Nishant Bhaiji
NEW DELHI: There is plenty of evidence to suggest that India and Georgia have shared historical ties. Amongst Indologists, it is a widely accepted belief that Indian Panchtantra has influenced the Georgian folk legends. Many historical sources prove the existence of Georgia’s connection with India throughout the ages as well as striking similarities between Georgian and Indian cultures in different areas.
Indian Prince Tariel, a fictional character, plays one of the main characters in Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli’s, ‘Knight in the Panther’s Skin’. The 12th-century Georgian epic poem is an intriguing example of Indian- Georgian literary and historical connection.
The records of Georgian travellers, merchants and traders are not uncommon, especially in the Mughal courts. There were few who even rose to the position of Governors. The Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb’s wife Udaipuri Begum was of Georgian origin.
Georgian nobleman, traveller, merchant and diplomat Rafail Danibegashvili is another source of historical connection between Georgia and India. Between 1795 and 1827, he travelled five times to the Indian subcontinent. He was first dispatched by the Georgian King, Erekle the Second, to establish the trade routes between the two countries.
Today, India and Georgia enjoy close ties of friendship and robust cooperation in wide-ranging fields.
To further deepen the collaboration between the two countries in areas of trade and commerce, a joint feasibility study was launched to explore the possibilities of signing a Free Trade Agreement in April 2017. The report of the study was accepted and a protocol was signed on January 11, 2019 in Tbilisi. Currently, discussions are taking place through a joint working group, which was set up for the purpose. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, India recognised Georgia’s independence on December 26, 1991 and established formal diplomatic relations with it on September 28, 1992. India does not have a Resident Mission in Georgia. TheIndian Mission in Armenia with residence in Yerevan is concurrently accredited to Georgia.
A country at the intersection of Europe and Asia, Georgia is home to Caucasus Mountain villages and Black Sea beaches. It is famous for Vardzia, a sprawling cave monastery dating back to the 12th century, and the ancient wine-growing region of Kakheti. Georgia’s capital Tbilisi is known for its diverse architecture and mazelike, cobblestone streets in its old town.
Georgia is a major hub for transportation and logistics. The strategic importance of the wider Black Sea area has increased dramatically. The Black Sea serves as a connection between Europe and the Eurasia, and the development of multidimensional and multimodal linkages attracted greater interest from the world.
There is also great potential for developing multi-modal connectivity projects between Georgia and India: South-West Transport Corridor. Indian shipments from western coast through Iran’s Chabahar and Bandar Abbas or Armenia, Azerbaijan could go to Georgia for their further shipment to the Europe from the Georgian Black sea ports of Batumi and Poti.
