The drums of the year 30 echo forever

(Baonghean) - “Oh…the Lam River will never dry up, just like the revolutionary spirit of our people. Even though the sun is red and the rain is pouring, Nghe An Soviet is still Nghe An…”. Carrying along the songs and the folk songs, we met “the old people”, went to the places where the struggles of the years 30-31 were boiling and saw the very clear transformation of the revolutionary countryside…

The first place to stand

From Highway 46, over Ro Bridge, across Lam River, Vo Liet Commune of Thanh Chuong District appears with rice fields, imbued with the atmosphere of a purely agricultural countryside. In the middle of Re Field, the majestic Vo Liet Communal House (built in 1859), where the first "commune-agricultural" government was established during the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement in 1930-1931. We visited the house of Mr. Phan To Duc, the only veteran revolutionary still living in Thanh Chuong District. He is 97 years old this year, with 73 years of Party membership, although his hearing is "a bit heavy", Mr. Phan To Duc is still very clear-headed. When recalling memories of the "revolutionary movement of 30-31" in which he participated, his eyes and face beamed with joy.

Through his story, he said: On the evening of August 31, early morning of September 1, 1930, under the leadership of the Party, a large demonstration with the participation of more than 20,000 farmers from 5 communes marched to Thanh Chuong district office with the spirit of "waterfall, rising tide", causing the district chief, clerks, and soldiers to flee in panic. After the victory of this demonstration, on the afternoon of September 1, the Soviet government was established. At that time, Mr. Phan To Duc was only 14 years old, but he could read and write fluently and was "invited" to distribute leaflets and read to the people about the Party's propaganda content. From then on, he devoted his life to the Party. In 1940, he was admitted to the Communist Party and assigned to hold the position of Secretary of the General Committee Vo Liet. But after only one year, he was arrested and exiled by the French colonialists. It was not until after the National Day of September 2, 1945, that he was released and continued his revolutionary activities.

Having worked in many positions in many different locations, when he retired, Mr. Phan To Duc returned to his hometown Vo Liet. His family's house is on a hillside, overlooking Vo Liet communal house. With that location, along with the revolutionary tradition that was fostered, generations of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren have successfully studied. Up to now, his extended family has up to 10 party members, 3 doctors, 4 masters... Attached to his hometown, witnessing many changes, but with the responsibility of a party member, he still has the passion and desire for Vo Liet to develop further in the new period. Because up to now, this revolutionary hometown still monocultures rice, 80% of the labor force is in agriculture; some occupations such as carpentry, welding, and services have crept into the countryside but have not created a positive "push".

In implementing the new rural construction, the commune has not yet "consolidated land and exchanged plots", so it is still slow in shifting the structure of crops and livestock, slow in applying agricultural machinery and science and technology to production. Acknowledging this reality, comrade Nguyen Huu Soai - Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Vo Liet commune said: "It is true that in the development process, the commune has many areas that are slow to innovate. Up to now, the commune has only achieved 6/19 criteria for new rural construction. The Party Committee, the government and the people are also struggling to find a suitable direction to be worthy of the revolutionary countryside that was once "a pioneer, a pioneer". In that process, besides promoting the work of mobilizing the people, we really need the joint investment of all levels, sectors and enterprises...".

Industrial tea harvesting in the revolutionary countryside of Hanh Lam - Thanh Chuong.

Along the historic September 12th

Leaving Vo Liet, we "went down to Vinh", through Nam Dan - Uncle Ho's hometown, Hung Nguyen - the hometown of the late General Secretary Le Hong Phong - Soviet countrysides that are actively transforming with high-yield rice, corn, vegetables and industrial projects and factories, demonstrating the sustainable worker-farmer alliance.

The first impression when entering Hung Nguyen District Town is the Monument to the Soviet Martyrs of Nghe Tinh 1930-1931. In the past, the monument held high the hammer and sickle to promote the spirit of worker-farmer solidarity. Now it has become a memorial house, an open park where people often come here to walk every morning and afternoon. From here, turn left to enter the historic Provincial Road 558 - this road is still known as 12/9 Street by Nghe An people. The road intersects Vinh bypass and connects National Highway 46 with the Lam River road. 12/9 Street is now wide and smooth, paved with asphalt. Passing Block 15, Hung Nguyen Town with its crowded market street, the road leads to the windy countryside fields, covered with golden sunshine and fragrant with the smell of straw just after the harvest.

