Microsoft Word - fullpdf07012025 Georgian Scientists/ქართველი მეცნიერები ტ. 7 N 1, 2025 417 Georgian Scientists ქართველი მეცნიერები Vol. 7 Issue 1, 2025 https://doi.org/10.52340/gs.2025.07.01.38 THE INITIAL STAGES OF THE HISTORY OF GEORGIAN RADIO Natia Nakhutsrishvili1, Sandro Bakhtadze2, Irakli Javakhishvili3, Rafiel Tkhinvaleli3 1Tbilisi State University 2Geoaeronavigation Company 3Georgian Technical University Abstract The article presents data on the history of Georgian radio broadcasting from its establishment until 1925. The contribution of Georgian scientists, inventors and public figures to this national cause is discussed. Keywords: Georgian radio broadcasting, initial stages. Introduction This year marks a century, were that laid the foundation for regular radio broadcasting in Georgia. Georgian Radio used to be a state broadcaster, and now it has the status of a public broadcaster. The activities of the Radio of Georgia, its entire cultural activities - the promotion of Georgian writing and art, Georgian culture and science, undoubtedly contributed to the awakening of national consciousness and the establishment of national values. This article discusses the first stages of the formation and development of Georgian radio telegraphy and radio broadcasting. The achievements of scientists-inventors, practically unknown to the general public, in this national issue are also discussed. Results In the second half of the 19th century, technical progress in the world contributed to the emergence and development of electronic communication. This process has a very peculiar and interesting history in our country. Already in 1859, on the initiative of Grigol Orbeliani, the famous Georgian poet and acting governor of the Caucasus at that time, an agreement was signed, which provided for the establishment of a telegraph connection between Tbilisi and Poti. For this purpose, a famous German Georgian Scientists/ქართველი მეცნიერები ტ. 7 N 1, 2025 418 scientist and inventor, a member of the Berlin Academy of Sciences, the younger brother of Wehrlein von Siemens, the head of the firm "Siemens and Halske", engineer Walter Siemens was invited to Georgia. Under his leadership, in 1860, the first wired telegraph line between Poti and Tbilisi was installed. According to the agreement, Walter Siemens continued to work, and on January 12, 1863, the first telegrams were exchanged between Tbilisi and Stavropol. The construction of the Tbilisi- Yerevan-Julfa telegraph line was completed in 1864, Tbilisi-Tehran in 1865, and Tbilisi-Baku in 1868. In 1870, the world's longest telegraph line, 11,000 kilometers, was built between England and India. He also traveled through Georgia (in the direction of Sochi-Sukhumi-Zugdidi-Shorapani-Tbilisi- Dilijan-Yerevan-Nakhchevani-Tavriz). It was called the Indo-European Telegraph and during its operation (until 1931) Tbilisi was one of the recognized centers of international transit telegrams in Europe and Asia. The development of radio telegraph (wireless telegraph) in Georgia belongs to a later period. At the end of the 19th century, first in Italy (in 1894), and then in England (in 1896), the Italian engineer Guglielmo Marconi was able to implement a radio-telegraph connection for the first time. In 1897, he received a patent for the use of electromagnetic waves for wireless communication and formed a powerful shareholder community to mass-produce the device. The work of the Georgian inventor Grigol (Gigo) Nakhutsrishvili is also an important page in the history of Georgian radio broadcasting (Nakhutsrishvili in press). In 1900-1905, he studied at the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the University of Derpt (Yuriev, now Tartu) and worked enthusiastically on the creation of a model of a new type of device - a wireless data transmission device. In 1902-1904, Grigol Nakhutsrishvili, independently of Popov, Marconi and others, created the original typewriter with electrical connections - a design that allowed automatic reception and transmission of radio communications. Unfortunately, little information is available on the inventor. The Georgian society learned about him only on March 5, 1906, from the letter published in the appendix of the "Notice Sheet", which was dedicated to the anniversary of his death. In addition to the biography, a photo portrait of Nakhutsrishvili and a photo of his device were also printed with the inscription: "Wireless telegraph device invented by Grigol Nakhutsrishvili. In the footnote it says: "The device is sent to the editorial office" its description, unfortunately, has been lost. G. Nakhutsrishvili could not obtain a patent due to lack of funds. At the age of 29, he fell seriously ill, in 1905 he died far from his homeland in Tartu and was buried there, while part of the device he invented - a keyboard and a cylinder - is currently kept in the historical-ethnographic museum of Telavi named after D. Chubinashvili. The first serious step towards the formation of the radio industry in Georgia was taken in 1910, when a radio station was built in Navtlughi (a district of Tbilisi), which belonged to the military and was mainly used for communication with field radio stations. It was the only low-power spark-transmitting