An event dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the publication of the book “Mother Tongue” by Jakob Gogebashvili was held in the National Library Exhibition Hall of Georgia on April 14, 2026, Tuesday.
The National Library of Georgia shared the glimpses of the event on its official Facebook Page on April 14, 2026, Tuesday. The Georgian National Library also shared a small note about the event along with its glimpses.
This anniversary date is dedicated to the reissue of “Mother Tongue,” published by the National Library in 1876. “Mother tongue” is not just a book – it is one of the main pillars of Georgian soul, language, and culture.
The Georgian language is the most important part of the national identity of the citizens of Georgia. It is the language that connects them to their history, traditions, and each other. “Mother Tongue” is one of the clearest and strongest bridges of this union – a book that united many generations in a common word and thought.
Georgian Parliament members Giorgi Sosiashvili and Vladimir Bozhadze, as well as the chairman of Tbilisi City Council, Zurab Abashidze, addressed the community gathered at the event. The Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili also addressed the participants of the event with a welcome speech.
He congratulated the citizens on the Georgian Language Day which they celebrate every year. According to him, language is not just a means of communication. Language is the core of one’s identity – history, memory, soul.
Shalva Papuashvili noted, “Ilia Chavchavadze will not be confused by the formula – homeland, language, religion. He only saw, summarized and said what was creating Georgian nation for centuries. These are the three pillars on which our state and national presence stands. If one pillar breaks down, the other one starts to fall.”
“The intergenerational link, this continuity bound in time and space, is an essential prerequisite for a nation’s self-identification and collective memory. We must know who we are, where we come from and where we are going. What is in us is unshakable, irreplaceable and to be protected to the end”, said Shalva Papuashvili.
