What do they say when they talk about Ho Chi Minh?

OneVietnamese people are courageous.

In the bookHo Chi Minh - the figure who regained independence for Vietnam.⁽¹⁾The authors reviewed the main activities of Nguyen Ai Quoc from his time as a participant in the Congrès de Tours event (1920), to his journey to becoming one of the founders of the French Communist Party, attending courses in Moscow, and later becoming a member of the Communist International in Asia.

This book is a compilation of many valuable sources, meticulously documenting the many years of tireless revolutionary activity of Nguyen Ai Quoc from 1919 to 1923 in France. The activities are described in great detail, thanks to reports from local police in the places where Nguyen Ai Quoc lived and worked.

French police kept records of everything Nguyen Ai Quoc did, read, wrote, and saw; even about his eating habits and health (once, Nguyen Ai Quoc had a fever of 40°C while being checked for the flu at Hospital Cochin). They also copied his personal notes and documents. The authorities' purpose at the time was for archiving and investigation, but later, these thick and detailed collections of documents became symbols of a great and admirable figure in the hearts of the French people.

Especially after the Congrès de Tours event (1920), in the eyes of the French authorities, Nguyen Ai Quoc was no longer just a shy, small Annamese man, but had become a famous activist – a representative of the voices of many nations around the world. Nguyen Ai Quoc even had several direct conversations with the Minister of Colonies, Albert Sarraut.

Not just a revolutionary activist, during his years in France, Nguyen Ai Quoc wrote and proudly signed his name.Nguyen Ai QuocThrough fiery articles in L'Humanité and many other radical left-wing newspapers, he enthusiastically participated in political meetings to denounce the colonial regime. During those historic days, an Annamese man lived and breathed the rhythm of the times like a true Parisian.

Besides his life dedicated to the national liberation revolution, Nguyen Ai Quoc also possessed a rich and admirable inner world. In 1920, at the age of 30, Nguyen Ai Quoc often attended art performances at Le Salon d'Automne, visited museums, and the Olympia concert hall. In addition to a close friend named Marie Brière, he had many other friends, mostly from the left wing. As author Vu Dinh Huynh asserts, he knew progressive activists (and later communists) such as Henri Barbusse and Paul Vaillant-Couturier, as well as thoughtful artists – during a time of constant global change.

In November 1922, Nguyen Ai Quoc directly participated in an art exhibition at the Salle Auguste-Comte in Saint-Séverin, where his artwork was exhibited for the first time. The exhibition was organized by a liberal-minded lawyer, Lucien Barquissau, and attendees included several professional artists – among them two modernist painters: Wladimir de Terlikowski and Louis Anquetin.⁽²⁾.

Besides his work as a photo editor, to make ends meet in Paris, Nguyen Ai Quoc also drew illustrations for newspapers.Le Pariaand accept commissions for "artistic portrait" paintings.⁽³⁾.

In June 1946, Nguyen Ai Quoc returned to France under the name Ho Chi Minh – President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam – to attend the Fontainebleau Conference. He stayed in Paris from June 22nd to September 15th and, in addition to the time he devoted to the national cause, he still set aside a little time each day to write about his activities during his time back in France.⁽⁴⁾According to records (daily, sometimes hourly), he met with many individuals from various professions – from politicians and activists to artists. He mentioned the painter Vu Cao Dam and his beautiful paintings in Paris (the artist who later sculpted a bust of Ho Chi Minh and gifted it to France); and also met with journalist Andrée Viollis and the co-founders of the later Franco-Vietnamese Association.

Although not documented, according to Vu Dinh Huynh, President Ho Chi Minh's secretary at the time, a meeting took place between Ho Chi Minh and the renowned painter Pablo Picasso during his stay in France. Vu Dinh Huynh recounted this special encounter as follows:⁽⁵⁾:

One day, Uncle Ho called me over and said:

- Change out of your military uniform and come with me in civilian clothes right now.

After getting into the car and driving for a while, Uncle Ho revealed:

Today, we're going to visit the famous painter Picasso.

I was surprised:

- You also know the painter Picasso, sir?

The doctor said:

Even if we didn't know each other beforehand, upon arriving in Paris, we still have to greet this enigmatic and creative painter whose art captivates many.

The President arrived unannounced. When Picasso's servant led him to the door, the artist recognized him. He rushed towards him:

- Hello Mr. Nguyen!

The two men embraced. Then Picasso stepped back to gaze at Uncle Ho:

- You've aged so quickly, but your eyes are still young and seem brighter than when we first met at the Clarté group headquarters.⁽⁶⁾.

Picasso took Uncle Ho to see his art gallery. Uncle Ho held each painting, in absolute silence. I saw the emotion clearly visible on his pensive face. When we returned to the tea room, Picasso said to Uncle Ho:

- Can you give me some advice?

The doctor said:

- We came to admire your art. Any commentary on Picasso's paintings is merely an outline around the frame of the painting. Please excuse me, someone who doesn't know much about painting.

