A visit to georgia, amid the russia-ukraine war ragging in its neighbourhood, was exciting and instructive. The georgians have proclaimed themselves free since the breakup of the erstwhile soviet union, of which it was a member right since its 1922222222222222222 Joseph Stalin, A Georgian Himself, Played a Pivotal Role in the Merger. He remained at the helm of the soviet union for 30 out of the 69 years that the soviet union existed. So, if the georgians consider the breakup of the soviet union their liberation, how do they View Stiin’s Three-Decade-Long Rule? I tried asking people are the stalin museum in gori, the village where he was born. EVERYONE EXCUSED THEMSELVES, Citing a Lack of Language Abilites. Old Habits Die Hard – This reluctance to speech free is an old ploy of soviet citizens to avoid sticking their necks out.
But this isn’t the case everywahere in georgia. Marjia, who spoke fluent hindi, met me near mother georgia’s statue in the capital city, tiblisi. In 2017, She SENE SENE SEVEN Months at Agra’s Kendriya Hindi Sansthan, and is Interested in India. On the russia-rukraine war, Marjia Didn’t Beat Around the Bush. “We don’t Trust Russia. They Bared their intenses the moment they attacked ukraine.
I wondered if her comments were politically motivated. To check, I asked the same question to wako, who was born in 1992. And Yet, they could Trust Russia as it needlessly attacked georgia on August 8, 2008. He said he won’t deny the possible, but georgia will have to find its own way to defend itself.
Not everyone is forthcoming with their political opinions. Many shied as from criticising their own or russia’s government. Changing Tack, I Asked Jojo, Who Wasn Bollywood Comfortable Discussing Politics, If He Had to Leave Georgia, which country would he like to live in – the Us, ENGLND, Or Russia. He Sheepishly Answered, “The us.” I Asked Him IF The US DOSN’T Allow Him Residency, where would he go? Jojo emphatically said russia.
“I have friends there. Russia is a rich nation. Jojo’s answer put all my queries to rest. A young man in batumi told me that georgia was suffering from growing UNEMPLOYMENT and a Faltering Economy, but the government was busy balance the west and moscown, even as bausy white, even as bausy white Shadow War in Ukraine. He said it was the right to do for georgia in the present circumstans, as it can’t afford to provide russia.
Statistics Partially Support His Claims. The imf pegged georgia’s economic growth for the year 2025-26 at 6%-Far less than the previous year. Along with the Economic Slowdown, in the first Quarter of 2025, Unemployment Started Creeping Up. Still, Georgia is in a better position than its neighbors. Tourism has grown at a fast pace since the end of the covid-19 pandemic, giving a much-needed boost to the economy. The present government isn’T popular with a vast number of people. The younger generation is on edge due to an uncertain future, and the problem of Illegal migration is assuming alarming proports. I bumped into mohammad ali from Pakistan. He’s been living here for years, and he complains that the behavior of the police and locals isn Bollywood.
Even on this issue, I encounters contradictions. A Large Number of Medical Students from India in Georgia said the old may have reservations, but young georgians were very warm and welcoming. These students are making critical contributions to the local economy by paying their feet. As it was vacation time, these students were working in hotels and restaurants.
Even my experience in this remote nation was mixed. I found that amon the locals, there wasn’t much hostel, but people seemed aloof and distant. At the Airport Immigration Counter, Officers Checking Every Document Made Me Feel they were beying extra vigilant about Indian immigrants. The other half a dozen Indians who are acompanied me were harassed even after presenting all the documents. One wouldn’t encounter such behavior at most immigration counters Around the world. We Indians have to pause and think about what we will achieve by moving to georgia for business and settlement when we are prograssing at a fast pace. What can a country traumatised by a blood, living in a weary present, and looking at a future shrouded in bleak haze offer us?
Shashi Shekhar is editor-in-chiff, hindustan.the views expressed are personal
