Childhood

Due to his father’s profession, Irakli spent his childhood in different parts of Georgia. Alexander Gejadze was a famous hydro engineer. At that time it has contributed to the construction of almost all hydroelectric power stations “Zahes”, “Abhes”, “Rionhes”. Irakli remembered his father with special love and respect. Always at his desk, immersed in work, he radiated peace.  He recalled: “Once upon a time in the street Alexander accidentally resolved a violent family conflict around which people were gathered.  No one dared to approach the family drama, as soon as he saw it he came thoughtlessly and seemed to magically defuse the conflict.

Irakli was greatly influenced by his uncle Vaso Gejadze as an artist, who made a valuable contribution to the formation of Georgian music. Vaso Gejadze was the conductor of the Rustaveli Theater. Founder of the Tbilisi Conservatory, he headed a famous music school. Vaso Gejadze was a friend and accomplice of Evgeni Mikeladze. Irakli, along with his two sisters, often saw Evgeni Mikeladze as a guest of the family.

Irakli was endowed with fun and inventive talent as a child. He loved Charlie Chaplin very much and loved his incarnation. He lived on Ateni Street in Tbilisi. After the arrival of the Red Government, Alexander Gejadze did not want to have anything to do with party activities. He told Lavret Beria that he has his own business, does not have time to read the news of the party congresses, and refused a party ticket. Irakli was 12 years old in 1937 when they came at night to take his father. According to Irakli, “Cheka officials came with Alexander’s friend and told him to leave. He got up to leave, but his friend stopped him to take his coat. At that moment, Irakli emphasized that he would never forget how he stopped and looked at his mother.” Dad never came back. Soon Alexander’s family was evicted from their house and moved to Rustaveli on Kvali Street.

It was not easy to live as an enemy of the people during the Red Terror.

Reed more at the next chapter………