The Defender of Kardu Fortress

Abstract

The life of Grigol Robakidze, his creative works and epistolary legacy are a good example of a persevering fight for the survival of Georgian national spirit. Fighting for the better future and seeking the means for it, turned Grigol Robakidze  into the panegyric of a mighty personality. However, the author of “Mussolini” and “Adolf Hitler” had to prove to his contemproraries that there was the third shore as well, that was more “reasonable than ‘left’ or ‘right’.GrigolRobakidze manifested his persevering and unyielding attitude towards Russia’s imperialistic intentions through creating the character of Imam Shamil in a very remarkable manner. The ending of the novella, as the literary critic RostomChkheidze would call it ‘open ending’, in line with the modernism, is nothing but the author’s political belief, expressed in the idea of committed and ceaseless struggle for freedom and independence. Like Shamil, GrigolRobakidze, holds the uncompromising stance in his private correspondence when he has to stand for the interests of his homeland.In the letter addressed to Mikheil Tsereteli, the organization Tetri Giorgi activist, Robakidze wrote: “My fortress is Kardu fortress! Nobody has ever broken into this fortress! The mob of scatter-brains will be powerless against it! My homeland has honored me to be the defender of one corner of the fortress! May our homeland never grow doubtful of my victory! My strong arm will be ever strong and never fail me!”Having been the defender of Kardu fortress for years, having carried his cross and served his nation and country faithfully, the writer who was far away from the dear homeland,  took the liberty to be open with his friend:“You contributed a lot to our dear homeland! I believe, I too have served it devotedly...Even as I write it, facing my unhappy lot, I do not consider myself ‘unhappy’…there have been uncountable happy moments in my life”. Obviously, his cherished dream about his name to be remembered and mentioned in Mtskheta would have been one of these uncountable happy moments in his memory. For he regarded this town as the sacred womb of our land and the resting place of Kardu.