Picasso laughed heartily, his voice brightening considerably:

- I still remember the drawing you did for the newspaper Le Paria, signed Nguyen Ai Quoc in Chinese characters. Back then, I told Henri Barbusse: "With just these few strokes, we can see a beautiful thought, a beautiful soul hidden within." If you had continued on the path of painting, who knows, there might have been a Nguyen Ai Quoc as an artist. But today, Mr. Nguyen is President Ho Chi Minh, the leader in the struggle for independence and freedom for his nation and for other oppressed nations.

"An individual always yearns for peace."

MagazineDateA leading American magazine once featured five portraits of Ho Chi Minh on its cover, each commemorating a historical event in Vietnam – an honor not every head of state could receive. In one issue, the magazine even dedicated five pages to recounting Ho Chi Minh's life and career, along with Vietnam's victory over France in the Dien Bien Phu campaign.

Also onDateThey quoted Jawaharlal Nehru, the great Indian revolutionary: "He was a likeable and extremely friendly person, a man who always yearned for peace."

“Behind his gentle exterior lies a strong, courageous, and indomitable spirit…” – the late Chilean President Salvador Allende, speaking of Ho Chi Minh – “Initially, many Westerners were unconvinced, but after a while, many of them realized that his distinctive attire proved that wherever he was, among the elite or among the masses, he never forgot that he was an integral part of Vietnam… If anyone wants to find words that can summarize everything about Ho Chi Minh, those words are:simple and extremely humble"

In an article titled "Ho Chi Minh - A Vision for Victory" published in a magazine.In AsiaIn his German writings, author Dierk Szekielda once wrote that "admiration for President Ho Chi Minh and the vitality of Vietnamese poets prompted me to write these moving lines." Dierk Szekielda praised President Ho Chi Minh as a man of extraordinary qualities.

TimesManila(The Philippines) once called President Ho Chi Minh an icon of Asia because of his successful leadership, his exemplary role, his wholehearted dedication to serving the interests of the people, and his contributions to modern history; therefore, he is one of the ""The noblest and most respected figure of the era".

Wilfred Burchett was one of the few Western journalists who remained closely associated with the Vietnamese people during the two wars of resistance against French colonialism and American imperialism. Until his death in 1983, he was a loyal friend of the Vietnamese people, always supporting Vietnam in international forums.

Wilfred Burchett met President Ho Chi Minh in Thai Nguyen in late March 1954, just before the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. In his book...North of the 17th parallelThe journalist recalled the encounter: “It was unbelievable that just a few hours after arriving, we were sitting face-to-face with this legendary revolutionary leader. His bright, sparkling black eyes, his sparse beard, the face we had known from photographs and portraits for years. He appeared unannounced, a windbreaker draped loosely over his shoulders, walking briskly with a long bamboo cane, his pith helmet perched high above his broad eyebrows. After the initial greetings, he completely put us at ease with his fluent French and English (and even spoke a few words in Italian with my Italian colleague). We asked President Ho why he paid so much attention to Dien Bien Phu. What was actually happening there?”

“This is Dien Bien Phu,” he said, placing his pith helmet face down on the table. “These are the mountains,” his slender, strong fingers tracing the edge of the helmet, “and that’s where we are.”

“Dien Bien Phu. The French troops were there. They couldn’t get out. It might take a long time, but they couldn’t get out,” he reiterated.

Following the crisis and collapse of the Soviet Union and the socialist countries of Eastern Europe, many scholars still maintain that we should learn from Ho Chi Minh the qualities demonstrated through his long revolutionary struggle.

After meeting him, American journalist Harrison S. Salisbury wrote: “He lived simply and austerely in a small, unassuming house behind the former French Governor’s Palace in Hanoi. He was so polite that when serving tea to guests, he often gave roses to female guests and joked cheerfully with male guests; it felt as if all the best, most romantic, and truest things could be found in this man…”

Dr. Modagat Ahmed, Director of UNESCO's Asia-Pacific region and Special Representative of the Director-General of UNESCO, emphasized: “Only a few historical figures become part of the legend of the modern world while still alive. Ho Chi Minh is clearly one of them. He will be remembered not only as a liberator of his homeland and colonial peoples, but also as a modern sage who brought a new vision and hope to those who are relentlessly fighting to eradicate injustice and inequality from this Earth.”

On November 12, 2013, President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation arrived in Hanoi for an official visit to Vietnam. He visited the former residence of President Ho Chi Minh and subsequently wrote down many of his reflections in the guest book. President Putin's concluding remarks perhaps also serve as a conclusion to all discussions around the world about him.

"As a great man, an outstanding personality, history will forever remember Ho Chi Minh."

Reference

(1) “Ho Chi Minh - the character who regained independence for Vietnam” - Le Monde Publishing House (France), 2015

(2) According to “Le Radical”, November 15, 1922

(3) According to “L'Émancipateur”, April 15, 1923

(4) “President Ho Chi Minh's travel diary - Four months in France”

(5) According to "Uncle Ho - a boundless love" - ​​Kim Dong Publishing House, 2010

(6) In 1911, Uncle Ho - then 21 years old, had just set foot on French soil - met and became acquainted with the painter Picasso. Through participating in some art activities, Uncle Ho met many other artists and writers in the Clarté (Light) group with Picasso.

Trong Nghia (Photo: Internet)