Georgian culture in focus at Charles University, Prague

Students at one of the leading universities in Prague, Czech Republic, are being given the opportunity to delve into Georgian culture and learn about the historic language and the country’s people.

The National Library of Georgia has provided various textbooks to Charles University to help students explore the Georgian culture and writings on science and art.

The decision to house the textbooks at the Charles University library comes after Georgian culture and language was first introduced to the University last year.

In November 2014 a Georgian centre was established within the Charles University library to encourage students to learn about the post-Soviet country. Shortly after its establishment Maia Darchia, a Georgian citizen living in the Czech Republic, led lectures about Georgian culture.

Looking ahead another Georgian living in the Czech Republic will join the centre and teach Georgian language to interested students, and on September 20, the head of Ivane Javakhisvili University in Tbilisi is planning to visit the Georgian centre at Charles University and meet with students.

Meanwhile the idea to house Georgian textbooks at the Charles University library was a joint proposal by Ambassador of Georgia to the Czech Republic Zaal Gogsadze and University Professor Marek Prihoda, Director General of the Faculty of Philosophy.

The famous university library commemorates former student Jan Palach, who sacrificed his life during a political protest at the end of Prague Spring in 1968.