Mai Dinh - a staunch communist soldier from his hometown of Tan Loc, Ha Tinh

Comrade Mai Dinh was born in 1909 in Dinh Lu village, Phu Luu commune, Can Loc district (now Tan Loc commune, Loc Ha district), Ha Tinh province, in a patriotic Confucian family, the seventh son of Mr. Mai Hoe (also known as the late Quyen Vinh), a prestigious Confucian scholar who made many contributions to the Can Vuong movement under the leadership of Mr. Phan Dinh Phung. His brothers and sisters in the family such as Mai Cat, Mai That, Mai Trac, Mai Thi Chin, etc. all participated in patriotic activities early, so the young man Mai Dinh was also enlightened about the revolution early.

After the Phuc Viet Association (the predecessor of the Tan Viet Party) was established on July 14, 1925 in Con Meo Mountain (Ben Thuy, Vinh City, Nghe An), in Can Loc, the first Phuc Viet group was also formed in September 1925, including a number of patriotic intellectuals such as: Ngo Duc De, Le Viet Luong, Tran Dai Qua, Vo Tinh... In 1926, the Tan Viet organization in Dinh Lu village was established with 7 people, led by Hoang Khoai Lac, including comrade Mai Cat, the brother of comrade Mai Dinh.

In 1928, the Phuc Viet Association changed its name to Tan Viet Revolutionary Party (abbreviated as Tan Viet). At this time, the Tan Viet organization in Can Loc had over 50 members, divided into 5 groups in 5 communes; the general leadership body of the district was called the Dai To.

From 1928-1929, the active activities of the Tan Viet organization in Dinh Lu attracted a large number of people. Under the guidance of comrade Mai Cat and comrades in the Tan Viet Party, comrade Mai Dinh participated as a liaison for the organization.

The vibrant activities of Tan Viet party members, including comrade Mai Dinh, had a significant impact on the people inside and outside Phu Luu commune. In many places, the masses united to fight against tax collection delays, sued local officials for abusing public funds, demanded redistribution of public land, and fought against soldiers who came to the villages to collect alcohol and salt, etc.

At the end of 1929, the leadership of the Tan Viet Party was terrorized by the enemy, many key cadres were captured by the enemy. Also during this time, the Vietnam Revolutionary Youth Association actively propagated Marxism-Leninism in Ha Tinh. Many Tan Viet Party members, including comrades Mai Cat and Mai Dinh, were influenced by the Youth Association and converted to the proletarian revolutionary stance.

At the end of February 1930, the Central Region Party Committee sent comrade Tran Huu Thieu to Can Loc, Ha Tinh to build the Party organization. Under the direction of comrade Tran Huu Thieu, the provisional Provincial Party Committee of Ha Tinh province was quickly established, leading the struggle movement of the masses.

In April 1930, the conference of representatives of 7 communist party cells in the district was held and elected the provisional district committee of Can Loc district, consisting of 5 comrades with comrade Tran Chau as Secretary. From here, the people of Can Loc had a genuine revolutionary organization and Can Loc also became an important base for the Central Region Party Committee and Ha Tinh Provincial Party Committee in the years 1930-1931.

At Dinh Lu communal house, the first communist cell in Can Loc was also officially established, called Dinh Lu cell, consisting of 5 comrades: Hoang Khoai Lac (Secretary), Hoang Lien, Nguyen Cu, Mai Cat, Hoang Ky. After a period of active activities, comrade Mai Dinh was honored to be admitted to the Party, worked at Dinh Lu cell and was appointed as Secretary of the Tan Loc commune Youth organization.

Early in joining the Party, the outstanding young man of Tan Loc hometown, comrade Mai Dinh was always aware of his responsibility to the People. Under the leadership of Dinh Lu Party Cell and Party members, mass organizations and friendly organizations were quickly established and developed strongly, attracting dozens of members, union members, and team members to become the core of the struggle movement of Tan Loc people in the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement.

Responding to the call of the Regional Party Committee and Provincial Party Committee to organize the International Labor Day on May 1, 1930, comrade Mai Dinh and the Dinh Lu Party Cell and many other Party Cells in the two communes of Lai Thach and Phu Luu actively organized the hanging of Party flags, distributed leaflets and secretly mobilized farmers to listen to Party cadres' speeches. Then, on June 6, 1930, the two brothers Mai Cat and Mai Dinh continued to join the Party Cell in leading hundreds of people to surround the village chiefs at the communal house from morning to afternoon, forcing them to hand over 32 hectares of public land to the villagers for redistribution.

