Dochanashvili Guram
Guram Dochanashvili (b. March 26, 1939, Tbilisi — d. April 3, 2021, Tbilisi) was a writer.
In 1962, he graduated from the Faculty of History at Tbilisi State University. In 1957, he was sentenced to 3 years in prison for anti-Soviet activities, which was soon changed to a suspended sentence. His first stories — The First Concert and A Fellow Traveler — were published in the magazine “Tsiskari” (1961). His first collection of stories — Across the Mountain was published in 1966. Dochanashvili's short stories include The Step (1969), The Happy Hillock (1969), He Was Born for Love, or Grisha and the Chief (1971), My Buchuta, Our Teresa (1972), The Case (1972), The Man Who Loved Literature (1973), Water(P)olo, or Restoration Works (1981), Until Then (1987), Luba, My Love (2005), About Givi (2005) and etc.
His works have been staged, including: Tavparavneli Chabuki (Georgian Folklore Theatre, 1981, directed by A. Kantaria); The Man Who Loved Literature (Satire Theatre, 1973, directed by Z. Kandelaki); The play Khorumi is a Georgian Dance (Satire Theatre, 1982, directed by M. Kakhabrishvili) and others. Feature films, based on his works, include: The Passing Pike (1972, directed by O. Koberidze), Besame (based on Water(Po)loo, 1989, directed by N. Akhvlediani).
Dochanashvili's work is characterized by linguistic and stylistic explorations and artistry, satire, irony, humor; outwardly strange, eccentric characters. The main themes of his stories are the love of art and kindness – sometimes displayed to the extreme, sometimes – barely recognizable, hidden. In 1978, Dochanashvili completed the three-book novel The First Garment, which serves as a retelling of The Parable of the Prodigal Son from the Bible. He used symbolic and allegorical techniques, skillfully depicted the essence of dictatorship, its atmosphere, and the thirst for freedom within it.
In 1983, Dochanashvili received the highest award of Tbilisi State University – the I. Javakhishvili Medal.
In 1994, the writer was awarded the State Prize of Georgia for his creative work, and in 1997 – the Order of Honor.
In 2002, Dochanashvili’s works Seeking and Brother’s were published.
In 2003, Dochanashvili was awarded the Shota Rustaveli State Prize for his entire creative work and the novel Boulder on Which Once there was a Church. That same year, a four-volume collection of his works was published. In 2005, the novel Omara and Givia from the West and Planet Hollywood was published. In 2007, the autobiographical novel What I Remember and Recollect the Most (Book I) was published, and in 2009 — the novel There Is and Was a Strange Person and World.
In 2010, Dochanashvili was awarded the Presidential Order of Excellence.
In 2015, the writer's last novel Brmadkopilze da... was published.
Literature: გ ე ლ ა შ ვ ი ლ ი ნ., აფრედერიკი და განაბულჯადოქრიანი საკრავი, წგ.: ტრაგიკული გრადაცია, თბ., 1991; ჩ ხ ე ი ძ ე რ., დომენიკო, წგ.: როცა შვიდნი ვართ, თბ., 1995.
R. Chkheidze
