Celebrating Georgian Language Day
Remarkable moment etched in Georgia’s history

Georgians all over the country are today celebrating Georgian Language Day to mark an occasion 38 years ago when 100,000 citizens protested to protect the status of Georgian language as the official state language.

The annual date marks the events of April 14, 1978, when Soviet authorities retracted their decision to revoke the official status the Georgian language following a mass demonstration in Georgia's capital Tbilisi.

An initial march of 15,000 protesters grew to a demonstration involving 100,000 citizens at a central Tbilisi park – now known as Dedaena Park. After the protest a special monument was erected honouring the day’s events.

The monument recognises the mass protest against the attempt by Soviet authorities to revoke the official status of Georgian language. Photo from www.about.ge.

The mass protest forced the Soviet government to retract its decision and retain Georgian as the official state language in Georgia.

This issue was also in focus in nearby then-Soviet nations.

The decision by Soviet authorities to revoke the official status of local languages in other then-Soviet states was also condemned by the public and resulted in widespread protests in Armenia and a number of Baltic states, however in Ukraine, Belarus, Azerbaijan and Central Asian Soviet republics, the change was accepted.

In Georgia the local language lost its status as the state language after the forceful takeover by the Russian Empire in 1801.

The status was restored during Georgia's three-year independence from 1918-1921 however formal recognition was lost again beginning with the Soviet occupation of Georgia in 1921 until 1936, when the language was officially granted the status within the Soviet Constitution.

This year the April 14 annual Georgian Language Day celebration coincided with the 140th anniversary of the first edition of the original textbook Deda Ena by late Georgian teacher and children's writer Iakob Gogebashvili (1840-1912).

The cover of the original 1876 edition of the first Georgian language textbook 'Deda Ena' by author Iakob Gogebashvili. Photo from Iverieli Digital Library/Facebook.

The textbook was the first organised learning material for Georgian language in elementary schools after its publication in 1876.

The author's original drafts, notes and letters related to the book are on display today alongside other historical material at an exhibition at Georgia's National Centre of Manuscripts in capital Tbilisi to celebrate the anniversary.

Titled The Road to Deda Ena, the display is open to visitors from 1pm today.