NUR-SULTAN – Georgian writer Vakhtang Gogoladze presented his book “There, in Kazakhstan” Oct. 31 in Tbilisi, reported zakon.kz.
Photo credit: 24.kz.
The work is devoted to the country’s hospitality and kindness, bringing together short stories about times when ethnic Kazakhs supported forced migrants and helped them overcome difficulties in their new environment.
Gogoladze’s parents came to Kazakhstan in the 1930s after they were deported from their historical land during the period of forced relocation. The future writer spent his entire childhood in the country.
“All my stories are real. We had nothing at that time and Kazakhs sheltered us. I still remember one old man who had sweets in his pocket for every Georgian child. When he died, all the kids who had gotten candies from him came to say goodbye. Everybody was crying. So how could I not love these people? They did a lot for us. For many years I felt obliged to show my gratitude in any way; my nation should know who the Kazakh people are. I am a little bit Kazakh inside, too,” he said.
The Kazakh Embassy in Georgia assisted in translating and publishing the book and the presentation became a meeting place for like minds from both countries.
“In September, I visited the First Asian Writers Forum in Nur-Sultan, where we concluded an agreement on further cooperation among Kazakh and Georgian writers. Next year, we are going to publish a book written in both languages. I think, the best way of interethnic communication is the language of poetry, because only a poet always tries to speak about peace, love, kindness and future,” noted Georgian Writers’ Union head Makvala Gonashvili.
