The mother that Mr. Phan called the National Mother and the story of the handkerchief used to send her son abroad

Heroine of Hong Lam land

There have been thousands of articles and studies about the land and people of Tho Doi Trang in the past - Quynh Doi today, but it seems that no matter how much is written or said, it is still not enough. Tho Doi Trang is famous far and wide for its reputation as a "village of scholars", "the land of the Emperors", and Tho Doi Trang people are famous for being good at studying, talented, heroic and patriotic. Not only men, but also women have gone down in the nation's golden history with great contributions to the country, including "Little Trung" Tran Thi Tram.

Quynh Doi - the birthplace of many talented, courageous people with a rich tradition of patriotism and revolution, including Mrs. Tran Thi Tram. Photo: Viet Hung

It is said that once, after the famous scholar Pham Dinh Toai finished proofreading the book Dai Nam Quoc Su Dien Ca, he showed it to his students and asked for their impressions. After a few compliments, a young girl boldly stood up and said:“The book is good, but I think your assessment of Hai Ba Trung is incorrect. Even though the struggle against Ma Vien failed, it is still impossible to write: “How can a woman fight against a hero?”

The speaker was Ms. Tran Thi Tram, daughter of Dr. Tran Huu Duc, who was the District Chief of Vinh Tuong and a famous activist during the Can Vuong period. Her short speech revealed the talent and courage of a girl who, despite receiving feudal education, still strongly broke out and aspired to contribute to her homeland and country.

The story of Mrs. Tran Thi Tram is recorded in many history books and research documents. Most documents agree that Mrs. Tran Thi Tram was born in 1860 in Quynh Doi commune, Quynh Luu district. Orphaned at the age of 1, she was raised by her mother and brother Tran Anh. In Quynh village, Tran Thi Tram was famous for her studiousness, gentleness, and cleverness. In 1876, she was introduced by the famous scholar Pham Dinh Toai (her father's classmate) to marry into Quynh village with Ho Ba Tri (son of judge Ho Trong Toan).

In 1885, after 9 years of marriage, she suffered the great pain of losing her husband when Ho Ba Tri heroically sacrificed himself in the massacre of the French colonialists against Bao Hau and Quynh Doi villages. Being a widow with two young children, Ho Xuan Khiem, just 5 years old, and Ho Xuan Lan (Ho Hoc Lam), just 2 years old, Tran Thi Tram suppressed her pain, determined to contribute her strength to the patriotic movement that was smoldering and waiting for the opportunity to flare up strongly at that time. She actively participated in the Can Vuong movement and made significant contributions to the victories of the Phan Dinh Phung and Nguyen Xuan On insurgents.

Silk weaving profession of Vietnamese women in the 19th century (left) and Mr. Ho Hoc Lam - son of Mrs. Tran Thi Tram. Photo: Internet

Quynh village at that time was famous for silk weaving. To deceive the enemy and make it easier to operate, she disguised herself as a silk trader and traveled throughout the Nghe - Tinh region, but in reality, she secretly acted as a liaison and raised money to buy weapons for the insurgents...

At the end of 1892, after pretending to be insane and helping Cao Thang and Nguyen Huy Thuan's army successfully raid Ha Tinh town, Mrs. Tram was arrested and sent to Vinh prison. The notorious and evil judge Cao Ngoc Le personally interrogated and interrogated her with the most vicious plots and cruel actions from bribery to threats and torture. Despite having to endure all kinds of beatings and torture, she did not waver.

Unable to get a confession, the notorious and evil assassin Cao Ngoc Le vented all his anger on her, personally commanding the interrogation and torture with sinister plots and tricks. Learning from experience, each time she was arrested and taken to Vinh Prison for interrogation and torture, Ms. Tram secretly kept a handful of good tobacco on her body, in case the torture was too cruel, she would swallow a handful of tobacco to get drunk, forcing them to let her go. After returning from Vinh Prison, Ms. Tran Thi Tram gained more experience in secret operations.