That day, on this very road, more than eight thousand farmers marched to the district capital, shouting slogans of "down with imperialism", "land must return to the farmers". The protest group lined up for more than 1 km, marching towards Vinh City. The stream of people was like a waterfall, growing more and more crowded as they went. When they got closer to Vinh, the number reached nearly thirty thousand people, stretching for more than 4 km. The masses marched into the district capital, surrounded the soldiers in blue uniforms, burned the district office, and destroyed the prison. The enemy was frightened, mobilized planes to bomb the protest group, killing 217 people and injuring 125. The French soldiers used force to suppress the revolutionary movement, but throughout Nghe Tinh, the revolutionary movement had risen from Do Luong, Nam Dan, Thanh Chuong and Vinh - Ben Thuy.

12/9 Street is now a “bright street”: Bright from the street lights shining brightly every night; bright because the expanded road helps traffic become more convenient, people stick to the road to open commercial services, transport goods conveniently in both directions and people are also more active in expanding. Crossing the intersection of 12/9 Street with Vinh bypass, you can see restaurants and tourist areas. Hung Tan Commune welcomes people with a solemn welcome gate.

Hung Tan is now richer than before. The Soviet spirit of 1930 - 1931 created a heroic armed forces commune, and that tradition has created a Hung Tan that is increasingly prosperous in economic development. The commune is no longer "purely agricultural" but has promoted the development of a variety of suitable occupations, attracting local labor, gradually improving the lives of the people. In particular, focusing on developing traditional handicrafts. Mr. Nguyen Huu Thong, Vice Chairman of Hung Tan Commune People's Committee, said: From 2010 to now, 9/9 hamlets of the commune have achieved the title of cultural village, up to now the commune has achieved 15/19 new rural criteria and strives to become a standard commune by 2015.

Leaving Hung Tan to return to Hung Thong commune - the hometown of General Secretary Le Hong Phong. In Hung Thong, the commune Party Committee still advocates agriculture as the root, ensuring the good implementation of the Party and State Resolution on ensuring food security while producing agricultural commodities. Mr. Pham Viet Nam, Party Committee Secretary, Chairman of the Commune People's Council said: The agricultural production area of ​​the commune is 240 hectares. The district's target for this winter crop is 56 hectares. The commune considers the winter crop as a main production crop. Accordingly, in addition to the province's and district's policies, Hung Thong commune focuses on directing 100% support for green squash seeds, support for winter corn protection of 1.2 million VND/ha, support for plant protection drugs and technical training.

With two types of chili peppers and carrots, in addition to the district and company's seed support, the commune tries to support the remaining 40%. Along with other localities, Hung Xa - the end point of the 12/9 historical road, in these days, the revolutionary spirit is also ignited when the commune cooperates with the Soviet - Nghe Tinh Museum, Hung Nguyen District Party Committee to organize the exchange "Homeland and revolutionary career of comrade Le Xuan Dao". With the form of direct Q&A by students of 2 schools in Hung Nguyen district, it is one of the meaningful activities to educate the tradition of patriotism for the young generation.

In the autumn afternoon, on the Lam River dike looking towards 12/9 Street, we can see the ancient, winding roofs of communal houses and family churches one after another, creating the shape of a town in the setting sun. Looking towards the Lam River, we can see boats going up and down. In the strong wind, we can hear a song echoing from the loudspeakers of the hamlets: “We walk on 12-9 Street/ Suddenly remember the people/ Unyielding and loyal/ Rise up to the Thai Lao Heaven/ Tradition of Hung Nguyen land/ In the height of the Soviet movement/ The hammer and sickle flag calls for uprising/ We cannot forget/ We cannot forget”.

