TSU Emeritus Professor Mzekala Shanidze delivered a public lecture “Georgian Manuscripts – Our Cultural Heritage” at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU). The lecture was delivered within the framework of “the First Public Lecture of the Year.” Rector of TSU, George Sharvashidze; Head of the Department of the Official Language, Giorgi Alibegashvili; academics, students and invited guests attended the event. Rector Sharvashidze awarded the Anniversary Medal of TSU to Prof. Mzekala Shanidze.
Rector George Sharvashidze said that it is important that “the First Public Lecture” provides an opportunity to professors of various generations, researchers and students to meet each other. “Ivane Javakhishvili was the first to deliver the first public lecture within these walls 101 years ago, on February 12. This tradition was restored in 2015 and since then, famous Georgian scientists and public figures are delivering public lecturers here. Mzekala Shanidze delivered a very interesting lecture on Georgia manuscripts. It is good that the tradition continues,” Rector Sharvashidze said.
“The University has restored a very good tradition – delivering the First Public Lecture launched by Ivane Javakhishvili. It is a great honor for me. This tradition certainly connects us with the period when the University was founded and enables us to take into consideration many issues promoted by the university founders – the state of the Georgian language, studying Georgian and Kartvelian languages and studying Georgian manuscripts. Ivane Javakhishvili, founder of the University, was an expert in Georgian manuscripts,” Prof. Mzekala Shanidze said.
The First Public Lecture of the Year is delivered annually at TSU. Ivane Javakhishvili delivered the first public lecture on February 12, 1918.
In frames of “the First Public Lecture of the Year”, then Parliamentary Chairman Davit Usupashvili delivered a lecture “Our State” at TSU on February 12, 2015; TSU Emeritus Professor, Academician Mariam Lortkipanidze delivered a public lecture “How did we survive?” in 2016. Director of the Georgian National Museum, David Lordkipanidze delivered a public lecture “Modern Data on Archaic Homo” on February 10. TSU Professor Levan Gigineishvili delivered a public lecture “Theory of Henads by Ioane Petritsi and His New Anthropology” on February 12, 2018.
