“One must be honest everywhere and
in everything. It is much more than
having millions in your possession.”
                  David Sarajishvili

   “David was distinguished by his foresight and sharp intellect. That is why wealth was not his master but his servant. He knew very well that money was a bad master but could be a very good servant and, indeed, he made the best use of it for the good of his country. He managed his wealth and money as his generous heart and soul prompted him and by doing so he has immortalized himself in the hearts of all Georgians.”
                                                    Artem Akhnazarov,
                                       Sakhalkho Gazeti, No336, 25.06.1911

   David Sarajishvili was born 155 years ago on 28 October, 1848 to the family of a wealthy merchant and landowner Zakaria Sarajishvili. At the beginning of the 18th century the Sarajishvilis were granted the title of a Tbilisi Citizen by King Vakhtang VI.
   Tbilisi was at that time a place of lively trade. Delighted with the success of Tbilisi merchants, King Vakhtang VI decided to encourage trade and revive civil life by introducing the title of a Tbilisi Citizen. David's ancestors, like their worthy descendant, were distinguished by charity and selfless care for their homeland.
   David's mother Elisabed Savaneli, Zakharia's right hand and the pillar of the family, played a prominent part in David's upbringing. Like her husband, she was a generous, well-educated woman and a benefactor of the poor and needy.
   Having received his primary education at home, David continued his studies first at the Hake Boarding School and later at the Boys' First Classical Gymnasium which he graduated with honors in 1866. The same year, the future entrepreneur successfully passed entrance exams to the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the St. Petersburg University. The following year he continued his studies in Germany: first in Munich and then at Heidelberg University. In 1871 he graduated from the latter with a doctor's degree in chemistry. The same year he defended a dissertation and was awarded the degree of a Doctor of Philosophy. David, however, was not satisfied with what he had already achieved and until 1878 he continued studying agricultural science, first at Hopenheim and Halle and later in France (1878-79) where he specialized in viticulture and wine-making. David was so fascinated with the production of vodka, liqueurs and, especially, cognac that after returning to Georgia he decided to use all his knowledge and experience for developing and promoting this business in his country.
   His father's death on 26 May, 1880 precipitated David's return to Georgia.

   After returning home, David married Ekaterine Porakishvili, the daughter of a well-known merchant and entrepreneur in Tbilisi, Ivane Porakishvili. Like David, Ekaterine had been well-educated and besides Georgian, was fluent in Russian, English, French and German.
   The property of David's uncle Solomon Sarajishvili, who died childless, added to 700 thousand manats inherited by David from his father. The young entrepreneur used his inheritance in prudent and practical manner. He bought, upgraded and built new wineries and already by the turn of the century he had a thriving business, producing almost every kind of alcohol, including distillation of vodka, purification and denaturalization of spirit, making various types of liqueurs and rum, distilling spirit for cognac and making cognac. Prior to Sarajishvili, no one in the entire Russian Empire had tried to determine an active balance of wine materials for cognac spirit, distillment of cognac spirit using French technology and aging it in oak barrels. Even though Sarajishvili himself knew the theory and practice of cognac production perfectly, he invited liqueur and cognac specialists from France. Soon his products successfully competed with imports from Europe. In the early 20th century, Sarajishvili's brand held more than two thirds of the market of the Russian Empire. It is generally recognized that David Sarajishvili was a pioneer and a founder of cognac production not only in Georgia and the Caucasus but also in the Russian Empire. Thanks to his product, the consumer obtained a high quality cognac made of pure wine spirit without any additives. In 1899-1913 different Sarajishvili products were awarded 14 medals including 8 gold medals.
   Niko Nikoladze's daughter, Rusudan, who regarded David a saint man and called him the epitome of humanity and nobleness, recalls: “Once Akaki (Akaki Tsereteli), who was visiting us joked: “What would I do, dear Niko, without David Sarajishvili?” “You would be able to withstand poverty Akaki, but what would happen to the Georgian theatre, to the Societies for the Promotion of Literacy and the poor actors and students without David's help?”
   David Sarajishvili was a reach and successful entrepreneur but, unlike many other wealthy people, he did not consider money as an end in itself, but as a means for doing charity. In his obituary for David Sarajishvili Alexandre Khakhanashvili wrote: “There has not been any significant undertaking initiated in the course of the past 30 years which David Sarajishvili had not contributed to or supported materially. Publication of newspapers, magazines and books, supporting artists, singers, musicians and scientists, rehabilitating schools and churches, helping the sick and the poor, hosting foreign and local public figures and people of art and bringing them closer to one another - all this will be David's enduring legacy.” The more one learns about David Sarajishvili and his wife Ekaterine, the more one comes to respect and admire them.
   Sarajishvili's two houses - one at 13 Machabeli Street (formerly Sergiev Street) and the other on Sasakhle Street were famous for their hospitality.
   Once a week famous writers and public figures would get together in David's house on Sasakhle Street. The latest works of different writers were first read here, usually followed by discussions and exchange of ideas, ending with excellent food and drinks.  Iakob Mansvetashvili recalls: “We never left Ilia in peace. We wanted him to write a new story for the Iveria newspaper. We knew that he had already begun writing something, realizing one of his earlier intentions. First he called the story “Giorgi” and then changed the title to “The Otaraant Widow”… The newly born story had to be baptized. David Sarajishvili was the irreplaceable and inseparable godparent of Ilia's works. In fact, he was such a generous and loving godfather that he always held the baptizing ceremonies at his own house. This is how “Hermit” was baptized and this time too Sarajishvili was not going to break the established tradition. It was around eight o'clock in the evening when a large number of distinguished guests began to gather in Sarajishvili's vast and beautiful house in Sololaki…
   Ilia read his story. It was a long story so it was after midnight when the generous host invited all of us to supper. We went into a wide dining room with a magnificent table laid in the center. Supper proceeded very gaily conducted masterfully by the toastmaster of the evening - Rapiel Eristavi.
   At one time the Society for the Promotion of Literacy was located in the house in Sasakhle Street. In 1887 Akaki Tsereteli lived here for several months and Ivane Machabeli and Arthur Laist also stayed here for some time. In the early 1900s, David brought down his ancestor's house in Sololaki, in Sergiev Street and built a new modern house there. Today this very building, where the loving couple celebrated their silver wedding in September 1905, houses the Writers Union of Georgia.

