In collaboration with the Department of Culture of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University held a commemoration of the late Iranian poet Shahriar and an event marking the 80th birthday of Nomadi Bartaia, a distinguished TSU professor, former head of the Department of Iranian Studies, writer, translator, and scientist.

Darejan Tvaltvadze, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at TSU, stated that the TSU Department of Iranian Studies proposed that these two dates – Shahriar’s Memorial Day and Nomadi Bartaia’s 80th birthday – be celebrated together, which is a logical decision. Nomadi Bartaia was a prominent figure in the field of Persian poetry, particularly known for his translations of Shahriar’s works. “It is difficult to name all his scientific or popular works, which exceed one hundred. The list of his awards and prizes is quite extensive. It seems reasonable to posit that there are numerous other accolades yet to be bestowed upon him. I will recall Professor Nomadi Bartaia’s most notable accolade: the cultural medal named after the celebrated Iranian poet Shahriar, which he received from Tabriz University in 2016. Nomadi Bartaia was the first Georgian Iranologist to be bestowed with this accolade. It should be noted that he also translated and published the work of this bilingual (Persian, Azerbaijani) Iranian poet known as “Heydar Babaya Salam”, said Darejan Tvaltvadze.

Mehdi Saadatnejad, head of the Department of Culture of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, spoke about the Persian writing and the work of the bilingual Iranian poet Shahriar. He also discussed Nomadi Bartaia’s contributions as a scholar, poet and translator of Shahriar’s poetry.

On the occasion of the anniversary, Makvala Gonashvili, Chair of the Writer’s House of Georgia, bestowed the Galaktion Tabidze Prize and Gold Medal upon Nomadi Bartaia in recognition of his exceptional contributions to Georgian literature.

Professor Gia Kvashilava, the President of Phasis Academy, Doctor of Mathematics and Economics, and a member of the European Society of Mathematical Linguistics, presented Professor Nomadi Bartaia with an honorary certificate from the Phasis Academy of Georgia and a diploma confirming his election as a member of the Phasis Academy in recognition of his significant contributions to Georgian-Iranian linguistic, literary and cultural studies.

At the event, a comprehensive literary-linguistic analysis of the work of the jubilee was presented by Giorgi Khulordava, a young Iranologist, poet and translator. Associate Professor Patman Antadze-Malashkhia presented a discourse on the linguistic contributions of Nomadi Bartaia pertaining to the Persian-Georgian language contacts. Professor Marika Jikia focused on the literary aspects of Shahriar’s Azerbaijani poem “Heydar Babaya Salam”, which was translated by Bartaia. Davit Shemokmedeli, Chairman of the Rustaveli Society of Georgia, as well as Gvanji Mania, Avtandil Nikoleishvili and others spoke about Nomadi Bartaia’s creative works.

The day dedicated to Shahriar's memory was held on multiple occasions at TSU. In the previous year, the students of the Iranian Studies department commemorated this occasion with a programme that was prepared in the Persian language.

The Shahriar International Cultural Medal is bestowed by the Scientific Council of Tabriz State University upon researchers from the region and beyond who have made significant contributions to the advancement of Iranian studies. Similarly, Georgian Iranologists Tea Shurghaia, Lili Zhorzholiani, Maia Sakhokia, and Giorgi Lobzhanidze have been awarded the medal following Nomadi Bartaia.