The person who has collected Uncle Ho's photos for 50 years
In Khai Son commune, Anh Son district (Nghe An), there is an old teacher who reads almost all the newspapers published in the locality every day, and every time he sees a handwritten note or photo of President Ho Chi Minh, he is filled with joy. He is Cao Kim Son (born in 1938), a person who specializes in collecting Uncle Ho's photos and spring poems.
(Baonghean) -In Khai Son commune, Anh Son district (Nghe An), there is an old teacher who reads almost all the newspapers published in the locality every day, and every time he sees a handwritten note or photo of President Ho Chi Minh, he is filled with joy. He is Cao Kim Son (born in 1938), a person who specializes in collecting Uncle Ho's photos and spring poems.
As a teacher with nearly 40 years of experience in the Physics department, contributing to the training of many generations of students in Anh Son district, Mr. Cao Kim Son won the title of Grandmaster in the provincial visual teaching aids competition and the third prize nationwide in 1963. Therefore, more than anyone else, Mr. Son understands the role of images in the process of knowledge acquisition of students. In particular, in educating about the life, career, ideology and moral example of Ho Chi Minh, there is no more practical way than to give students the opportunity to access his photos and poems. Since then, the Physics teacher at secondary school has been diligently reading newspapers and magazines that have published photos of Uncle Ho, Mr. Son has kept them to add to his collection. He confided: “For me, collecting photos of Uncle Ho has become a joy, as well as a responsibility to generations of students and descendants. Even after retiring, I still access press publications every day to look for new photos.” Up to now, after 50 years of hard work collecting (since 1961), Mr. Cao Kim Son's collection of Uncle Ho's photos has 350 photos.
Teacher Cao Kim Son with a collection of photos and New Year poems
of President Ho Chi Minh.
Recently, on the occasion of the 121st anniversary of Uncle Ho's birthday and the 100th anniversary of Uncle Ho's departure to find a way to save the country, Mr. Son collected 350 photos and printed them into a 200-page A4 document. The photos were arranged scientifically by him in chronological order of President Ho Chi Minh's revolutionary life. First are portraits of Uncle Ho through the ages, followed by images of his paternal and maternal hometowns, family members and mementos associated with his childhood. Then there are images of Duc Thanh school, the Latusche Trêvin ship and Nha Rong port, his speech at the French Socialist Party Congress.... Each photo captures an important moment in his life and career, demonstrating his contributions, position and affection for the entire nation and people. After collecting and printing the documents, Mr. Cao Kim Son photocopied 70 sets to give to friends, colleagues, children and generations of students.
In addition, teacher Cao Kim Son also collected 28 poems on the theme of spring and New Year greetings by Uncle Ho, along with two letters from Uncle Ho to his hometown Nghe An. As well as the photo collection, the book of Uncle Ho's poems was photocopied by teacher Son to give to his close and beloved ones. He shared: "I collect Uncle Ho's spring poems and New Year greetings because in the minds of our people, Uncle Ho is the spring of the country, of the nation, Uncle Ho is the one who brings revival, beautiful joy, and warmth to the country of Vietnam".
Holding in my hands two photo and poetry documents that teacher Cao Kim Son sent me, I realized how small I am in front of the simple but noble work of a teacher. Because it is the result of more than 50 years of hard work and quietness - almost an entire life...
Cong Kien