    “How could you call me childless? Aren't all the children who are the hope and future of this country and who need to be raised and educated for the benefit of Georgia all mine?” In 1988, the author of these words founded a special committee chaired by Niko Tskhvedadze to identify gifted young Georgians and provide them with the necessary support to allow them to continue their studies in Russia and abroad. David Sarajishvili made a charitable donation of 30,000 manats and simultaneously provided grants to individual students. David's scholarship holders were composers Dimitri Arakishvili, Meliton Balanchivadze, Ia Kargareteli, Kote Potskhverashvili; painters Mose Toidze, Gigo Gabashvili, Grigol Meskhi, Shalva Kikodze; sculptor Iakob Nikoladze; opera singers Vano Sarajishvili, Valerian Kashakashvili; professors Solomon Cholokashvili, Mikheil Shalamberidze, Sargis Kakabadze, Pilipe Gogichaishvili, Ilia Kipshidze, Mose Janashvili; the future Kathalikos-Patriarch of Georgia Kalistrate (Tsintsadze), Archil Kartvelishvili and many others. He provided financial support to Akaki Shanidze, also to David Kasradze and Kondrate Tatarashvili when they studied in Paris, and Tedo Sakhokia and Geronti Kikodze in Brussels.
   In his farewell speech at Sarajishvili's funeral, Giorgi, the Bishop of Imereti said: “Had David not spent hundreds of thousands every year on benevolent causes, he would have left behind a property of twenty or forty million. He has deposited his wealth in a much better bank, investing it in his native people whom he loved whole-heartedly. For him wealth was a means for reviving his homeland to its previous grandeur, but under the new historic conditions.”
   In 1906, David Sarajishvili threw a handful of gold coins into the foundation of Tbilisi State University and donated 60,000 manats to Niko Tskhvedadze who was in charge of the construction of the university building. “Take this for the start but don't disclose my name. As the work progresses let me know how much more you'll need. I am always at your disposal.” Iakob Mansvetashvili relates that Sarajishvili spared nothing for the University, his promissory notes were encashed in hundreds of thousands by many banks.
   Without David Sarajishvili's generous material assistance to the Mtskheta Svetitskhoveli Restoration Committee established in the 1890s which was responsible for the protection and restoration of the Didube, Mtatsminda, Blue Monastery, Kashveti and other historic sites, it would have been impossible to preserve many of the monuments existing in Georgia today. When the decision was made to replace the old fractured building of the Kashveti Church with a new one, the commission (composed of Kalistrate Tsintsadze, Niko Tskhvedadze and Ekvtime Takaishvili) took David's advice and rejected the development of a new design for the church. They made a decision to build an exact copy of the Samtavisi Church (1030) instead. This construction was also financed by Sarajishvili.
   In 1901, after Ilia's death, Alexandre Sarajishvili took charge of the Iveria newspaper, which was then experiencing serious financial problems. It was thanks to the contributions made by Prince Konstantine Mukhranski and David Sarajishvili that the newspaper was saved from closing down. David Sarajishvili gave financial assistance to the construction of the People's Theatre in Tbilisi. He contributed large sums of money to the construction of the Avlabari People's Theatre. The successful activities of the Society for the Promotion of Literacy are also associated with David Sarajishvili's name and so is the work of the Georgian Peasantry Revival Committee, the choirs of Lado Aghniashvili and Ioseb Ratili, as well as the establishment of the Historical and Ethnographic Society and a number of other societies and associations.
   When in the summer of 1907 David learned of Ekvtime Takaishvili's intention to carry out an archaeological expedition in the Akhaltsikhe, Akhalkalaki and Artana districts, he immediately called Ekvtime and gave him money for the expedition.
   Philipe Gogichaishvili recollects: “He donated money in such a way as if it belonged to the beneficiaries themselves and had nothing to do with his personality. Modesty, kindness and sincerity characterized his every action. All of us admired and loved him for this…”
   In Kutaisi a young man was introduced to Sarajishvili. David was offered to taste the lemonade that this young man was producing. He liked the drink very much and asked the young man why he was not expanding the enterprise. The young man explained that he was unable to do so due to the lack of money and asked for Sarajishvili's help. David agreed without hesitation. The man was Mitrophane Lagidze.
   At Sarajishvili's funeral Grigol Shakhnazarov, a worker in one of his wineries said in his farewell speech: “Unike other employers, you have always regarded us as human beings. You have gladly accepted our demand when we asked for a nine-hour working day in the winery. To that you said nothing more than this: “If you want to have a normal rest, what you are asking for is not that.” Having said so, you gave instructions over the telephone to introduce an eight-hour working day. You were the first to give us a two-week paid vacation. You gladly accepted our request to have a reading room at your winery and you paid readily for it.”

