(VEN) – Paying last respects to GENERAL Vo Nguyen Giap
Professor Vu Khieu (left) and General Vo Nguyen Giap at a military conference
General Vo Nguyen Giap, the eldest brother of the Vietnam People’s Armed Forces, passed away at 6.09pm on October 4, 2013 at the Central Military Hospital 108, at the age of 103.
All Vietnamese people, from the bottom of their hearts, feel deep regret, as Colonel, Hero La Van Cau shared, “The General departed this world, leaving a great sorrow for the Vietnamese people and the world but there are no regrets because he excellently fulfilled his historical mission to the nation.”
To the world, General Vo Nguyen Giap was a legendary general of international reputation, a national hero that “enjoyed a legacy second only to that of his mentor, founding president and independence leader Ho Chi Minh” – commented the AP news agency.
As soon as the news about General Vo Nguyen Giap’s death was announced, large numbers of people from different social strata, from veterans to students, from old people to small children, many organizations and individuals from all parts of the country, overseas Vietnamese people and international friends voluntarily queued up to pay homage to the general. “A stone stele can wear out, but nothing can change the people’s respect for the general,” said Le Nhu Tien, Deputy Chief of the National Assembly’s Committee for Culture, Education, Adolescents and Children Affairs.
With a deep respect and regret, Vietnam Economic News would like to introduce an article written by Professor, Labor Hero Vu Khieu, a friend and comrade who had the privilege to live and work for a long time close to General Vo Nguyen Giap.
The whole country is crying over the death of General Vo Nguyen Giap. I look onto the wall, reading the wishes he wrote to me on the occasion of my 90th birthday, “Happy birthday and best wishes to Vu Khieu, a 90 year-old revolutionary philosopher and heroic soldier,” with tears running down my face.
The war of resistance against the French
I met General Vo Nguyen Giap after the Border Campaign in 1950. Since then, I had the privilege of living near to the General. As Deputy Director of the Propaganda and Training Committee of the Zone Party Committee and Director of Information and Communication Departments of Tay Bac and Viet Bac provinces, I was assigned to participate in the propaganda and training activities of the Front Party Committee through campaigns until the Dien Bien Phu Victory in 1954.
After some time, the General asked me not to call him formally as ‘General’ but cordially as ‘Brother’. Since then, I called him Brother Van. The word ‘Brother’ sounds very familiar and sacred to me. I called him ‘Brother’ with great admiration from the bottom of my heart.
During those years, Brother Van assigned me to disseminate victory news and write articles to praise the glorious feats of arms won by the Vietnamese army and people.
Brother Van took much care to promote the circulation of victory news. He always reminded comrade Le Liem, Chairman of the Political Campaign at the Dien Bien Phu Front, to fulfill this task. Every night, comrade Le Liem stayed up late to wait for the articles I wrote and brought them to Brother Van.
Apart from writing articles, I also coordinated activities which were held to mobilize food contributions from the local people and encourage conscripted laborers to transport food to the front line to serve the Dien Bien Phu Campaign.
After Lai Chau was liberated, Brother Van appointed me to join a delegation to take over Lai Chau. I gathered dancers from a team managed by Dao Van Long and set up a team of dancers to cater for the front line. Brother Van proved pleased with this and encouraged me to continue.
Peace in the north
After two years attending a theoretical training course at the Academy of Marxism and Leninism in China, I returned to Vietnam and continued to work close to Brother Van, assisting him in ideological, cultural and scientific affairs.
After the Dien Bien Phu Victory, the Communist Party promoted land reform and organizational consolidation. In June and July 1956, President Ho Chi Minh and party leaders met with some key officers to undertake a round of self-criticism in order to correct any faults. Through his visits to and talks with farmers, Brother Van restored and strengthened their trust in the Communist Party and President Ho Chi Minh. To me, apart from glorious feats of arms in the front, Brother Van had significantly contributed to stabilizing the socioeconomic situation in the post land reform period.
In 1959, the State Scientific Committee was established. Some time later, Brother Van was appointed to be the chairman of the committee, and once again I had a chance to work close to him. At that time, I was a member of the committee and secretary of its Department of Social Sciences, being responsible for assisting the chairman and Secretary General Ta Quang Buu in efforts to establish institutes such as the Institute of Literature, Institute of History, and specialized teams dealing with subjects such as philosophy and jurisprudence.
In more relaxed times
In the mid-1980s, Brother Van had more time for relaxation. Every day, he played the piano at home and went out for a walk around West Lake. This could make one think that it was the time for him to enjoy a peaceful life after many years struggling. But even in the time of peace, he did not think of himself but things which took place in the country everyday.
In 1980, Brother Van was assigned to organize the 500th anniversary of the birthday of Nguyen Trai, a National Hero and a major cultural figure. To prepare for writing an article to be used as an official speech of the Communist Party and the state on this occasion, he requested researchers in the fields of literature and history to raise their opinions about the life and achievements of Nguyen Trai. Brother Van added these opinions into the article he wrote and consulted his colleagues about it. Through what he did with the article, I learnt from him valuable lessons about carefulness and seriousness. During the time preparing for a ceremony and a workshop to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Nguyen Trai’s birthday, I had a chance to accompany Brother Van in activities such as checking the content of speeches, the ceremony’s agenda and formalities to receive foreign visitors.
| “…General Vo Nguyen Giap lived a modest, simple life like the lifestyle of President Ho Chi Minh. He is not only loved by Vietnamese people but also admired by large numbers of people from all walks of life all over the world…” |
Brother Van was responsible for preparing a research project on the ideology as well as the achievements and dedications of President Ho Chi Minh. The verification and acceptance board sent an official letter requesting the Politburo to appoint a member to preside over the procedures. As their members were busy, the Politburo assigned me to do that. Based on a high sense of responsibility, the board and I read the research project very carefully and highly appreciated it. We requested the author to add some details about the personality of President Ho Chi Minh – one thing which could be done by only those who lived and worked close to the President like Brother Van.
Brother Van was a talented but simple and modest military official. He was the person who deserved the most credit for contributions to the country’s liberation, but he never spoke of these contributions. Every year, military officers, party and state officials, journalists and scientists from Vietnam and other countries wrote thousands of articles and notes about memorable moments in his life.
This is just a summary of my memories about Brother Van. I have written more details in my memoirs which will reach readers one day.
Brother Van,
Your death is a big loss of the country and a sorrowful occasion for 90 million of Vietnamese people and millions of admirers all over the earth.
I was born by my parents, but you were the one to understand me. What can I do to express my deep gratitude to you?
I’m writing these words with tears running down my face. Can you read my thoughts? ./.
By Professor, Labor Hero Vu Khieu
Đăng ký: VietNam News
