Vol. 17 (2024): Contemporary Issues of Literary Criticism Literatures of Small Countries and Challenges of the Modern Global World
Archives, Memoirs and Notes from Travelers

All Roads lead to Rome / globalization / (Iv. Javakhishvili's open and secret controversy with I. Gogebashvili and Akaki)

Julieta Gabodze
Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University; Shota Rustaveli Institute of Georgian Literature

Published 2024-12-20

Keywords

  • Akaki,
  • Ivane Javakhishvili,
  • Niko Marr,
  • Iakob Gogebashvil,
  • controversy

Abstract

Akaki Tsereteli opposed Niko Marr once again in 1904, for his biased attitude towards Georgian writing. “Marr’s example has given rise to a school of Georgian haters, among whom the young Javakhishvili has emerged, who had unleashed his scientific fury on Iakob Gogebashvili.” Akaki echoes Ivane Javakhishvili’s letters “Science and Patriotism,” in which he severely criticizes “The Pillar of Nationality”, the book by Iakob Gogebashvili, referring to it as “a manifestation of exaggerated national pride.”
Akaki believed that Niko Mari's discipleship imposed a kind of moral obligation on the young  researcher. Javakhishvili defends Mari's views, although he shows great modesty towards Akaki Tsereteli and never mentions his name.
120 years later, Akaki's letter "The Haters of Georgians" will be published in the 20 volume collection of his works.