August Revolution: Revolution of the people's hearts

In the autumn days of August 73 years ago, from the Tan Trao Liberation Zone, the General Uprising order was transmitted throughout the country. More than 20 million Vietnamese people rose up in revolt, creating the great victory of the August Revolution, taking power into the hands of the people. The great victory of the August Revolution demonstrated the strength of the people's hearts, the lesson of great solidarity, taking the people as the foundation. This lesson continued to be applied in the resistance war against the French, against the Americans and in building the country in the period of renovation and integration.

On August 28, 1945, the Liberation Army in Viet Bac returned to parade at the Opera House Square.

73 years have passed, but in the mind of Mr. Hoang Ngoc, in Tan Lap village, Tan Trao commune, Tuyen Quang, the memory of May 21, 1945 is still intact. That was the day Uncle Ho returned from Cao Bang to Tuyen Quang to direct the revolutionary movement of the whole country.

He chose Tan Trao commune, Son Duong district as the capital of the liberated zone, the revolutionary base. In the memory of the 10-year-old boy at that time, the cadres attending the National Congress stayed at his house and some other families' houses.

While the Congress was in session, a delegation representing the people of Tan Trao came to welcome the Congress and Mr. Hoang Ngoc was honored to be present in the children's delegation.

“We here are Tay ethnic people, during the colonial period we saw a lot of hardship. After the revolution came, the Party and Uncle Ho educated us about the revolutionary spirit, all of us ethnic people were excited and enthusiastic. We all focused on helping the revolution. Whatever we had to do, we supported and made the revolution. Whatever Uncle Ho said, whatever the revolutionary cadres said, we followed them all,” said Mr. Hoang Ngoc.

With a deep faith and following the Party, the people of Tan Trao, the mountains and forests of Tan Trao sheltered and sheltered the revolution, providing absolute safety for the Party, for Uncle Ho, for the revolution in the days before the uprising. This place was the Command Center for the General Uprising to seize power throughout the country, contributing an important role to the success of the great August Revolution of the nation.

Professor, Doctor Mach Quang Thang, Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, affirmed that in order to lead to the August Revolution, our Party had made careful preparations for 15 years: “We prepared very elaborately, preparing the guidelines, the birth of the Party in 1930, the 1930-1931 general rehearsal, the climax of the Soviet-Nghe Tinh revolution, preparing for the restoration in 1931-1935, preparing for the climax in 1936-1939 and especially 1939-1945. Preparing to seize the opportunity, grasp the revolutionary situation, preparing to change the strategic direction, preparing all aspects, launching movements, combining national strength and international strength. That was a very elaborate preparation”.

From Tan Trao, the general uprising order was issued and received the unanimous response of the entire population. On the morning of August 19, hundreds of thousands of people marched to the Hanoi Opera House Square. The rally turned into an armed demonstration to enter and occupy the Palace of the Imperial Commissioner of Tonkin, the security barracks and the facilities of the puppet government. Marking a historical milestone of the August Revolution.

The great victory of the August Revolution left valuable lessons, especially the lesson of taking the people as the root, building and promoting the great national unity bloc. The great national unity bloc, the core of which is the worker-peasant-intellectual alliance; on the basis of the interests, needs and aspirations of the people to organize and gather them to rise up and fight "using our own strength to liberate ourselves".

Dr. Nhi Le, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Communist Magazine, affirmed that the August Revolution created an unprecedentedly widespread revolutionary movement with a large number of participants, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or class.

“North, Central and South, all three regions, the people rose up, the government was in their hands. The power of the people is invincible. More than 600 years ago, Nguyen Trai said, “Only when the boat capsizes can we know that the people are as strong as water.”

More than 500 years later, President Ho Chi Minh also said, “In the sky, nothing is more precious than the people. In the universe, nothing is more precious than the strength of the people.” This is a revolution of the people, by the people, for the people, and that is the origin of the August Revolution,” said Dr. Nhi Le.

The profound lesson of the August Revolution on the spirit of solidarity and taking the people as the root has been inherited and promoted after the country achieved peace and especially in the 30 years of carrying out the renovation process in the spirit of "It is a hundred times easier to endure without the people, and a thousand times harder to complete with the people". However, in the renovation period, many cadres did not take this valuable lesson seriously. At the 12th National Party Congress, a current reality was pointed out: a large number of cadres and party members are far from the people. The people's right to mastery in many places and fields is still violated.

Prof. Dr. Mach Quang Thang - Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics presented a paper at the conference. Photo: VNA

Associate Professor, Doctor Bui Dinh Phong - Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics said that, more than ever, the power of the people's hearts needs to be mobilized, aroused and promoted regularly, while at the same time, the people's trust in the Party must be strengthened.

“The people’s trust is the most solid wall to protect the Party, protect the regime, protect the cause of innovation. Therefore, to successfully carry out innovation, we must first firmly consolidate the people’s trust in the Party, that is the most important, the number one thing. Second, we must consolidate the great national unity bloc; at the same time, we must take care of the legitimate interests of the people. If we can do that, we will gain the people’s trust, and having the people’s trust means having everything,” Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Dinh Phong said.

73 years have passed, from the Tan Trao Liberation Zone, the General Uprising order has been transmitted throughout the country. The August Revolution - a revolution of the people's hearts - has shown the lesson of solidarity, taking the people as the root of profound significance. Only when the root is strong, the tree will last. Currently, the urgent issue facing Party committees at all levels and the entire political system is to continue to implement democracy well at the grassroots level; accurately grasp the thoughts and aspirations of the people and convey those thoughts and aspirations to Party and State agencies for implementation. At the same time, perfect the legal system, respect, ensure and protect human rights, citizens' rights and obligations./.