radio station installed by the Russians in Tbilisi, through which radio communication was made with Baku, Kars, Saratov and Astrakhan. In 1917, a 10-kilowatt coastal radio station was built in Batumi, and Georgian Scientists/ქართველი მეცნიერები ტ. 7 N 1, 2025 419 a year later - a 5-kilowatt station in Poti. At that time, there were still no civilian radio stations in Georgia. After the end of the First World War, the increased need for information further accelerated the development of radio technology. In Russia on July 21, 1918, the Sakhokomsoviet issued a resolution on "Radio-technical activities of the Russian Republic". In fact, a state monopoly was declared on radio broadcasting stations in Russia. At that time, Georgia was no longer part of Russia, and the new republic on the road to independence had to take care of finding its place in the international communication network. But due to the difficult political and economic conditions created in Georgia in 1918-1921, this process was delayed. Only a few low power radio stations were installed and that too by foreign countries. They also took care to create communication links. In 1918, the German military service organized a 15 kilowatt receiving-transmitting spark radio station in the building of the old radio station in Navtlughi, Tbilisi, and erected a steel mast with an umbrella-type antenna. And in 1919, on Saburtalo in Tbilisi, the Italian military mission organized a 5 kilowatt arc radio station for communication with Rome. As soon as the British army entered Georgia, both the Germans and the Italians left the territory of Georgia, and the radio equipment they installed remained here. It is clear that the radio stations created by foreigners in our country in 1918-1921 served their political goals and did not take into account the interests of the newly created republic. Thus, the creation of the necessary material and technical base for the national radio broadcasting for Georgia had to be implemented with the efforts and finances of the government. This issue was greatly facilitated by the printed word of the time, which focused on the unprecedented possibilities and prospects of the radio and considered it as one of the levers of the economic and political progress of the independent state. From this point of view, interesting material is provided in Nazarishvili's book "Wireless Telegraph or Radio Telephone" published in Kutaisi in 1919, accompanied by "Russian-German-Georgian short dictionary of electrical terms". This work is imbued with deep patriotism, which has a desire to firmly establish Georgia in the European space and declares the creation of a national radio broadcasting as one of the necessary conditions for this. Interesting material about the state of communication means of the First Republic of Georgia is also collected in periodicals of that time. For example, the letter published in the magazine "Trade and Industry of Georgia" dated June 1, 1920 - "Establishment of a powerful radiotelegraph station in Georgia" informs us that in 1919-1920 the electrical engineering department of the technical committee was established. Conducted negotiations with the world's leading countries to improve existing radio stations. In 1920, the management of the French firm "Société Générale de Radio- télégraphe" offered the Georgian side a new type of powerful radio station, a similar device has been successfully operating in France since 1917 and provided communication with a radius of at least 6000 kilometers during the day, and twice as much at night. As the anonymous author of the letter claims, the new radio station made it possible to establish direct daytime communication with European and Asian centers (Paris, Berlin, London, Stockholm, Delhi, Bombay, etc.), which greatly facilitated Georgian Scientists/ქართველი მეცნიერები ტ. 7 N 1, 2025 420 diplomatic and commercial relations. But, as it is clear from the letter, the leadership of the electrotechnical department of the Technical Committee of Georgia was careful with the proposal of the French side and decided to sign the contract only after the corresponding message regarding the radio station was sent from abroad and a competition was organized between different firms. One of the serious reasons for the reluctance was probably the rather substantial cost of the radio station - 12 million manats in bonds, which would be difficult for the newly formed republic to pay, and the project was no longer implemented. Instead, a simple solution was found, the reconstruction of the already existing radio station in Tbilisi was carried out, and a receiving-transmitting radio station was established on its base in Didube in the summer of 1920 to receive press materials from Russia and other European countries. He then they moved to Chitadze Street. The origin of radio broadcasting in Georgia is connected with this radio station. At the beginning of 1921, after the annexation of Georgia by Soviet Russia, the existing radio equipment came under the control of the Soviet authorities. Georgia found itself in the communication space of the newly formed socialist state. From that time until the 1980s, the formation and development of radio broadcasting in Georgia was directly determined