Comrade Tran Manh Tao and the revolutionary movement in his hometown Nghi Xuan (Ha Tinh)
Through the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement and throughout his life of revolutionary activities, comrade Tran Manh Tao always maintained the qualities and will of a party member, excellently completed his tasks, and was exemplary in all activities.
Comrade Tran Manh Tao (alias Nhat Tan, Bach Ho) was born on January 15, 1902 in Lang hamlet, Kieu Linh village, Dan Pho commune, Dan Hai canton (now Kieu Van village, Xuan Pho commune, Nghi Xuan district), Ha Tinh province.
Comrade Tran Manh Tao was born into a middle-class family. His father, Mr. Tran Quang Cu, was patriotic and passed the bachelor's degree but did not become an official and only stayed at home to teach and educate his children. His mother, Mrs. Dinh Thi Tam, was an intelligent and capable woman. He and his wife had many children who were active in revolutionary activities such as: Tran Thuc Huan, Tran Ba Duong, Tran Ba Don, Tran Thi Tieu (aka Kim), Tran Thi Chien...
As a child, due to his intelligence and eagerness to learn, Tran Manh Tao was often told by his father many stories about heroic examples in the Van Than, Can Vuong, and Dong Du movements, which kindled in him the flame of patriotism.
At the age of 8, Tran Manh Tao followed his father to study Chinese characters, and at the age of 15, he continued to study the national language. In 1919, due to difficult family circumstances, he had to quit school and return home to work as a tailor and make scarves for a living. In 1921, Tran Manh Tao started a family with Mrs. Nguyen Thi Xuan, from Nghi Loc district, Nghe An province. He often interacted with Confucian scholars and teachers in Nghi Xuan such as: Le Boi, Le Trong The, Ngo Huu Yen, so he soon absorbed progressive books and newspapers, revolutionary poetry.
At the end of 1927, Nguyen Tri Tu - a teacher at the French-Vietnamese school, belonging to the Tan Viet - Ha Tinh Headquarters, was sent to Nghi Xuan to contact comrades Ngo Huu Yen, Ho Van Ninh, Tran Manh Tao, Phan Viet Chieu, organized a conference at Hoa Van Hai communal house (Co Dam) to discuss the program of activities, consolidate the revolutionary organization and decided to establish the first Tan Viet group in Nghi Xuan with comrade Ngo Huu Yen as the group leader.
In June 1929, at Hoa Van Hai communal house, under the chairmanship of comrade Ngo Huu Yen, the Tan Viet Nghi Xuan organization gathered all members and declared its complete transformation into the Indochina Communist Party, including comrades: Ho Van Ninh, Ngo Huu Yen, Tran Manh Tao, Phan Viet Chieu, Tran Ba Don, Tran Thi Chien, Nguyen Thi Kim.
In March 1930, after the successful establishment conference of the Communist Party of Vietnam in Ha Tinh province, comrade Tran Huu Thieu - provisional Secretary of the Ha Tinh Provincial Party Committee went to Nghi Xuan to work and establish contact with advanced party members in the Tan Viet Great Organization. In April 1930, at the house of teacher Ngo Huu Yen in Phu Lap (Co Dam), the first establishment conference of the Communist Party cell in Nghi Xuan took place under the chairmanship of the Provincial Party Secretary and admitted the first five party members of the Nghi Xuan cell, namely Ho Van Ninh, Ngo Huu Yen, Phan Viet Chieu, Tran Manh Tao, and Nguyen Thi Kim. At the same time, comrade Ngo Huu Yen was appointed as Secretary. The Party's document printing facility was located at comrade Tran Ba Don's house, then moved to the house of Mrs. Dinh Thi Tam (comrade Tran Manh Tao's mother).
In mid-April 1930, implementing the Provincial Party Committee's policy on organizing the International Labor Day celebration (May 1), Nghi Xuan Party Committee urgently met to discuss and assign specific tasks to each person. Comrade Tran Manh Tao was assigned to go to Nghe An to get documents, buy paper and gypsum for printing. The printing location was at Tran Manh Tao's house.
Comrades Tran Manh Tao, Ngo Huu Yen, Phan Viet Chieu... concentrated on printing leaflets and sewing Party flags for many days without rest. The leaflets were printed on both sides, one side in Nom script, the other in Quoc Ngu script with the following content: Down with French imperialism; Overthrow capitalists and landlords; Oppose high taxes and heavy levies, oppose exploitation; Do not beat workers or mistreat farmers...
