The Debut of Niko Nikoladze (On the Path of Alexander Orbeliani)

Abstract

“In 1860, an op-ed article “Kutaisi tittle-tattling” would be published in the 10th edition of Tsiskari, signed under the pseudonym “Kutaisi tittle-tattler”. It concerned the current condition and the future fate of the Georgian language.

Vladimer Bakradze would express curiosity in the first edition of “Zakavkaskaya Rech” as of December 1, 1913. He used to reveal the identity behind this pseudonym and as a reply, would send a letter to Niko Nikoladze dated January 7, 1914.

– “I engaged in literary work, even though “I still had no clue of literature”; I was still in the gymnasium when my article was published in the Georgian magazine Tsiskari, October edition of 1860. It was a dialogue about the topic: “do we need the Georgian language at all”?

He probably meant this very article.
He believed it to be his first debut.

However… his article had already been published in the 9th edition of Tsiskari, just before this one. The article “Crinoline and Lotto in Kutaisi”, preceded by a welcome note “Dear readers!” – and he had already used the pseudonym “Kutaisi tittle-tattler” (one of the trumpeters)”.

Pursuant to the bibliographic notes in Niko Nikoladze’s first volume of selected works:

“If the letter “Intercession” had been published in the February edition of Tsiskari in 1859, it would have a signatory: Eleven Trumpeters. And at the beginning of the article, all eleven of them would be listed: tattler, crazy, impudent, foul-mouthed man, lively, wicked, angry, unloved, giddy, and chatter.

Gymnasium student Niko Nikoladze would use this original pseudonym and take one of the trumpeters and would add “Kutaisi tittle-tettler”.

If the lotto had occupied a special role in the public life of Kutaisi and had an important influence on the flow of life, it would happen that

One guest would read the letter of Count Aleksandre Jambakur-Orbeliani – “Georgian language, i.e. writing” and the response of Lord Dimitri Bakradze. After this being read, two men would go to the second room, and in seconds, one would hear a loud conversation. “Tittle-tattler” would periodically check on what was going on, finding these men talking about the Georgian language.

And he would even engage in the dialogue that was also the article’s structural cornerstone, along with its main idea.

Well, maybe this kind of amusement could not replace the lotto or preference card game, but at least it could occupy a place next to them as it happened in Niko Nikoladze’s article-dialogue.

Upon one’s conscience, it is such a pity that it can be regarded as some kind of an introduction to Kutaisi Tittle-Tattling, it’s first part, a lotto game that had to be followed by the discussion about the fate and destiny of the Georgian language, it’s unfortunate present and better future if only Tsiskari or any magazine were given an appropriate way and more subscribers… then it would not be necessary to cry about the loss our language in advance.

Niko Nikoladze preferred this way, it was better and he made a decision:

Aleksandre Orbeliani’s letter was the inspirer and motivator for him to enter the literary area… To bring Dimitri Kipiani in the story together with Aleksandre Orbeliani and these two persons would hack the career path for Niko Nikoladze.