Cida Travels

Deda Ena — Where a Language Holds the Soul of a People

During our walk through Tbilisi, I visited Deda Ena Park, a place that carries a very special part of Georgia’s history.

At the heart of the park stands the Deda Ena monument, meaning “Mother Tongue.” Created by sculptor Elguja Amashukeli and architect Nodar Mgaloblishvili, it was erected in 1983. The monument represents a young man reaching toward the sky, symbolizing the thirst for knowledge. It is also known as the “Bell of Knowledge.” 

But the story of this place goes even deeper.

On April 14, 1978, thousands of Georgians gathered here to defend the status of their native language. A proposed change threatened to remove Georgian as the state language. The people stood together, and the Georgian language kept its official status. 

Standing there, I felt that this was more than a monument.
It was a reminder that a language is not only words — it carries memories, identity, culture, and the voice of generations.

And during our walk through Tbilisi, I was grateful to pause for a moment and feel a little of that story myself.

As we walked through the park, we discovered a beautiful little world filled with art, culture, and everyday Georgian life.

Along the way, we found charming ateliers, restaurants, traditional objects, music, and beautiful paintings telling stories from different parts of Georgia. Each artwork seemed to carry a piece of the country’s history, traditions, and soul.

It felt like walking through an open-air museum, where the walls, streets, and small corners became part of the exhibition.

Walking there with Juha made the experience even more special — discovering these little treasures together, slowly, with no rush, simply enjoying the beauty around us.

Sometimes, the most beautiful memories are found

in places we never planned to discover.