The victories in the struggles further strengthened and gave the enthusiastic party member Mai Dinh more confidence in the Party's leadership. At the same time, they helped him overcome difficulties and continue to be enthusiastic, regardless of hardships and dangers when facing the enemy.

On the occasion of the International Day Against Imperialist War on August 1, 1930, the Provisional District Party Committee advocated organizing mass demonstrations to march to the district office to present demands, demanding tax exemption, tax reduction, and redistribution of public land. Implementing the District Party Committee's policy, at dawn on August 1, 1930, the two brothers Mai Cat and Mai Dinh, along with hundreds of farmers from Phu Luu and Lai Thach communes, gathered in an enthusiastic atmosphere at Truong Gio to listen to comrade Hoang Khoa Lac's speech exposing the plots and tricks of colonialists and feudalists and highlighting the significance of the day against imperialist war. Faced with the power of the masses, District Chief Tran Manh Dan did not dare to suppress, but used a delaying tactic to persuade the demonstration group to disperse. After exchanging 10-point demands and forcing the District Chief to promise"Report to the provincial authorities, will respond in 10 days."

This was the first demonstration of Can Loc farmers and also the first mass demonstration of Ha Tinh farmers marching to the district to be successfully organized, highly appreciated and commented by Ha Tinh Provincial Party Committee:"It opened the struggle movement of Ha Tinh farmers, demonstrated the extraordinary strength of the peasants, forced the imperialists and feudalists to give up, and the District Chief had to bow and accept the demands"⁽¹⁾.

After the struggle on August 1, 1930, the French colonialists increased the number of soldiers sent to Dinh Lu village to set up camp and suppress the masses. Many cadres, party members and some revolutionary masses fell into the hands of the enemy, including comrade Mai Cat (brother of comrade Mai Dinh). However, the fighting spirit of the masses did not decrease, comrades like Mai Dinh still maintained their revolutionary enthusiasm, continued to participate in leading the strong Youth Struggle organization.

On the morning of September 7, 1930, Mai Dinh and thousands of farmers from 5 communes: Noi Ngoai, Doai, Nga Khe, Lai Thach, Phu Luu, carried red flags with hammer and sickle, shouted slogans, and marched from all directions to the district capital to demand that District Chief Tran Manh Dan respond to the demands promised in the demonstration on August 1, 1930. The enthusiastic atmosphere of the masses made the District Chief panic and flee. Comrade Mai Dinh and the masses stormed into the courthouse, freeing some people who had been arrested by them before. To suppress the demonstration, the Ha Tinh Resident sent a guard with soldiers in blue uniforms to suppress it, killing and injuring 5 people. The enemy's brutal actions further increased the fighting spirit of comrade Mai Dinh and the masses, and the atmosphere of hatred boiled over. This struggle temporarily paralyzed the enemy government and gave strength to the people of Tan Loc and party members like comrade Mai Dinh.

After the demonstration on September 7, 1930, the enemy intensified their search and fierce terror against the revolutionaries, and many outstanding cadres and people were arrested. Despite the enemy's sweep, on the evening of September 17, 1930, comrade Mai Dinh and thousands of people from the two communes of Noi Ngoai and Phu Luu continued to stand up and fight. The masses held a demonstration to demonstrate their power from the evening until the next morning before dispersing. After the demonstration, the revolutionary spirit of the people of Tan Loc in particular and the people of Can Loc in general developed to a new level.

In the last months of 1930, comrade Mai Dinh continued to join the people in many fierce struggles, despite the enemy's bombs and machine guns, such as: the rally to celebrate the October Revolution (morning of November 7, 1930), the memorial service for comrade Ho Ngoc Tang (November 11, 1930), the district-wide struggle (December 22, 1930),...

In early 1931, the struggle of the Tan Loc people continued to develop strongly, especially the movement of direct struggle with local landlords. Outstanding party members such as comrade Mai Dinh were always enthusiastic in the struggles, contributing to the development of the anti-tax and anti-tax movement throughout the villages and communes.

With those active activities, from February to August 1931, comrade Mai Dinh was elected as Party Cell Secretary.⁽²⁾, then General Committee Member. During this time, comrade Mai Dinh and Dinh Lu Party Cell led many struggles of the masses of people who went to the houses of the tyrants and landlords to demand the distribution of land and rice to the poor. The revolutionary masses' spirit forced them to give in and not dare to be arrogant.

In mid-1931, the Tan Loc People's struggle movement developed into a revolutionary climax. Party cells and Party cadres like comrade Mai Dinh were tempered through hardships and challenges, becoming increasingly steadfast in the battle with the enemy.

