'Creating strength to overcome difficulties during the epidemic'

Photo: Duc Anh

Regarding this issue, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Cong Khanh, former Head of the History Department, Vinh University, had an interview with Nghe An Newspaper.

PV:From ancient times to the present, Vietnamese people have always valued the spirit of solidarity, "love the gourd, love the squash". Solidarity is considered the key to open up glorious victories. In the history of fighting foreign invaders to protect the country, how has the spirit of solidarity been demonstrated by the Vietnamese people?

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Cong Khanh:Throughout history, under any dynasty, when facing foreign invaders many times stronger, the Vietnamese people clearly recognized the great power of solidarity in the cause of defending the country. National hero Tran Hung Dao affirmed "Chung Chi Thanh Thanh" (The will of the people is the most solid fortress to defend the country). National hero Nguyen Trai took the idea "Phuc chu thuy tin dan do thuy" (When the boat capsizes, we know the people are like water), "The people carry the boat, the people capsize the boat" as the foundation to maximize the strength of the entire people, leading the Lam Son uprising to victory.

Illustration photo.

In the Ho Chi Minh era, the idea of ​​great solidarity was multiplied. Great national solidarity on the basis of the alliance of the working class with the peasantry and the intelligentsia became the strategic line of the Vietnamese revolution, mobilizing and transforming the strength of the entire nation and the strength of the times into a combined strength, which is a decisive factor in ensuring the victory of the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.

President Ho Chi Minh stated clearly: “History teaches us this lesson: Whenever our people unite as one, our country is independent and free. On the contrary, whenever our people are not united, we are invaded by foreign countries...”. Under the banner of great national unity, our people successfully carried out the August Revolution in 1945, established the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, made the Dien Bien Phu victory “resounding throughout the five continents, shaking the earth”; our people “fought to drive out the Americans, fought to overthrow the puppet regime”, made the great victory of Spring 1975, completely liberated the South, reunified the country, completed the national democratic revolution, carried out the renovation process and are promoting the industrialization and modernization of the country.

The Dien Bien Phu victory shook the world. Photo: Internet

PV:In late 1284 and early 1285, King Tran Nhan Tong wrote on the stern of the royal boat: “Coi Ke cuu su quan tu ky/Hoan, Dien do ton thap van binh”. The poem partly clarifies the special role and position of Nghe An in the common great unity of the nation. Can you tell us more about that role and position?

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Cong Khanh:Nghe An is a large, populous province; from a natural perspective, it is a miniature of the country; from a historical perspective, it is one of the first cradles of primitive people in Vietnam. Since the country was in danger for more than a thousand years under Chinese rule, the people of Nghe An have shared the same fate with the people of the whole country. The people of Nghe An have risen up many times in uprisings and wars of national liberation. A typical example is the Hoan Chau uprising led by Mai Thuc Loan, which broke out and won (713-722).

Hoan Chau Uprising. Photo: Internet

During the two resistance wars against the Song and then against the Mongol-Nguyen invaders, Nghe An was a solid rear base for the whole country. Especially, during the second resistance war against the Mongol-Nguyen invaders, the people of Nghe An unanimously rose up to block the attack from the South to the North of Toa Do.

When the French colonialists carried out armed invasion of our country (1858), right from the beginning, the people of Nghe An were seething with national salvation movements. The uprisings of Tran Tan and Dang Nhu Mai; the uprisings of Nguyen Xuan On and Le Doan Nha broke out one after another. The people of Nghe An also enthusiastically responded to the uprising led by Phan Dinh Phung and Cao Thang from Huong Khe (Ha Tinh) that developed... When the French colonialists invaded and imposed their domination from the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century, the national liberation movement broke out with the Dong Du movement and the Duy Tan movement initiated by the enthusiastic patriot Phan Boi Chau. Notably, in mid-1911, the patriotic young man Nguyen Tat Thanh left the Fatherland to find a way to save the country.

In early 1930, the Communist Party of Vietnam was born, which was also the time when a revolutionary movement was raised throughout the country. During the 1930-1931 peak, the struggle of the people of Nghe An took place most strongly and fiercely. Before the solidarity of the people of Nghe An, the imperialist and feudal regime was overthrown in some rural areas and replaced by the Soviet regime - the peak of the 1930-1931 revolution.

Nghe Tinh Soviet climax in 1930 - 1931. Documentary painting

During the August Revolution of 1945, in just a short period of time, from August 17 to 26, 1945, the revolutionary government was established throughout Nghe An. After the August Revolution of 1945, fulfilling its duty as a rear base, Nghe An became a solid and safe rear base for the front line, creating the world-famous Dien Bien Phu victory. During the war against the US to save the country, the people of the province still fought steadfastly, worked enthusiastically, and provided maximum human and material support to the southern battlefield.

