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Literature and Literary Theory

Akaki Tsereteli About Establishing the Prize in the Name of Marie Brosset

Nana Pruidze The University of , , Georgia [email protected]

The contribution of Marie Brosset in popularizing Georgian culture is really valuable. That’s why most public figures in the second half of the 19th century decided to establish the prize. The article shows us the obstacles that were caused by this fact. The letter also consists of Akaki Tsereteli speech made at the land bank meeting in . Akaki’s speech at the meeting is not published in any of the poet’s publications.

Keywords: Marie Brosset, the prize, the land bank, Niko Nikoladze.

Famous French scientist Marie Brosset (1802-1880) tended to popularize Georgian culture for almost 4 decades. He was one of the first who introduced Georgian literature, culture and history to European audition. Naturally, his decease caused sincere grief for us. reckoned that it was inevitable to establish a prize and put up a monument in memory of Marie Brosset. To support this idea, there were several articles posted in newspaper “Droeba” (1880,#190,198). Thanks to Ilia and his team, majority of the society supported that initiative. Soon they started to raise funds and the information about donations was regularly published in “Droeba”. Sadly, as it was found out just donations from private citizens were not enough to conclude this business successfully. Akaki and the best representatives of Kutaisi’s intelligence decided to profit from the circumstance that in the spring of 1881 meeting of the founders of land bank in Kutaisi was going to take place. One of the topics to discuss was distribution of money for social needs. Akaki and his like-minded persons planned to use that money to found a prize.

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Discussion was held on the 5th of May, on the 6th meeting. Supervising committee decided that every year for 10 years 500 Maneti had to be saved away for the prize. The gathered people didn’t support this suggestion because they thought, that the prize money had to be sent to France for the Brosset family, and it was considered as an improper expense. The famous public figure Niko Nikoladze was against the prize too. In his opinion, founding that prize couldn’t bring any kind of profit to Georgian people and it would be better to use that money for scholarships. Then Akaki explained in a simple language the concept of the named prize. His speech gave rise to great delight. The attendants were shouting unanimously that the prize had to be established. Unfortunately, chairman postponed the discussion for the next day. This occasion helped the opponents to get active and as a result, the chairman put off the meeting even further. In the spring of 1881 it was very real to found Brosset prize; neither Akaki, nor editorial staff of “Droeba” spared their energy, but unfortunately it had no result. Marie Brosset’s monument was put up in Tbilisi only after a century, in 1994. They established the prize of Brosset. Its only famous chevalier is German Kartvelologist Heinz Fenrich. He was awarded in 2012 for his fundamental work “History of Georgia”. After all, Akaki’s speech at the meeting of founders of Kutaisi’s land bank is not published in any of poet’s publications. Akaki Tsereteli’s works have been united in 20 volumes in the department of textology at Shota Rustaveli institute of Georgian literature. Materials displayed by us will find its place in the relevant volume of the publication.

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