An exhibition “Government of the Democratic Republic of Georgia and Tbilisi State University” and a student academic conference “The Democratic Republic of Georgia (1918-1921): Persons, Developments, Reforms, Achievements and Mistakes” were held at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU) as part of the events marking Georgia’s Independence Day. Rector of TSU, Giorgi Sharvashidze, representatives of academic community, students and invited guests attended the opening ceremony.
Rector Sharvashidze said that the university hosted a lot of events marking Georgia’s Independence Day. “The Week dedicated to Georgia’s Independence Day proved to be very interesting: exhibitions, conferences and book presentation were held. A very interesting exhibition has been opened today, which has displayed unique materials about the relations between the first university and the government of the first republic, about what was being done for the university, how the idea of university has developed over these years. Moreover, the student conference dedicated to Georgia’s Independence Day is being held. This Week clearly demonstrates the role the first Georgian University has played and will play in future,” Giorgi Sharvashidze said.
“The Week dedicated to the 99th Independence Day, which was marked at the Tbilisi State University, will be closed today. The exhibition offers print and photo materials, depicting important and interesting processes taking place between the university and then government in 1918-1921,” Head of the TSU Library, Zurab Gaiparashvili said. He also noted that the TSU Library organized an annual student academic conference with the participation of TSU students. Over 20 students from all faculties presented their papers covering all aspects of the 1918-1921 years.
The exhibition “Government of the Democratic Republic of Georgia and Tbilisi State University”, which was organized by the TSU Museum, offered visitors a lot of manuscripts, photo and print materials kept at the TSU Museum and the Georgian National Archives and documenting the challenges faced by Georgia almost a century ago, particularly Georgia’s struggle for independence, the very first achievements of Georgian democratic government in both domestic and foreign policies, etc.
Among the exhibits also were the coat of arms of the First Republic of Georgia (created by Charlemagne) and flag designs, as well as the Act of Independence adopted at the session of the National Council of Georgia on May 26, 1918, documents reflecting the cooperation between the Government of the Democratic Republic of Georgia and TSU professors.
“The materials displayed at the Museum represent a retrospective on the key developments accompanying the process of creating an independent republic, most important in this exhibition is the relationship existing between the newly established university and the government of the independent republic. These relations were based on national values,” Head of the TSU Museum, Maia Gurabanidze said.
