Mandolin playing to celebrate Independence Day in prison

(Baonghean) - 86 years old, 67 years of Party membership, having suffered imprisonment in colonial and imperialist prisons, Mr. Nguyen Duy Nhon will never forget the time he celebrated Independence Day in Cam Ranh prison.

Arriving at Kim Hoa hamlet, Vo Liet commune (Thanh Chuong), following the instructions, we walked through the fields that were beginning to ripen, through winding roads and heard the sound of mandolines echoing from the house of Mr. Nguyen Duy Nhon (born 1931). In front of the porch, Mr. Nhon was engrossed in his guitar, his old fingers still showing dexterity and skill.

The guest stepped very close, his fingers temporarily left the guitar and gave a friendly look: "These days, I seem to be living in nostalgia for the distant years, when I was a teenager, then joined the army, was captured by the enemy and happily celebrated National Day right in prison...".

Mr. Nguyen Duy Nhon finds joy with his mandolin. Photo: Cong Kien

Mr. Nhon's father was from Dong Van commune (Thanh Chuong), his mother was from Quang Tri, he was born in Quy Nhon and his parents named him after the name of this land. During the days of the general uprising, the young boy in the elementary school class still paid close attention to the events of the time taking place in Quy Nhon.

The two brothers soon joined the revolutionary ranks, following the mass struggle movement. Not understanding what revolution was, student Nguyen Duy Nhon still joined the crowd to participate in the struggle. Listening to the speeches, he understood a little that from now on, the life of slavery would be cast off, the country would be free, without oppression or exploitation.

At the age of 19, Nguyen Duy Nhon enlisted in the army and fought with his unit in the mountainous region of Western Quang Tri. In the same year, he was honored to be admitted to the Party. In early 1952, during a raid in Phong Dien district, due to the disparity in forces, his unit suffered heavy losses and he fell into enemy hands.

2. The notebook – a souvenir from the time Nguyen Duy Nhon was imprisoned in the imperial prison. Photo: Cong Kien

The enemy used torture to extract information, but he did not reveal a word, so they had to transfer him to prison in Hue, then Da Nang and finally Cam Ranh (Khanh Hoa). In prison, the communist soldiers continued their struggle to demand better meals, medicine, cultural education and entertainment during traditional holidays.

“Throughout my life, I will never forget the 8th Independence Day celebration in Cam Ranh prison. There was no lavish feast, no slogans, no loudspeakers, but the prisoners had a truly happy day. The French had to admire the patriotism of the Vietnamese people,” Mr. Nhon confided.

It was 1953, in early autumn, the brothers discussed the plan to celebrate the Independence Day, to deceive the prison guards, everyone agreed to organize the Full Moon Festival and Vu Lan festival under the name of July. Each person prepared a task, some made musical instruments, some set up the backdrop, some cut letters, made decorative patterns and practiced performing arts. Mr. Nhon focused on making the mandolin.

On the appointed day, the brothers sent someone to invite prison representatives to attend the ceremony. The French officer came down and was surprised to see the splendid backdrop, the colorful letters and patterns attached to the backdrop and decorated around the entrance, and the homemade musical instruments playing passionate and majestic melodies.

The brothers explained that the backdrop was made from discarded pieces of canvas; the letters and patterns were made from cardboard; the colors were made from crushed medicine pills mixed with water. And the mandolin was made from pieces of wood thrown in the backyard, wire thrown next to the fence; the flute was made from rolled tin sheets with holes punched in them.

Hearing that, the French officer opened his mouth in surprise, then went back to his room to get his camera to take pictures of the "works" created by the hands of communist prisoners.

Delegations from provinces and cities: Hanoi, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Thua Thien - Hue, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City visited Cam Ranh to visit the old prison. Photo: Archive

The brothers lined up, facing the North, mouths as if praying but actually humming the “National Anthem”, with the same thoughts towards the national flag and determination to fight to protect their homeland and country. The French also guessed the main purpose of the ceremony but shook their heads. The music of the guitar, flute and singing resounded, everyone joined in the rhythm, the French officer Hai went around shaking hands with each person.

Nearly a year later, on August 25, 1954, according to the provisions of the Geneva Agreement, Mr. Nguyen Duy Nhon was returned by France to Quy Nhon, the place where he was born and raised. After that, he followed his unit to the North, changed his profession, and then returned to his hometown Thanh Chuong to work in production and participate in social work at the commune level.

The only keepsake Mr. Nhon has of his years in prison is a small notebook with nearly 100 pages, in which his fellow prisoners recorded their feelings. The small notebook has faded, most of the pages are blurred, but the feelings the former prisoners had for each other are still intact.

Mr. Nhon shared: “I have returned to Cam Ranh several times to visit the old prison camp, and each time I am filled with emotion, remembering my comrades from years past. And the most memorable is the time we celebrated Independence Day, the 8th anniversary of the country's National Day, 64 years have passed...”.

Cong Kien