by the Soviet Union through its political and ideological processes. This is quite logical, considering that for 70 years Georgia was an integral part of the Soviet state politically, ideologically and economically, and did not have the means of independent development in any sphere of spiritual or material life. The new government immediately began large-scale activities to establish the radio industry, and already at the end of 1921, young radio specialists, later the famous radio engineer Khmiadashvili, the radio station in Tbilisi was renovated, which allowed to establish a permanent radio connection with Moscow. Radio stations in Batumi and Poti were also repaired. Since 1923, under the direct leadership of the Transcaucasian People's Commissariat of Postal and Telegraphic Communications, the pace of radio construction has been accelerated, the radio network of Georgia has been expanded, the material and technical base has been formed, and mass interest in this innovation has been established. On February 13, 1924, a "loud-talking radio broadcast" was carried out in Tbilisi - the first attempt: a transmission of Bizet's opera "Carmen" was organized from the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theater to the Tbilisi Electromechanical Factory Club. Direct participant and organizer of this program Khmiadashvili wrote: "The hall of the Workers' Club is full of people, there are two large gray gramophone-like conical mouthpieces on the platform. Wires are drawn from here to the other side. There is a control phone and other equipment on the stage. "Electroacoustics began to be used for the purposes of cultural and political education of the masses." This fact significantly increased interest in radio in Georgia. On April 7, 1924, the "Transcaucasian Radio Society" was founded in Tbilisi, the purpose of which was to popularize the scientific and educational activities of radio. All this contributed to the formation of the amateur radio movement. On April 7, 1924, the "Transcaucasian Radio Society" was founded in Tbilisi, the purpose of which was to popularize radio, scientific and educational activities in this field and support radio construction. Georgian Scientists/ქართველი მეცნიერები ტ. 7 N 1, 2025 421 In 1920, the first radiotelephone station was built in Russia. This meant that it was possible to transmit the human voice and music - all the facilities that radio broadcasting has today. In June 1921, loudspeakers were installed on Moscow squares, after which newspapers were read on the air. A year later, the Moscow Central Radiotelephone named after the Comintern began to bring people to the microphone, give reports and lectures. Thus, by 1924, regular radio broadcasting already existed in the major powers of the world, including the Soviet Union, whose broadcasts were also attempted to be caught by radio amateurs using homemade vacuum tube receivers. Khmiadashvili recalls: "I remember the autumn night of 1924 and the homemade vacuum tube receiver from Moscow. I heard the radiotelephone transmission." It was a big sensation at the time. Many did not believe, doubted and closely followed the world air. Soon, radio equipment produced by the state industry and industrial cooperatives also appeared in Georgia. The year 1924 played an important role in the development of radio. On July 28, the Soviet government adopted a decree "On private receiving radio stations", according to which citizens of the USSR, as well as private organizations and individual groups, were allowed to organize receiving radio stations. The "Freedom of Air Act", as it was called, significantly increased the number of radio amateurs. They were also greatly helped by Fleischer's textbook "Wireless Telegraph", which was intended for students of the Transcaucasian Telecommunications Electrotechnical School. In the same year, the publication of the union magazine "Radio" began, which was distributed in Georgia as well. Since 1925, more and more material appears on the pages of the press. The article "Wonderful Prospects" was published. On March 22, 1925, the "Communist" newspaper enthusiastically wrote: "A completely new era has come, imagine our mountaineers, Tush-Pshav-Khevsurs, Svans and others who have the opportunity to follow life; To receive daily news about what is happening in the country, to listen to concerts in their huts, etc. It is clear how the radiotelephone will help education... Radio already opens up dream prospects. Tests have started and it is expected that in the near future we will be able to talk to people thousands of kilometers away." On March 31, 1925, the magazine "Science and Technology" called on the population: "It is time to wake up, we must interest the masses in radio construction, such a movement has already started in Russia, and we are starting now." In this regard, serious work was carried out by the Union joint-stock company "Radio Transmission", whose activities were spread over the entire territory of the Soviet Union and were aimed at accelerating reception and transmission, mass organization of the construction of radio stations. Amateur radio clubs were created in 1924 and were originally called "Radio for All". Its founders were the "Factories" Trust, the