She was entrusted by Phan Dinh Phung to go to Siam (Thailand) to buy weapons three times. From the Vu Quang base in Huong Khe (Ha Tinh), she did not mind her body and traveled a long distance through the forest through Laos to the town of Na Khon in Siam to fulfill her assigned mission. This forest road later became the path taken by patriots who went abroad in the Dong Du movement of Phan Boi Chau in the early years of the 20th century.

Mother's handkerchief

Entering the early years of the 20th century, Tran Thi Tram joined the Trieu Duong Thuong Quan Association (a patriotic organization) founded by Dang Thai Than and Ngo Duc Ke to gather patriots to build a foundation to encourage and promote patriotic activities in many forms such as opening schools, propagating culture, expanding people's knowledge... She herself made an important contribution to building the material and financial foundations for the Association.

When the patriotic movement in Nghe Tinh developed strongly in a new trend, she actively participated in the Duy Tan Association (1904) and the Dong Du movement initiated by Phan Boi Chau (1905). Phan Boi Chau trusted her with the task of bringing patriotic youth such as Nguyen Thuc Canh, Tran Huu Luc, Ho Sy Thanh... to Japan to study. She also held back her tears and determined to persuade her second son, Ho Hoc Lam, to go find a way to save the country and save the people.

Some characters participating in the Dong Du movement led by Phan Boi Chau. Photo: Pinterest

This mother, whom Phan Boi Chau admired and called “the mother of the nation”, had a famous saying when sending her son off. In 1906, responding to the Dong Du movement, Mrs. Tram sent Ho Hoc Lam to Japan to study. When they parted at the border, she tore a handkerchief and gave it to her son, saying:“You were born to wash away the country’s shame, just as this towel was woven to wipe people’s faces. This journey will certainly encounter many difficulties and obstacles, you must try to overcome them, absolutely cannot give up halfway, cannot betray the Fatherland. If you disobey me, I will treat you no differently than this torn towel.”

In the following years, with the patriotism and extraordinary spirit of a daughter of Nghe An, Mrs. Tran Thi Tram continued to devote herself to patriotic movements such as: Vietnam Quang Phuc Hoi (1912), the movement to go to Siam to ask for land to establish Trai Cay by Mr. Dang Thuc Hua, the movement to fight for amnesty of Mr. Phan Boi Chau, the memorial service for Mr. Phan Chau Trinh, the activities of Tan Viet and Vietnam Thanh Nien Cach Mang Comrades Association. Patriotic youth in Quynh village at that time who wanted to contact the revolution or read progressive books and newspapers all came to her. Her house also became a place of contact and shelter for many patriotic activists for more than 40 years, that's why her family was often searched and searched and she was considered a dangerous subject in the eyes of the enemy, even though she did not hold any important position in patriotic activities.

In 1928, when Mrs. Tran Thi Tram was nearly 70 years old, the Nghe An consul called her to Vinh prison to persuade her:“Well, you are old now. If you like, stay here. The government will take good care of you…”Without thinking, she immediately answered:“We Southerners are not used to the parasitic lifestyle. As for me, I am not used to using things that others give me. Please let me go home.”

In 1929, despite her poor health, Mrs. Tran Thi Tram still tried to go to Hue to visit Mr. Phan Boi Chau. In early 1930, when she was about to die but heard that the revolutionary movement in Nghe Tinh under the leadership of the Party had risen strongly, with a bright smile, she said:"The previous national salvation cause was not successful, but now the communist brothers have continued to do it."On May 6, 1930, when the fire of struggle of workers and farmers in Nghe Tinh began to be lit, the patriotic heart of Mrs. Tran Thi Tram also stopped beating, leaving behind endless sorrow for her children, grandchildren and homeland.

After 70 years of living, contributing, and silently sacrificing for the patriotic movement of her homeland, Mrs. Tran Thi Tram, with her soul, spirit, and determination always bright as jade, fragrant as flowers, and passionate as fire, deserves the title "Tieu Trung" given by Mr. Phan Boi Chau. She became a shining example of the patriotic and revolutionary tradition of her predecessors and of Nghe An women in the heroic Soviet homeland./.