The person who bears the brunt

(Baonghean) -The first time I met him was 15 years ago. Looking back on his life, I find it quite interesting. If that day, there was no project funded by Japan for the Provincial Blind Association, perhaps I would have imagined and understood Nguyen Minh Duc - Chairman of the Nghe An Blind Association in a different way. Because before, people close to him, even those who claimed to be close to him, told me things about him that were not what I felt. Being close to him, I saw that he had real ability and courage, he was truly the "captain" of the boat that was full of storms, bringing people with disabilities to peaceful lands.

Our computer class at that time consisted of 10 people, mostly district chairmen or their successors. I was in a special category because I was old and no longer worked for the Association. The teacher was old enough to be my grandchild, and had not seen the light since birth. Only later did I know that she was the granddaughter of my high school teacher. We had our own rooms, and each person used a computer. I was assigned to rest and work in Duc's room, and being close to him every day, I understood and admired him even more.

Nguyen Minh Duc was born into a family of 7 children, 4 of whom were martyrs and the remaining 3 were war invalids. Duc was a severely war invalid. His mother is now 95 years old. He left his writing career when the country was unified but the southwestern border was still being watched by enemies, and he went to do his duty. In 1978, in Tay Ninh, during a fierce enemy pursuit, he was injured and lost both eyes when he was not yet 20 years old.

Returning to the nursing home, Duc did all kinds of jobs. He was too young to think things through, in the midst of a difficult economic time, life was difficult for everyone, at times he joined the "Backpacking team going up and down the North-South train" to support himself and to relieve the frustration of youth being "imprisoned" in the dark. Then there were times when he felt calm, he found himself standing at a crossroads "If it continues like this, who will I be?" Thinking back, to let his old mother need a place to rely on after so many losses, he chose the third path, in 1985, he married Phuc, a nurse at the nursing home. Although there were ups and downs, life was bright and dark together. His family had a house and two healthy sons.

Duc came to the blind not by chance but out of camaraderie and shared disabilities. In 1992, he was elected Vice President of the Nghe An Provincial Association for the Blind. "Bare-handed", he asked his family to take him to one agency after another to persuade them to support the Association's activities. In 1995, Duc was elected President of the Association, at this time, there was already some "dough", but it was still very difficult to "wash it into glue". The Provincial People's Committee as well as a number of departments and branches, through his proposals, provided transportation, additional human resources, most of whom were war invalids, with an allowance of 50,000 VND per month...

Sympathizing with his determination and bravery and that of people with disabilities, gradually, the community and the authorities in the province have also created favorable conditions to help. The Provincial Association's campus has a land area of ​​several thousand square meters right in the city center, some of which are divided among the Association's staff and employees, with proper land use certificates. The area of ​​about 1,500 square meters is used as an office, working house, conference hall, kitchen area, dining room, staff accommodation, massage and body massage area, which is rated by the Central Association as the top in the country.

A bamboo toothpick production facility of the Vinh City Blind Association. Photo: Tran Hai

For more than 20 years, through many congresses, Nguyen Minh Duc has always been the one who bears the brunt, sharing the joys and sorrows with people with disabilities. Although his house is more than 4 km from the Association, summer as well as winter, rain or shine, he always arrives on time, or before work hours.

From only 3 or 4 district associations with more than 200 members, the province now has 19/20 districts and towns establishing associations with more than 3,000 members. Duc has been to every district and town to listen and resolve the difficulties of the members during the association's activities. Friends and relatives inside and outside the province who know him admire his heart and perseverance in contributing to the happiness of the blind.

The current allowance is still only 1,750,000 VND, the agency has a car but no driver, so when he has to go to the base or have relationships with departments, he still makes friends with passenger cars or buses when the weather is bad. The base brothers feel sorry for him, but he thinks it is normal. He also constantly learns. His foreign language skills now allow him to confidently communicate with foreign guests without needing an interpreter. In recognition of his contributions, the Prime Minister and ministries, departments and branches have given him many noble awards. That is a source of encouragement and motivation for him to strive and tirelessly dedicate himself to his career for the happiness of the blind.

But if only his own happiness was complete, the burden on his shoulders would be somewhat shared. I once gave him a poem that included the line: "When the family home is broken/ The two men shoulder the burden, the other shoulder the burden." It was thought that he and his wife would go through life together, but who would have thought... After so many storms, overcoming all the difficulties of their humble beginnings, when the family seemed to be at peace, the woman who was attached to him turned to another path. That was also the time when I was studying computer science and staying in his room.

The day his wife married her new husband, he and I sat drinking, he was very sad. But it seemed like he swallowed all the pain inside. He alone shouldered the burden of raising two sons to become decent people. When his sons got married, their mother did not attend. But he still told his children to bring their wives to greet their mother properly. The ancients taught: No one is perfect. He is just like that. Active but hot-tempered, outspoken, showing his love and hate on his face without knowing how to cleverly hide it. But his heart is bright, and he is devoted, sharing the joys and sorrows, he is still a reliable support for people with disabilities.

Nguyen Khac Phien (Dien Chau Blind Association)