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years oflife to rendering ShotaRustaveli's poeminto Kurdish, butunfortunateryhedidnotlivethatlongto
see the bookpublished.
In the preface ofthe translation, JardoeAssad gratefully acknowledges the assistance ofthe Georgian
scholars ofRustveUan studies and poets whose professional advice was a great help to himto bring this
good deed to the end.
In the process ofrendering The Knight in the Panther's Skin into Kurdish, as is noted by the Kurd
translator, he followed the Armenian and Russian versions ofShota Rustaveli's epic poem along with the
original.
Jardoe Assad has translated The Knight in the Panther's Skin in the Kurmanji dialect, which is spoken
bythe majorityofthe Kurd people ofmany millions. It is noteworthy that the rich Kurdish classical poetry
and the greater part ofthe contemporary Kurdish Uterary works are written in the Kurmanji dialectofthe
Kurdish language.
The translated text evidences that Jardoe Assad has spared no effort to approximate it to the Georgian
version as much as possible that points out the talent and creative abihty ofthe translator. Jardoe Assad's
translation ofThe Knight in the Panther's Skin, like the original, is made in the form ofthe shairi (4-line
stanza with mono-rhyme and long lines of 1 6 syllables), which is not alien to the classical and folk Kurdish
epic and lyric poetry. Although certain exceptions can be found in this regard in the text, we consider it
quite admissible when translating such a difBcult and voliirninous text as Shota Rustaveh's epic poem.
A good knowledge ofthe Kurdish language, poetry and folklore made it possible for Jardoe Assad to
use the rich artistic forms characteristic ofthe Kurdish verse when rendering the Georgian poem into his
native language. The translation is abundant in Georgian expressions and phrases related to the heroic and
lovepoetry.
Shota Rustaveli's epic poem translated by Jardoe Assad makes enjoyable reading and ranks as an
outstanding illustration ofKurdish poetrythat is a remarkable achievement ofthe translator.
The presented translation ofThe Knight in the Panther's Skin is the first attempt ofrendering Rustaveli's
poeminto Kurdish; therefore, it cannotbe perfect. JardoeAssadmakes mention ofthe same opinionin the
introduction preceding the translation ofThe Knight in the Panther's Skin in Kurdish.
Some twentyyears ago, by decision ofthe ChiefEditorial Board for Translation ofFiction attached to
the Union ofWriters ofGeorgia, the Merani State Publishing House was preparing for publication The
Knight in the Panther's Skin translated into Kurdish by Jardoe Assad. But the book was not brought out
because ofthe political changes taking place in the country in that period and Jardoe Assad's untimely
death a short time later.
Andthis noble undertaking eventually fell into oblivion.
Shota Rustaveli's immortal poem translated into Kurdish possibly would not have seen the light if it
were not the private initiative ofthe outstanding Georgian writer, translator and public figure, the headof
the Centre for Cultural Relations ofGeorgia - "Caucasian House", Naira Gelashvili, known for hertolerance
towards the representatives ofdifferent religions and nationaUties. She took a keen interest in the Kurdish
version ofThe Knight in the Panther's Skin, and correctly determined the importance ofpubUshing the
poemin JardoeAssad's translationnot onlyin the cause ofsatisfaction ofspiritual needs ofGeorgia's Kurd
population but also for strengthening ofliterary and cultural relations between the Georgian and Kurd
peoples. Naira GelasviU has bent every effort to raise funds for publishing the translation and she is still
doing everylhing in herpower for the implementation ofthis project.
Iftoday we are proud ofthis book - Shota Rustaveli's The Knight in the Panther 's Skin translated into
Kurdish, this, first ofall, should be regarded as a merit ofNaira GelashviU, and the grateful Kurd people,
especiallythe Kurd literary society, are much obUged to the prominent Georgian writer.
At the same time, particular mention should be made ofthe problems posing obstacles to pubUshing
The Knight in the Panther's Skin translated into Kurdish in up-to-date form. Firstly, the point was that
Jardoe Assad. translated Rustaveli's poem into Kurdish by using the CyrilUc script, which was established
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