Deda Ena (Mother Tongue) Statue
Location: Tbilisi, Georgia
Constructed: 1981-1983
Architects: Nodar Mgaloblishvili (architect) and Elguja Amashukeli (sculptor)
Alternative name: Monument to the Georgian Language
Genre: Soviet monument, former USSR
The monument commemorates the Georgian people’s protest against the Soviet authorities’ decision to change the constitutional status of languages in Georgia, which would have resulted in Georgian no longer being the country’s sole state language. Demonstrations took place throughout the country and reached a zenith in Tbilisi on 14th April 1978, where thousands of people took to the streets. The protests had the desired effect and in a highly unusual move, the authorities revoked their decision and the status of the Georgian language remained in place. Since 1990, the 14th April has been celebrated in Georgia as the “Day of the Georgian Language”.
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