On the evening of April 27, 1930, the Party organization assigned Party members to distribute leaflets and hang Party flags. In Xuan Pho, comrade Tran Manh Tao was in charge of distributing leaflets and hanging red flags in the area around the district capital, comrade Tran Ba Don returned to the district from Gia Lach, comrade Tran Cau from the Hoi Thong area and above...
On the morning of April 28, 1930, District Chief Nguyen Viet Khang and Lieutenant Dang Dan led soldiers to surround and arrest three comrades: Tran Manh Tao, Tran Ba Don, and Tran Cau. Despite being brutally tortured, comrade Tran Manh Tao still maintained the integrity of a staunch communist. Finally, comrade Tran Manh Tao was sentenced to 13 years in prison (Verdict No. 112 dated August 4, 1930) and imprisoned in Dong Hoi (Quang Binh).
In 1936, the French Popular Front came to power, comrade Tran Manh Tao was released, returned to his hometown, and contacted comrades Le Tinh, Ho Bien, and Dat At to carry out revolutionary activities.
On February 23, 1937, when Goda - the envoy of the French Popular Front came to Vinh (Nghe An) to investigate the situation in Indochina, Nghi Xuan District Party Committee assigned comrade Tran Manh Tao to represent a delegation of people from all walks of life in the district and more than 100 people to go to Vinh to directly meet Goda and hand over the petition of the people of the district. The content of the petition demanded social reform and the release of political prisoners.
On February 23, 1937, when Goda - the envoy of the French Popular Front came to Vinh (Nghe An) to investigate the situation in Indochina, Nghi Xuan District Party Committee assigned comrade Tran Manh Tao to represent the delegation of people from all walks of life in the district with more than 100 people to go to Vinh to directly meet Goda and hand over the petition of the people of the district.
In 1940, the Party cells in Xuan Pho were severely terrorized by the enemy, many Party members were arrested, including comrades Tran Manh Tao, Tran Thi Kim, Tran Cau (But), Tran Thi Chien, Vo Van Xuong, Tran Ba Don, Tran Ba Duong... Comrade Tran Manh Tao was sentenced and imprisoned in many prisons such as: Tra Khe resettlement area (Quang Ngai), resettlement in La Hy and then Phu Bai (Hue), according to Verdict No. 2660 dated September 8, 1943. In prison, he still actively participated in the struggle to improve life, fight against terrorism, beatings and other forms of exploitation of prisoners.
In 1945, after Japan staged a coup against the French throughout Indochina, seizing the opportunity, comrade Tran Manh Tao and many imprisoned cadres and party members escaped from prison and returned to their localities to operate.
On August 17, 1945, the main Council of Xuan Pho commune was elected, including comrade Tran Manh Tao - Chairman, Pham Si Nai - Vice Chairman and Tran Vinh Hien - Secretary.
On the afternoon of August 19, 1945, implementing the policy of the district's provisional Viet Minh Front, comrade Tran Manh Tao and Viet Minh cadres in Xuan Pho commune promptly mobilized the elderly, young, men and women, with the core being the youth force, to raise high the red flag with yellow star from all roads to the district capital. Facing the overwhelming momentum of the revolutionary forces, the district's officials and soldiers surrendered to the Viet Minh. On the evening of August 19, 1945, the local mandarins of Xuan Pho commune handed over the bronze seals, books, and land registration to the commune's uprising leadership.
On the morning of August 20, 1945, the Nghi Xuan district provisional revolutionary committee announced its establishment. On the afternoon of August 20, 1945, under the leadership of comrade Tran Manh Tao, the people of Xuan Pho commune gathered at the training ground in Van Lam, holding a rally to celebrate the revolutionary victory. The Xuan Pho commune provisional revolutionary committee included comrades: Tran Manh Tao - Chairman; Pham Si Nai - Vice Chairman; Tran Vinh Hien - Secretary.
In December 1945, comrade Tran Manh Tao was elected to the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee, Party Secretary, Chairman of the District Viet Minh and Chairman of the People's Committee of Xuan Pho commune.
During his revolutionary career, despite facing many difficulties and hardships, comrade Tran Manh Tao always maintained the qualities and will of a party member, always fulfilled his duties at work, and was exemplary in all activities. After retirement, he still actively participated in local activities. The image and name of comrade Tran Manh Tao will forever be the pride of his family and his hometown Xuan Pho.