From September 1931 to January 1932, comrade Mai Dinh was elected as Deputy Secretary of the Farmers' Association of Can Loc district. After a period of activities, under the intense search of the enemy, comrade Mai Dinh fell into the hands of the enemy and was imprisoned in Ha Tinh prison from February 1931 to 1935. During the years of imprisonment in the imperial prison, enduring many bribery and brutal torture, although his left leg was broken and he was disabled, the spirit of party member Mai Dinh remained steadfast, indomitable, always maintaining the integrity of a communist. In the South, cell number 8, comrade Mai Dinh and his fellow political prisoners such as Nguyen Dinh Tuy, Tran Ich, etc. organized cultural studies, sewing, knitting, carpentry, brick and tile making, etc. with the motto "turning the prison into a revolutionary school". The comrades' undying faith in the Party's leadership created extraordinary strength, helping the soldiers overcome life-and-death moments in prison. Products such as rattan and bamboo baskets made by comrade Mai Dinh in Ha Tinh Prison are still preserved, protected and promoted in value at the Nghe Tinh Soviet Museum, partly expressing the spirit and temperament of communist soldiers in general, and comrade Mai Dinh in particular, in the dark prison.

After his prison term ended, comrade Mai Dinh continued to return to his hometown and actively initiated revolutionary activities. From 1936 to 1937, he actively participated in the popular movement and strengthened the local party organization. From 1939 to 1940, he was elected as a member of the Dinh Lu Party Cell. Despite being severely terrorized by the enemy, he and the cell still defied danger and contacted many former political prisoners such as comrade Chu Hue, Nguyen Hong Dap, Mai Cat, etc. to develop plans and wait for the opportunity to rise up and fight.

From 1941 to March 1945, comrade Mai Dinh was again imprisoned for the second time at Ha Tinh Prison. Although still injured from the first arrest, he was not shaken by the enemy's beatings and torture, maintaining the integrity of a communist. After being released, he continued to return to his hometown to participate in revolutionary activities. After Dinh Lu Party Cell was restored, comrade Mai Dinh was elected as a cell committee member and participated in the Viet Minh front to seize power in Tan Loc commune.

At 7:00 a.m. on August 18, 1945, following the drum signal from Dinh Lu communal house, comrade Mai Dinh and the people of the villages in the commune gathered at the communal house to listen to a speech about the meaning and purpose of seizing power. At the same time, the Uprising Committee assigned the self-defense force to save the country and informed the village leaders to prepare bronze seals and books to hand over to the revolution. The uprising to seize power in Dinh Lu and Kim Chuy succeeded in the joy of the people. After that victory, comrade Mai Dinh was elected as the Party Secretary of Nhat Tan commune (Dinh Lu and Dai Lu villages merged into Nhat Tan commune).

From 1946 to 1950, comrade Mai Dinh worked at the Ha Tinh Police Department, as a warden of Ha Tinh Prison, and as head of the provincial reserve warehouse. In 1951 to 1952, he was transferred to work at the Quang Binh Provincial Police Department. In 1953 to 1959, he was transferred to the Agricultural Tax Department, Thach Ngoc Farm, Ha Tinh Province. From 1960 to 1970, he was transferred to work at the Ministry of Transport.⁽³⁾In 1974, due to old age and poor health, he passed away at the age of 65.

With his contributions to the struggle for national independence, comrade Mai Dinh was honored by the State as a veteran revolutionary cadre; and was awarded noble titles by the Party and Government: Third-class Independence Medal; 2 Resistance Medals (Second-class and Third-class).

Born and raised in the historical homeland of Tan Loc, nurtured and educated in a patriotic Confucian family, comrade Mai Dinh, from a patriotic youth, was soon enlightened to become a party member and staunch communist soldier in the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement. Having been twice imprisoned and tortured in imperialist prisons, although suffering lifelong disabilities, comrade Mai Dinh's belief in the Party's ideals never faded. He devoted all his youth to the revolutionary cause of the Party and the People and became the pride of his hometown Ha Tinh.

Note:
(1) History of Can Loc District Party Committee, National Political Publishing House, 2005, p. 44
(2) According to the certificate of veteran revolutionary party members before August 1945 of Ha Tinh Provincial Party Committee dated January 15, 2002
(3) According to the certificate of veteran revolutionary party members before August 1945 of Ha Tinh Provincial Party Committee dated January 15, 2002

MSc. Tran Thi Hong Nhung