An exhibition TSU in February – March 1921 was opened and a presentation of the book University in February 1921 by TSU Professor Malkhaz Matsaberidze was held at the Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University in connection with the Occupation Day.
Unique photo, video and phono documentary materials depicting the struggle of Georgian junkers and university students against the Red Army were exhibited. The book by Professor Matsaberidze describes the life of the Tbilisi State University in January-March 1921 relying on the newspaper materials of that period. It tells about the university students, who struggled during the February-March war and sacrificed themselves in defense of their country.
TSU Rector, Academician Vladimer Papava said: “February 25 is a historical and tragic day for Georgia. Our country lost its independence on this day. The university said its piece in the struggle for independence. Georgian students and professors sacrificed themselves in the struggle against occupation. Today we recollected the period of occupation. It is essential to mark February 25 in Georgia, because it serves as a reminder to future generations to ensure that similar tragic developments never reoccur in future.”
“An exhibition covering the most tragic development of Georgia’s contemporary history – Soviet Occupation - was opened at TSU Museum. As known, Ivane Javakhishvili, a co-founder of the Tbilisi State University, openly called on students to offer armed resistance. Along with photo, video and audio materials, memorial items are also exhibited. The exhibition shows the university’s role in the struggle against the Red Army,” Director of TSU Museum, Maia Gurabanidze said.
The exhibition was organized by TSU Museum. The exposition involves the documentary materials stored at the National Museum of Georgia, the National Archives of Georgia and the Georgian Public Broadcaster.
TSU Professor Malkhaz Matsaberidze said that the book University in February 1921 is dedicated to the life of TSU during the first three months: “The book describes the last two peaceful months of 1921 – how the university was preparing to celebrate its 3rd anniversary; how opening of a new faculty of law was planned; how students and professors participated in the February-March developments; how a part of students followed the Georgian army after leaving Tbilisi and how they struggled in Batumi; how the Georgian university was planned to be replaced by the Russian university, though this plan was not realized because Russian occupants failed to gain a firm foothold in Georgia then.”
The university students were recruited as volunteers in the Georgian armed forces to fight against Soviet occupation. Among the volunteers there were women too, who were enlisted as nurses. TSU student, Maro Makashvili was among them.
Several students died in struggle for defending Tbilisi. The names of only four of them are known so far. They are: Maro Makashvili; Pavle (Paliko) Beshkenadze; Nikoloz (Kolia) Kalandarishvili and Gio (Giorgi) Gamkrelidze.
Along with students, TSU professors and their family members also struggled for Georgia’s independence. Junker Gabriel Gekhtman, the son of Professor Giorgi Gekhtman, died on February 25 in the struggle for defending Tbilisi.
