Poet, translator Giorgi Lobzhanidze honoured with Iran's prestigious Shahriar festival medal
The Georgian poet and translator has been distinguished for both his own work and for making poetry available to readers in different languages. Photo: Rafal Komorowski/CC BY-SA 4.0).
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Georgian poet and professor Giorgi Lobzhanidze has been distinguished with one of Iran's top awards, after receiving the Shahriar International Scientific and Cultural Medal at the festival of the same title.
Distinguished at the sixth edition of the event, Lobzhanidze, a recipient of prizes at international festivals including the Grand Prix of the International Poetry Day in Qatar last month, was again singled out for his translation work.
The cover of the Georgian edition of the 'Masnavi' series, a poem by the Persian poet Rumi, translated by Lobzhanidze. Image via Sulakauri Publishing.
The Iranian festival's organisers picked him for the prize for his work on making poetry by the 13th century Persian poet Jalal ad-Din Mohammad Rumi available to readers in Georgian, in addition to contributing through introductory commentary.
The award is used by the scientific council of the University of Tabriz to honour researchers for contributions to developing studies of Iranian culture, with previous recipients including Georgian academics Thea Shurghaia, Nomadi Bartaia and Maia Sakhokia.
Lobzhanidze, an associate professor at the Tbilisi State University, has earned plaudits and prizes for his work in translation and poetry, with honours including the one from the Nazra festival in October, a spot among finalists of the Il Tiburtino International Literary Prize for Unpublished Poetry in Italy last year, and more.
Poet Giorgi Lobzhanidze was declared winner at the Nazra annual poetry competition in Qatar last week, with his poem Garden in the Desert earning the award and an invitation for its author to the International Poetry Day in Qatar next spring.
Georgian author Giorgi Lobzhanidze’s book of poetry titled Šventofobija has been named among Lithuania’s best 15 of 2020. “I am extremely happy!... Hardly any books have made me feel so happy” Lobzhanidze wrote on Facebook yesterday. Poetry by Lobzhanidze, a philologist and Orientalist, has been published in Georgia both as part of poetry publications and as standalone editions.
Georgian poet Giorgi Lobzhanidze is among nominees for this year's Il Tiburtino International Literary Prize for Unpublished Poetry in Italy, hosted by the Aletti Editore literary community and marking its fourth edition later this month.
Georgian poet Giorgi Lobzhanidze and translator Nunu Geladze will be under the spotlight of the Xenia Book Fair in Reggio Calabria, a coastal city in southern Italy, where audience will be introduced to their work this week.
The most notable names and works of the Georgian literature scene over the past year were celebrated on Thursday in the latest edition of the Saba Literary Prize, with 14 winners earning awards for their prose and poetry, fiction and non-fiction, as well as translation work.