Russian Telegraph Agency and the Post- Telegraph People's Commissariat. In the spring of 1925, Transcaucasian Society of Radio Amateurs was founded, the board of which was located in Tbilisi, in the People's Commissariat of Posts and Telegraphs, near the Radio Department. This society included party activists and radio specialists: Miasnikov - chairman of the society, Atharbegov - deputy chairman, Sturua - deputy chairman of the bureau of the initiative group, as well as radio engineers Khmiadashvili, Fleisher and others. The society was instructed to create broadcasting Georgian Scientists/ქართველი მეცნიერები ტ. 7 N 1, 2025 422 radio stations in Tbilisi, Baku and Yerevan as soon as possible. The first radio station was to be established in Tbilisi. "Our first step in this field will be the creation of the first long-distance radio station in Tbilisi. Next week we will transmit the words spoken by the communists from Tbilisi to all directions in the world, we will spread the first elementary knowledge, Soviet thoughts, and then new stations will be created in Baku, Yerevan, Batumi and Poti", - wrote the newspaper "Communist" on 13th of 1925 in February. In March 1925, the Presidium of the Central Council of the Union of Trade Unions considered it expedient to create amateur radio stations in workers' clubs. Creation of such clubs began with enthusiasm in Tbilisi and throughout the republic. Among them were: Orjonikidze Railway Workers' Club radio club, radio clubs of the State University, Polytechnic Institute, First Industrial and Economic Technical College. The newspaper "Communist", which greatly contributed to the expansion of the amateur radio movement in Georgia, reported on April 4, 1925 that the amateur radio society had decided to open a radio cooperative that would provide radio receivers, radio literature at discounted prices, etc. And in the "Chronicle" of March 25, it was mentioned that Georgia At the request of the Central Committee of the NKVD, a list of public councils to which radio receivers will be provided was compiled. Since 1925, new sections appeared on the pages of the republican press: "Radio", "Radio- corner", "Radio-engineering", "Radio news", where both information about radio and popular scientific articles on radio-engineering and its use in Tbilisi were placed. Already, many radio listeners could listen to Comintern radio broadcasts, Union Radio broadcasts were also printed in the Georgian press. The increased interest in radio put the issue of expansion of the existing radio station in Tbilisi on the agenda. For this purpose, a radio commission was created under the leadership of Sturua. An important event in the history of Georgian radio broadcasting was the erection of a new six-meter radio mast in Navtlughi on April 22, 1925, which worked in a radius of 300 kilometers. This solemn event was attended by the leaders of the party and the government, and the republican press responded to it with extensive stories. Similar radio towers were erected in Baku, Yerevan and Kharkiv. A month later, a semi-artistic broadcast radio station created by young specialists was launched in Navtlughi, from which the first test radio broadcast was carried out and which was published by the newspaper "Zaria Vostoka" on May 23, 1925 with the article "Radiotelephone - transmitter in Tbilisi". The actors and performers were the station's own employees, who broadcast songs, music and talks on May 23 and 24 from 6 to 7 p.m. on the 600 to 700 meter airwaves." Thus, on May 21, 1925, the first test radio broadcast was carried out in Georgia. This date should be considered as the birthday of Georgian Radio. Georgian Scientists/ქართველი მეცნიერები ტ. 7 N 1, 2025 423 References Adamia, Z., Loria, L., Nakhutsrishvili, N., & Talakhadze, N. (2024). From the History of Georgian Technologies. Georgian Scientists, 6(1), 301-305. https://doi.org/10.52340/gs.2024.06.01.36 Khmiadasvili, G. (1961) Development of radio equipment in Georgia, Tbilisi. ხმიადაშვილი, გ. (1961) რადიომაუწყებლობის წარმოშობა საქართველოში, თბილისი. Nakhutsrishvili, I., Talakhadze, N., Nakhutsrishvili, N., Adamia, Z. From the history of the invention of the radio apparatus (in press). ნახუცრიშვილი, ი., ტალახაძე, ნ., ნახუცრიშვილი, ნ., ადამია, ზ. რადიოაპარატის გამოგონების ისტორიიდან (ბეჭდვაშია). Tadumadze, E. (1955) Essays from the history of radio, Tbilisi. თადუმაძე, ე. (1955) ნარკვევები რადიოს ისტორიიდან, თბილისი. Talakhadze, N., Nakhutsrishvili, N. (2025) Establishment of radio telegraphy and radio broadcasting in Georgia - Contribution of Georgian scientists and inventors, Generis Publishing. ტალახაძე, ნ., ნახუცრიშვილი, ნ. (2025) რადიოტელეგრაფიისა და რადიომაუწყებლობის წარმოშობა საქართველოში - ქართველ მეცნიერთა და გამომგონებელთა ღვაწლი, გამომცემლობა Generis Publishing. საქართველოს რადიოს ისტორიის საწყისი ეტაპები ნათია ნახუცრიშვილი1, სანდრო ბახტაძე2, ირაკლი ჯავახიშვილი3, რაფიელ თხინვალელი3 1თბილისის სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტი 2საქაერონავიგაციის კომპანია 3საქართველოს ტექნიკური უნივერსიტეტი რეზიუმე სტატიაში წარმოდგენილია მონაცემები ქართული რადიომაუწყებლობის ისტორიის შესახებ დაარსებიდან 1925 წლამდე. განხილულია ქართველი მეცნიერების, გამომგონებლებისა და საზოგადო მოღვაწეების წვლილი ამ ეროვნულ საქმეში.