Chochia) dressed in black chokha due to the suppression of the rebelion in 1924.

The newspaper "Lomisi", 1922 year, №1

In the 1920s and 30s , Konstantine Gamsakhurdia's novels, essays and romans were published: "The country, i see", "The smile of Dionysus", "With the left eye", Taboo", Khogia's Mindia","New Europe", Ukrainian themis", The Abduction of the Moon", "The right hand of the great master", " The roman of the Goethe's life". 

In the 1940s and 50s, were published the tetralogy "Davit Agmashenebeli", the essays "Travel to Italy", "Travel to Armenia", "Samgori", the novella "Unused Binoculars" and the novel "The flowering of the Vine".

Konstantike Gamsakhurdia's work as a translator was also productive: "Young Werther", "Goethe", "Danger in Hell", "Salkhinebeli"(with Konstantin Chichinadze), remarque's "The Western Front is Unchangeable", Whit Whitman, Heines, Stephan George and Maria Rilke poems and more.   

According to his works, in 1970, directors Vakhtang Tabliashvili and Devi Abashidze filmed "The Grandmaster's right hand", and in 1973, director Tamaz Meliava filmed "The Kidnapping of the Moon". In both cases, the writer was the co-author of the film script. 

Konstantine Gamsakhurdia' s letter to Siko Janashia



"Tfilisi, 1929 12, VIII

"The right hand of the grand master"m 1970 year. Film Director: Vakhtang Tablishvili, Devi Abashidze

"The death of King George", "The right hand of the grand master", fragment

Konstantine Gamsakhurdia reads

Fragment from the documentary film "Konstantine Gamsakhurdia"
The director Shalva Chagunava. 1973 year

"Bells in the whirlwind", 1964

Konstantine Gamsakhurdia reads



















The poster for a feature film "Kidnapping of the moon".
The painter: Dimitri Eristavi
1973 year.

Fragment from the documentary film "Konstantine Gamsakhurdia"

The Director Shalva Chagunava. 1973 year.

The material used on the page is preserved in the National Archives of Georgia.

The page was created by: Tea Kimeridze, Khatia Kinkladze, Giorgi Kakabadze, Marina Shirtladze, Tamar Bzhalava, Lana Gamisonia, Tatia Gabidzashvili.