Georgia celebrates Mother Language Day
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Georgia is celebrating Mother Language Day today, which marks Georgia's courageous victory over the Soviet repressive machine in maintaining the Georgian language as the country’s official language.
On this day 36 years ago, hundreds of Georgians took to the streets in Tbilisi in protest against the Soviet Empire’s decision to remove words in the Georgian Constitution that would guarantee Georgian as the country’s official language.
On April 14, 1978, local students, professors, teachers and citizens strictly opposed the decision so the Soviet regime was forced to step back. This was an unprecedented case when the regime withdrew and backed down to the community’s demands.
"It was a great victory. This day demonstrated that Georgian people would never give up and accept impairing of the national values,” said Georgia’s Prime Minister in a written statement congratulating people on Mother Language Day.
"The step was equal to heroism,” Prime Minister Irakli Garibahsvili claimed.
"Today, when Georgia is independent our duty is not only to respect our mother language but also take care of it, support each of our citizens to study Georgian language and thus strengthen its official status,” he said.
Georgian is written in its own unique writing system and comprises of 33 characters.
The Georgian alphabet has been named among the top five most beautiful alphabets in the world by an international travel website.
Georgia is embracing a new campaign to encourage people to protect the Georgian language and abstain from using hybrid and loan words.
The ancient Georgian alphabet has been granted the national status of cultural heritage.
The ancient Georgian alphabet has been granted the national status of cultural heritage in Georgia and is now one step closer to gaining recognition worldwide.
Estonia’s capital city Tallinn is hosting an exhibition about the ancient Georgian alphabet, which is named among the top five most beautiful alphabets in the world.
Georgian calligraphists, language enthusiasts and businesses are uniting to promote the unique Georgian alphabet and encouraging people use it on their electronic devices.
Georgian calligraphy has been honoured at a special exhibition in the Egyptian capital Cairo.
The Georgian alphabet, described as a "living culture of three writing systems”, has been added to UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.