Entering the 21st century, Nghe An is facing new opportunities and fortunes. Under the direction of the Central Government, with the tradition of bravery, indomitability in fighting, diligence, creativity in labor, with the potential of Nghe land and people, the Party Committee, government and people of Nghe An are striving to build their homeland to become increasingly prosperous.

It can be seen that, through the ups and downs of the nation's history, the people of Nghe An have become deeply aware of their reason for living, their responsibility and obligation to contribute to the Fatherland, and at the same time have forged for themselves an increasingly distinct identity. The identity of the people of Nghe An in the historical process is: Diligence, bravery, generosity and determination... Looking back at the history of Nghe An from the beginning of the country's founding until today, the people of Nghe An have the right to be proud of their worthy contributions to the development of the nation.

PV:Vietnam in general and Nghe An in particular are in a new war - the war against the Covid-19 pandemic. As a historian, what is your opinion on the spirit of solidarity "fighting the Corona virus" today?

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Cong Khanh:Just entering 2020, along with the whole world, our people are struggling to cope with an unprecedented disease: acute respiratory infection caused by a new strain of Corona virus (Covid-19). This is a new epidemic, and there is still no cure in the world. Currently, the epidemic has spread around the world, present in nearly 200 countries and territories, causing more than 500,000 infections and more than 20,000 deaths. This number shows no signs of stopping. In Vietnam, the number of infected cases as of March 27, 2020 is 153, thousands of suspected cases and tens of thousands of people forced to quarantine. Covid-19 is causing severe damage to Vietnam's economy.

Checking body temperature and health of citizens returning from abroad. Photo courtesy of Thanh Cuong

On the afternoon of the third day of Tet (January 27), Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc stated: "Fighting the epidemic is like fighting the enemy." Ministries, branches and localities must not be subjective, must ensure the lives and health of the people, prevent the epidemic from spreading, and minimize deaths. The entire political system must participate.

In this fight, the health sector is not alone. Promoting the spirit of solidarity, the whole country has joined hands to defeat the pandemic. In coordination with the Ministry of Health, ministries, departments, branches and localities have strictly implemented the Prime Minister's Directive on prevention and control of acute respiratory infections caused by the new strain.

Photo: Duc Anh

Together with the whole country, Nghe An province's leaders proactively propagated epidemic prevention and control, directed media agencies to publish accurate and timely news about the epidemic situation and measures for people to proactively prevent and control the epidemic, not to panic, and coordinate with the health sector to effectively prevent and control the epidemic.

When the epidemic spread and became complicated, the Education and Training sector let students take time off from school and proactively adjusted the year's education and training program to minimize the risk of infection among students. During the days off, teachers in Nghe An still actively went to class, proactively cleaned, disinfected, and sterilized classrooms. Universities, colleges, vocational schools, and teachers, with their own talents and efforts, researched, created, and produced many antiseptic solutions and medical masks to distribute for free to teachers, students, and people in the area.

It can be said that with the drastic participation of the entire political system, the majority of Nghe An people in particular and the whole country in general have raised awareness in disease prevention; so far, the response to Covid-19 in our country is still under control. As of March 27, 2020, Vietnam has had 20 cases of patients who tested positive for Corona virus successfully treated. In our province, there have been no positive cases... The World Health Organization (WHO) has received many compliments from Vietnam in disease prevention.

Health check-up at the quarantine area. Photo courtesy of Thanh Cuong

The lesson of solidarity and unity in policy and action is always true in all circumstances. With the initial achievements in the work of preventing and fighting the Covid-19 epidemic, we remember the thoughtful teachings of President Ho Chi Minh: “First of all, we must be honest and united. Unity is our strength. Unity will overcome all difficulties and achieve many achievements. Unity between old and new cadres. Unity between all people in the health sector from ministers, deputy ministers, doctors, pharmacists to the staff. Because although the work and position are different, everyone is a necessary part of the health sector, in serving the people”, “If people are sick, the Party and the Government are at fault”.

Free meals are served to citizens in 14-day quarantine. Photo courtesy of Thanh Cuong.

More than ever, solidarity is the source of all victories, even though the enemy is a virus that we cannot see with the naked eye. These March days and perhaps the coming days are truly difficult, but they are also rare and meaningful days. It gives each country a harsh test of the sustainability, the ability to respond, the nature of the political regime, the cohesion of society. It gives each person a moment of silence to contemplate life, the meaning of life, and the way of life. For each Vietnamese person, it reminds us that "Our people have a passionate love for the country, that is a precious tradition of ours. From ancient times to the present, every time the Fatherland is invaded, that spirit is excited, it forms an extremely strong, huge wave, it overcomes all dangers, difficulties,..." so that we can unite. Reminds us "Many things cover the mirror - People in the same country must love each other" so that we can protect our compatriots. Remind us of the principle of “love others as you love yourself” so that we can take care of those who are not Vietnamese. So that everyone can believe, love and hope for today and tomorrow.

PV:Thank you for this conversation!