1860-1910
Mariam Ivanishvili was born in Gori in 1860. She studied at the educational facility of the Gori district. She graduated from midwifery educational institution in Tbilisi and then worked in Zugdidi, Sachkhere and Ozurgeti. In 1893, she married a young lawyer, Vasil Demuria and moved to live to Tbilisi.
She was involved in educational, literary, journalistic activities and assisted the development of public theatre. She spearheaded the establishment of “Avchala Audience,” which is considered the first public theater where the poors were allowed to attend performances.
From 1906 to 1910, Mariam Ivanishvili – Demuria was the editor-in-chief of the Nakaduli magazine and managed to gather many famous writers and public figures around it.
Mariam Ivanishvili – Demuria responded to Artem Akhnazarov, who, under the penname of Chiora, wrote about the degradation of women, with a letter published in the Iveria newspaper, titled “In Response to Chiora and Women.”
In Response to Chiora and Women
Author: Mariam Demuria
“We, Georgian women, must exercise strong will and reason and anyone of us who have ideas for improving our Georgian, public cause shall serve and firmly defend these ideas and do not become slaves of wrong public opinions.”
The Iveria newspaper, issue #233,
3 November, 1894