Gerzel Baazov
Encyclopedia
Gerzel Baazov (October 28, 1904 – September 12, 1938) was a Georgian Jewish
poet and playwright who fell victim to Stalin’s Great Purges.
He was born in Oni, Georgia
(then part of the Russian Empire
) into the family of the leading Georgian Zionist David Baazov
. At the age of 14, he published his first poems under the penname of Ger-Bi (1918). In the 1920s, he systematically published poems, historical stories and journalistic essays in Georgian-Jewish press and garnered acclaim with his Georgian translation of Song of Songs
in 1924. In 1925, he organized a Tbilisi-based Georgian-Jewish dramatic troupe "Kadima" and began writing plays depicting the life of the Georgian Jews. In 1927, he graduated from the Faculty of Law, Tbilisi State University
, and briefly served as a lawyer.
Through his 1928 play Dilleamari (დილლეამარი), Baazov established himself as a leading writer in Georgian on Jewish themes. He was the first Jewish writer to introduce the subject matter of the life-style, character, and routine life of Georgian Jews into Georgian literature. In an amazingly brief period, Baazov wrote ten plays (notably The Mutes Began to Speak [მუნჯები ალაპარაკდნენ, 1931], Without Respect of Persons [განურჩევლად პიროვნებისა, 1933], Itska Rizhinashvili
[იცკა რიჟინაშვილი, 1936], etc.), most of which became standard items in Georgian repertory in the 1930s. Early in the 1930s, he conceived a trilogy on the Georgian Jews, the first part of which – Pethaim – appeared in Georgian (ფეთხაინი, 1934) and Russian (Петхайн, 1936). His prolific work was terminated by the Soviet political repressions
under Joseph Stalin
. In 1937, he was arrested in Moscow
and extradited to Tbilisi where he was either shot or tortured to death during the interrogation. He was posthumously rehabilitated
in 1955. A street in his native Oni has been named after Gerzel Baazov.
Georgian Jews
The Georgian Jews are from the nation of Georgia, in the Caucasus...
poet and playwright who fell victim to Stalin’s Great Purges.
He was born in Oni, Georgia
Oni, Georgia
Oni is a town in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti region , Georgia. Historically and ethnographically, it is part of Racha, a historic highland province in western Georgia...
(then part of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
) into the family of the leading Georgian Zionist David Baazov
David Baazov
David Baazov was a Georgian-Jewish public and religious figure who spearheaded Zionist movement in Georgia. His program was an amalgam of moderate orthodox religiosity, enlightenment, and Zionism....
. At the age of 14, he published his first poems under the penname of Ger-Bi (1918). In the 1920s, he systematically published poems, historical stories and journalistic essays in Georgian-Jewish press and garnered acclaim with his Georgian translation of Song of Songs
Song of songs
Song of Songs, also known as the Song of Solomon, is a book of the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament. It may also refer to:In music:* Song of songs , the debut album by David and the Giants* A generic term for medleysPlays...
in 1924. In 1925, he organized a Tbilisi-based Georgian-Jewish dramatic troupe "Kadima" and began writing plays depicting the life of the Georgian Jews. In 1927, he graduated from the Faculty of Law, Tbilisi State University
Tbilisi State University
Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University , better known as Tbilisi State University , is a university established on 8 February 1918 in Tbilisi, Georgia. TSU is the oldest university in the whole Caucasus region...
, and briefly served as a lawyer.
Through his 1928 play Dilleamari (დილლეამარი), Baazov established himself as a leading writer in Georgian on Jewish themes. He was the first Jewish writer to introduce the subject matter of the life-style, character, and routine life of Georgian Jews into Georgian literature. In an amazingly brief period, Baazov wrote ten plays (notably The Mutes Began to Speak [მუნჯები ალაპარაკდნენ, 1931], Without Respect of Persons [განურჩევლად პიროვნებისა, 1933], Itska Rizhinashvili
Itska Rizhinashvili
Abram "Itska" Rizhinashvili was a Georgian Jew from Kutaisi Abram "Itska" Rizhinashvili (Georgian: იცკა რიჟინაშვილი) (April 12, 1886 – July 17, 1906) was a Georgian Jew from Kutaisi Abram "Itska" Rizhinashvili (Georgian: იცკა რიჟინაშვილი) (April 12, 1886 – July 17, 1906) was a Georgian Jew from...
[იცკა რიჟინაშვილი, 1936], etc.), most of which became standard items in Georgian repertory in the 1930s. Early in the 1930s, he conceived a trilogy on the Georgian Jews, the first part of which – Pethaim – appeared in Georgian (ფეთხაინი, 1934) and Russian (Петхайн, 1936). His prolific work was terminated by the Soviet political repressions
Soviet political repressions
Throughout the history of the Soviet Union millions of people became victims of political repression, which was an instrument of the state since the October Revolution...
under Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
. In 1937, he was arrested in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and extradited to Tbilisi where he was either shot or tortured to death during the interrogation. He was posthumously rehabilitated
Rehabilitation (Soviet)
Rehabilitation in the context of the former Soviet Union, and the Post-Soviet states, was the restoration of a person who was criminally prosecuted without due basis, to the state of acquittal...
in 1955. A street in his native Oni has been named after Gerzel Baazov.