 
   In 1910 David was taken ill with an incurable disease. He underwent a surgery in Berlin but the operation did not relieve his condition and on June 20, 1911 the great Georgian passed away. In Germany, a month before his death, David complained: “I am dying. How peacefully I would die if I had a hope for my country's better future.” Georgia mourned its devoted son with tremendous pain. The Sakhalkho Gazeti newspaper wrote: “It is believed that a sick man, dying from an incurable disease becomes selfish. Think of David's last words, his testament and you will immediately understand that in this respect too this extraordinary man was different from others. He crowned his outstanding life and deeds with a worthy will. His last wish was to share the common hardships and the sufferings of his homeland. David Guramishvili's words “He died, but by his will he still continues to accomplish good deeds” are truly about him.
   The will that he made in 1910 in Rostov on his way to Berlin, left everyone overwhelmed: he left most of his property to Georgia.
   After David's death Iacob Gogebashvili wrote: “I cannot relate fully his immense contributions or unmatched charity. I shall only note that he inherited a modest sum from his father, which he turned into millions through his knowledge and skill… And finally, he has left all his fortune gained through honest enterprise and irreproachable actions to his country.”
   In August 1916, still young but with her health shaken after her husband's death, Ekaterine Porakishvili-Sarajishvili passed away. “I don't want to be buried in pomp. I need neither a crown nor a monument. Don't spend money on me and give all my property to my nation.” She was buried in the Didube Pantheon next to her husband. This is what “Theatre and Life” wrote about her: “After David's death, she took charge of her husband's enterprise and trebled the production. She was personally involved in everything and everywhere, and managed the business wisely.” Like her husband, Ekaterine bequeathed a large part of her property to her homeland.

P.S.
   In 1939 on instructions from the authorities of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic, the city council issued a document addressed to David and Ekaterine's relatives which said: “Only persons who have worked in the sphere of literature, science and art may be buried in the Pantheon. Since D. Sarajishvili and his spouse do not belong to the indicated category, they have not been included in the list of persons to be buried here. Therefore, you are required to transfer the remains of D. Sarajishvili and his spouse to another cemetery within a period of 10 days. V. Enikolopashvili, Director of the Pantheon.”
   On 1 December, 1939 the remains of David and Ekaterine Sarajishvili were transferred to the Vake cemetery.
   On 24 June, 1995 thanks to the efforts of Sarajishvili's pupils and his grateful countrymen the remains of David and Ekaterine Sarajishvili were reinterred in the graveyard of the Kashveti Church.
   Today someone may think that Georgia has paid due tribute to David Sarajishvili and Ekaterine Porakishvili. We would permit ourselves to disagree with this opinion. We, their descendants, can only contend that we have paid homage to our great ancestors when their dream comes true and when civil consciousness, an honest way of life and the values embraced by great Ilia, great David Sarajishvili and their co-thinkers prevails in our country.