Vinh - Ben Thuy rise up

Hung Dung Ward used to be called Yen Dung Thuong village, located in the Northeast of Vinh City. During the Nghe Tinh Soviet Movement in 1930-1931, under the leadership of the Yen Dung Thuong Party, they rose up to fight. On April 3, 1930, the Yen Dung Thuong Commune Party Cell was established, and soon after, mass organizations were formed such as: Red Peasant Association, Youth Union, Women's Union, Red Guards. During the days of the boiling fighting spirit of the Nghe Tinh Soviet Movement, the Yen Dung Thuong Commune Party Cell gathered the masses to protest, distributed leaflets calling for a response to International Labor Day on May 1, demanding a wage increase for workers and a tax reduction for farmers.

In September 1930, in Yen Dung Thuong commune, a large rally was held, demanding that the village chief and local officials hand over their seals, books, and documents, and at the same time declaring the abolition of the old government and the establishment of a Soviet government led by the Party Cell. This was also the period when Hung Dung was referred to as the “Red Village”, marking the nation’s history as a major rehearsal for the success of the August Revolution.

During the Nghe Tinh Soviet Revolutionary Movement of 1930-1931, the May 1st demonstration at Ben Thuy intersection was an important milestone. There, 83 years ago, the solidarity between workers and farmers created historical values ​​until today and tomorrow. Under the direction of comrade Nguyen Phong Sac - Secretary of the Central Region Party Committee, in the early morning of May 1st, over 1,200 farmers from An Hau, Tan Hop, Duc Hau villages (Nghi Loc district), Loc Da, Duc Thinh, Yen Dung Thuong (Hung Nguyen district) ... marched towards Truong Thi Factory in neat ranks, attracting many people going to the market to participate.

Workers from factories and Ben Thuy Port climbed over the fence to join the protest, chanting slogans as they marched: increase wages, 8-hour workday, reduce taxes. The group marched bare-handed straight into the barricade of soldiers with guns and bullets blocking the road connecting the Match Factory to the Power Plant. Now, at the Ben Thuy intersection, the road has been opened to a bustling four-way intersection, the worker-farmer monument with the hammer and sickle flag has been upgraded, solidly built with granite to be left for posterity.

One September morning, when the dawn was shining brightly behind the worker-farmer monument, we visited Ben Thuy Port - one of the first ports of our country on the world map (the port was built by the French colonialists in 1923). The port's staff and workers were actively mobilizing vehicles and equipment to quickly load and unload goods. The goods passing through the port were still coal, ore... which have been a tradition for decades. Mr. Nguyen Quang - the port director is a young man but when talking about the tradition of the unit, he is very detailed and enthusiastic.

He added: “In April 1930, among the early established party cells in Vinh, there was the Ben Thuy Port porter cell. Under the direction of the cell, porters and workers at the port joined the protesters. On August 17, 1945, workers at Ben Thuy Port and factories in Vinh rose up with the people of Yen Dung and De Thap to seize power, contributing to the victory of the August 1945 General Revolution. During the period of fighting the French and the Americans to protect the Fatherland, 30 cadres and workers of the port heroically sacrificed their lives…

Inheriting that indomitable tradition, generations of officers and workers of Ben Thuy Port always strive to quickly release goods, providing the best service for ships entering and leaving the port. Ben Thuy Port has 6 wharves, serving ships under 2,000 tons. At peak times, the port has over 300 officers and workers working. Currently, the port has 85 officers and workers with an annual loading and unloading capacity of about 300,000 tons of goods serving the socio-economic development of Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces.

Saying goodbye to the port, in blocks 10, 13, 15 of Ben Thuy ward, near Lam river, the loudspeaker system is playing the song "Sound of Ho on Nghe An land". The voice of People's Artist Thu Hien is clear and deep, urging people's hearts... "Oh... Whose voice is that in our homeland, that's the voice of the militia practicing to protect the village, to protect the sky of the Soviet Nghe An, oh the Lam River flowing from the mountains, through Anh Son, Thanh Chuong, Nam Dan, still hear, still hear the old echoing voices... That's the voice of the workers of Ben Thuy Nui Thanh, on the road of swords and guns marching... The sound of the Soviet drums in the past woke up the village, now, now seems to urge the hearts of the people of Nghe An...".

Article and photos: Nguyen Chung