In 1837, in the tiniest village of the smallest country, where rivers flowed and birds soared freely, an unexpected event occurred. The peaceful town came under attack. Brave men, determined to protect their families, defeated the enemies victoriously. As one of the soldiers was heading home, his son was taking his first breath. This is the story of how a national hero of Georgia, Ilia Chavchavadze, was born. Ilia was inspired by the courageous men and their fascinating stories. He wished to be like them when he grew up, however, his father gave him the best advice for their time: “The era of swords and weapons is over, now it is time to read and learn; that is how heroes are shaped today!” Ilia listened to his father and he got the best education through his work he became the Giuseppe Garibaldi of Georgia. This article briefly introduces a man who is a founder of modern Georgia. Though, a nation that was a victim of Russian colonial politics, It had a rich history and a great potential to become an independent sovereign country.
Ilia Chavchavadze was exceptionally intelligent. He knew that the fight for independence would not be easy. Ilia was aware that he would face a strong opponent—the Russian Empire. Nevertheless, Ilia was certain that if society came together under one language, one state, and one religion, Georgians would fight against the enemy. This is how he came up with a new motto for Georgians.
A Language, A Nation, A fate
"ენა, მამული, სარწმუნოება" - Ilia Chavchavadze
But the slogan was not enough! Here are some of the most noble actions taken by this man.
Society for the Spreading of Literacy among Georgians
Ilia was aware that many Georgians did not know how to read or write. To tackle this challenge, he created a nonprofit organisation called the 'Society for Spreading Literacy Among Georgians.' With his supporters, he began educating the less fortunate. This action truly cemented his ideas, as he created a well-educated community. It is worth mentioning that the society truly connected Georgia to its historic pro-European path.
Ilia Chavchavadze was a realist. His works vividly demonstrate the brutal reality of Georgia in the 19th century. His characters are the face of the community. For instance, Luarsab Tatkaridze from the novel “Is a Man a Human?” is a portrait of the worst citizen. In contrast, the main character of “Otaraant Widow” is a true symbol of a responsible person who understands her role in life. Ilia did not hesitate to vividly depict the harsh realities of his society. For the first time in a while, society began discussing real issues. Many people changed their points of view about their involvement in social and political events, thus shaping a more responsible and active community.
In the context of today's sociology, Ilia's literature aimed to further reinforce Secular-Rational and Self-Expression values. This hypothesis is supported by his works, which promoted the empowerment of citizens, gender equality, a nuanced understanding of religion, and more. Ultimately, his efforts align with what modern Europe considers essential for understanding the values of open-mindedness.
He also founded the journal “Iveria” which was a prominent way to inform society about the current era. Moreover, “Iveria” introduced numerous poets and artists to society. This journal became one of the cultural centres of Georgia.
Economic dependence was also a vastly important issue in Georgia in the 19th century. Ilia’s bank played a crucial role in economic separation from the Russian empire. The bank would only give credits to people developing their businesses, Therefore, shaping society with the economic benefit without co-dependency.
Consequently, even though Ilia Chavchavadze was murdered in 1907 by a Russian agent before Georgia became a sovereign nation, he is truthfully a founding father of modern-day Georgia. Strangely, all of his achievements and noble works go back to the advice of his father: 'The era of swords and weapons is over; now it is time to read and learn. That is how heroes are shaped today!' Truthfully, these words are still relevant. In times when politicians make up populist quotes instead of addressing relevant issues, education is the key to understanding global challenges and ways to tackle them. The society is only developing if the community is capable of analyzing reality. Ilia understood this statement and all of his work aimed to make society thoughtful.
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