MERAB KOSTAVA MEMORIAL HOUSE-MUSEUM

ინფორმაცია

Merab Kostava (1939–1989) — National Hero of Georgia, dissident, musicologist, poet, public figure, and leader of the Georgian national liberation movement.

Throughout his life, Merab Kostava demonstrated diverse talents and tried his hand in many fields. He was a gifted pianist, musicologist, theatrical critic, philosopher, translator, teacher, and poet. He was an impeccable performer of Beethoven, Chopin, Grieg, Wagner, and Schubert. As a refined musical connoisseur, Kostava viewed classical music as inseparable from philosophy. He especially loved Georgian folk songs and chants, highly respecting his ancestors’ musical heritage, actively researching and promoting Georgian musical culture.

Kostava wrote poetry, philosophical, theatrical, and literary essays. He translated philosophical works by renowned writers. For his literary activities, he was awarded two prizes — the David Aghmashenebeli Prize and the Writers’ Union Prize.

During a time when the Soviet authorities persecuted and suppressed all forms of spirituality and religious life, Merab Kostava courageously and openly attended church services. His dissident stance arose from his quest for truth. He understood deeply that Christianity transcends time and is eternal, and he saw personal freedom as inseparable from national freedom.

Merab Kostava, a fighter for Georgia’s independence, was frequently repressed, imprisoned, and exiled. He returned from exile in 1987 and continued his struggle for his homeland’s independence. He died under suspicious circumstances on October 13, 1989.

SHORT INFORMATION:

DATE OF ESTABLISHMENT:

1991

TYPE:

Memorial

NUMBER OF EXHIBITS:

10763

SPACE OF THE MUSEUM:

History

kostava1 - MERAB KOSTAVA MEMORIAL HOUSE-MUSEUM

The house was belonged to Merab’s grandfather Vladimer Demuria, a prominent public figure, teacher and an author of various Russian text books.

Number of interesting stories related to the house yard. Here, in 1924 the first public institution "Mountaineers Kids House" was founded. Later, the Research Institute of Pedagogy and Iakob Gogebashvili Library were there. This place became one of the important education centers, where great Georgian philosophers, philologists, psychologists, historians, teachers and others worked. In the second half of 20th century the yard became the center of national-liberation movement and still people call it “Merab’s yard".

Since opening day to the end of her life (until 2003), Merab Kostava’s mother Mrs. Olgha Demuria-Kostava headed the Museum. She gave the state part of her apartment (two rooms) to establish memorial museum of his son.

Merab Kostava Memorial House-Museum was established at the same time when Georgia became an independent state, and it does not immortalize the name of a specific person, but the national liberation movement of the 20th century.

The museum houses Merab Kostava’s personal belongings and memorial furniture, his books and scripts, notes and collection of music records, photos and documents of second half of 20th century national liberation movement in Georgia, personal letters, illegal magazines and newspapers published under his leadership, etc.